Rex Ryan made two appearances on ESPN on Monday — on Get Up and on First Take — and the former NFL coach blasted the Denver Broncos’ defense and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, although he did not mention Joseph by name.
“This team has averaged more points per possession than any [other] offensive unit in the National Football League, nobody knows that — it’s the truth,” Ryan said Monday. “So whose fault is [0-2] on? It’s on their defense!
Buy Broncos Tickets“Their defense is supposed to be No. 1 in the league! If I was going to be the coordinator — I don’t know what the hell [he’s] doing now — that’s who’s letting this team down. It’s their defense. It’s not the offense.”
It’s interesting that Ryan has made these comments publicly because he was a candidate for the team’s defensive coordinator job after Sean Payton was hired as head coach. Payton also interviewed Vic Fangio, but the team ultimately hired Joseph.
Under Joseph, Denver’s defense has allowed an average of 26 points per game through two weeks. Such an average would have ranked third-worst in the NFL last season.
Rex Ryan really wanted that job 😂
Bro is disgusted by what he’s seeing from the Broncos defense 💀
Also kudos to him for pointing out that the Russell Wilson + Sean Payton offense is heading in the right direction. Educate the public 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/uk2CEiMqgW
— Cloud (@maestroxv_) September 18, 2023
“I think it’s fixable,” Ryan said. “We just have got to get that defense playing to what the expectations were. Because when I saw the talent they had on that defense, I’m like, there’s no reason why this shouldn’t be the top defense in the league.”
If the Broncos eventually part ways with Joseph, Ryan might be a name to keep an eye on given his comments on Monday.
