ORLANDO, Fla. — Courtland Sutton had few words to express his disappointment as he stood at the podium alongside the Broncos’ practice fields.
“It is what it is,” he said flatly.
It was mid-December and the Broncos had just been defeated spectacularly by the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, ensuring another losing season. But Sutton had not only developed into the Broncos’ No. 1 receiver but put the league on notice with big catches. He topped 1,000 yards on the season, averaged 15.4 yards per catch and reeled in 16 big-play (25 yards or more) receptions.
Advertisement
He believed his numbers warranted a Pro Bowl nod, yet he received only enough votes to be an alternate.
But his fortune changed a month later when he received a call from coach Vic Fangio.
“When Fangio texted me, he was like, ‘Call me ASAP,’ so I’m like, ‘Dang,’” Sutton told The Athletic on Thursday following the AFC team’s morning practice. “Coach Fangio called me and let me know that I had made it, and then I called Coach Z, I called my agent. It was crazy because my parents were actually at my house when it happened so I got to talk to them about it. We got to enjoy it together. It was a dope experience.
“It’s a blessing to be here.”
The call was a bit of validation to Sutton’s big Year 2, and his conversations with peers in Orlando have proved to be even more so.
“It has, because being around some of these guys, you just don’t know if they even know me and if they’re watching (me) on TV. We talked and they’re like, ‘I respect your game,’” Sutton said. “It lets you know the things that you’re doing, the big media outlets might not be covering it but the people who play the game, they see it and they respect it.”
But in the same week he received the news he had long hoped for, he also learned he would face yet another challenge this offseason: adapting to his third offensive coordinator in as many seasons.
Rich Scangarello, the coordinator who helped him produce 1,000 yards, was fired after one season and quickly replaced by Pat Shurmur, the former Giants head coach.
Another year, another system.
Another spring and summer of starting mostly anew.
“People don’t really see all the time what goes into learning a new offense,” Sutton said. “When you learn a new offense, the routes are kinda the same, but the terminology is different, the way the coach asks you to do things is different. You just have to learn how they want it because each coach wants it done a certain way.
Advertisement
“I know the guys are up for the challenge, but three in three years, it’s intense.”
Last offseason, Sutton set out to improve his route running and speed to become a more complete receiver. He also spent hours studying film of Atlanta’s Julio Jones, who played in the same system when Scangarello was the Falcons’ offensive quality control coach under then-coordinator Kyle Shanahan. With a similar frame and role as Jones, Sutton envisioned similar production.
In anticipating another year in Scangarello’s offense, Sutton envisioned even more in 2020. He knew the playbook, he knew the coordinator, he knew how meetings were run and how things were supposed to be done.
Sutton now expects considerable changes, but he is hopeful based on the few details he has heard about Shurmur.
The long-time play-caller was brought in partly because of his experience, but also because of his system that is believed to be more aggressive. Shurmur has West Coast roots, having come up in the pro coaching ranks under Andy Reid. But his scheme has incorporated parts of spread and other concepts, and he has adapted it to fit the strengths of his quarterbacks, be it Case Keenum in Minnesota or Daniel Jones in New York.
Drew Lock’s 4-1 record as the Broncos’ starting quarterback earned him the job for 2020 and possibly beyond. His mobility and arm strength should be a good fit for Shurmur, who scouted the quarterback heavily ahead of the 2019 draft.
In turn, it should be a good fit for Sutton, a 6-foot-4 wideout who has a knack for catching most anything that lands within four feet of him.
The Broncos have a few more pieces — quarterbacks coach, outside linebackers coach and director of football administration — to complete their revamped staff and front office. (Mike Shula interviewed at the team’s headquarters Thursday and appears to be the lead contender for the QBs coaching vacancy.)
Advertisement
After that, John Elway and his personnel staff will go to work revamping the roster.
Receiver is one position of need, and the Broncos could foreseeably find it early in the April draft given the depth of talent in the class of 2020. Another receiving threat should create more opportunities for Sutton. So too will an offense geared toward big plays.
“I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what (Shurmur) has planned,” he said. “Hearing that we’re going to be in a lot of 11 personnel (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WRs) and throwing the ball a lot, I’m excited about that.
“I know guys in my room are excited about that too.”
(Top photo of Courtland Sutton: Nicki Jhabvala / The Athletic)