Why the Broncos will keep replacing coaches until the quarterback question is answered

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Rex Ryan is confident that teams will hire Vic Fangio.

After being fired by the Broncos, Vic Fangio will not have any issues getting another coaching job in the NFL. 1:06

The Denver Broncos' search for a quarterback in the post-Peyton Manning era has been costly.

In a record that has leaned toward a growing pile of losses, it has been costly to the head coach.

The offense was too big a problem and too stubborn for Fangio to continue as Broncos coach. The Broncos lost five of their last six games, scoring 13 or fewer points in four of those losses, to finish out of the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season.

Gary Kubiak, who helped the Broncos win Super Bowl 50, stepped away due to health reasons after the Broncos finished with a 9-7 record. Denver finished with a winning record.

The Broncos scored 10 or fewer points in three of the last four games. During his first season as head coach, Vance Joseph fired his offensive coordinator and himself.

After his first season as Broncos head coach, Fangio fired his offensive coordinator, and the same problems have arisen again two seasons later. The Broncos' strategy of replacing coaches until they get the quarterback question answeredTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkiaTrademarkia

At this point, the numbers are well worn. The Broncos have had 10 different starting quarterbacks since the midway point of the 2016 season, and the team has not averaged more than two per game.

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They have tried the trade/free agency market with two players. They have tried premium draft picks with Drew Lock in the second round and Paxton Lynch in the first round.

They have tried late-round picks. They have tried training camp and flip-flops.

With three weeks to go in the season, they are tied for the top spot in scoring defense. The Broncos will likely be third when the games are over. They have tried first-time head coaches with defensive background.

They tried to play offensive schemes they didn't block well. They have tried to bridge the gap between "playoff team" and "right there."

The tenuous nature of it all was demonstrated by the Broncos. The team that won Super Bowl 50 scored 20 more points than this one in 16 games. The Broncos won nine games in the regular season by seven or fewer points.

They have had good defenses over the past six years, even very good at times, but never the close-game, big-moment performance of the 2015 group. More close games got away, in between an ugly win or loss, with an offense that didn't help.

George Paton's statement looked like the ones John Elway did before him.

Paton said that the search to find the next head coach of the Broncos would be a collaborative process. We look forward to spending time with some outstanding candidates and approaching it with an open mind. I am excited about the future of our team because of the progress that has been made and the resources we have to get better. We will find a great leader and head coach for the Broncos.

If Paton chooses another Broncos coach with a defensive background, he should have a powerpoint presentation ready to show how he envisions the offense. Paton should be prepared to explain why this one will be different if he picks a first-timer.

He should be prepared to explain how the team will cover for the inevitable step back on defense if he picks an offensive wizard. Paton will be asked about that when he introduces the next guy in line.

The next person on the job won't fare much better than the previous two if they don't match a quarterback with an offensive playbook that suits the rest of the players on the depth chart.

If they don't, they can just keep the statement they released Sunday morning handy, because they'll need it again in two or three years.