This probably won’t be a popular opinion amongst Bronco Nation, and that’s fine. I get it. But I’ll say it anyway: Hank Bachmeier deserves another chance.
Was Bachmeier bad in the season opener at Oregon State? Yes. Was he a huge reason the Broncos fell into an early three-score hole and couldn’t recover? Yes. Did Taylen Green play better and show the promise that has many excited about his future? Yes.
Hank Bachmeier still deserves to start Friday night against New Mexico.
If you want to bring Green in for some packages and make him a bigger part of the offense, that’s fine. But giving up on Hank Bachmeier completely at this point just seems silly.
Again, maybe I’m crazy. And I’m sure many of you think I am. But I couldn’t help but sit in the press box at Reser Stadium on Saturday night in Corvallis and think pulling Bachmeier at that point was a panic move.
Sure, three turnovers in six drives wasn’t great. In fact it was awful. But 25 career starts including all 12 last season and eight months in the offseason as the clear starter all is erased because of a rough 20 minutes? Seems like a stretch to me.
Taylen Green is oozing with potential and I’m excited about his future. When a play breaks down, his ability to scramble and use his legs to gain yards is a huge asset. I’m not denying that. His 74-yard touchdown run was a thing of beauty.
But if the 2022 Broncos want to win the Mountain West, I believe Bachmeier needs to be the starting quarterback.
I asked Avalos after the game what the plan was for the quarterback position moving forward.
“We’ll see as we go back and analyze the film and see where we’re at and see if we can continue to improve with Hank or find out what we need to do,” Avalos said. “But I know this. Its a short week so we’re going to jump back at it. The competition starts (Sunday) morning when the sun comes up.”
I followed up with Avalos about how Hank should take the benching and how the Broncos keep him engaged and part of things moving forward given the shock he probably had of being replaced in the first half of the first game of the season.
“I’ll just say it’s a competition,” Avalos said. “Guys gotta respond. Hank’s gotta respond. Hank has to be better. That’s the bottom line. He has to be better and that’s what we’re here to help him do.”
Green missed on some throws and showed he’s still developing as a passer. His 36-yard completion to Ashton Jeanty was way under-thrown and took a great read from the true freshman to come back to the ball to make the catch and complete the play.
Again, Green is the quarterback of the future. I’m not denying that. He’s a big-time talent and has a chance to be a star. But at this point, given what we know about the complexity of Tim Plough’s offense and the need for a veteran, experienced quarterback to run the show, I believe Bachmeier still is the best option for the 2022 team.
People wanted to make a big deal about Bachmeier not being voted a captain or not being picked to represent the Broncos during Mountain West Media Days in Las Vegas. It was the perfect offseason segment for sports talk radio.
Throw in what happened Saturday night in Corvallis and the dots are conveniently easy to connect for some.
But I’m not going there. Not yet.
“We’re not all perfect. I still believe in him,” tight end Riley Smith said of Bachmeier after the game. “He’s my guy. I know how hard he prepares and how know hard he trains and works behind the scenes that a lot of people don’t see. Not every game is going to be perfect and not every game is going to go the way everybody wants it to.”
Even coach Andy Avalos said the voting was close between Ojukwu and Bachmeier and brushed off any issues with Hank and a lack of leadership heading into the season. It’s an easy storyline for fans to point to, but I’m not buying it.
Unpopular opinion I’m sure, but I believe Bachmeier is still the best option for the Broncos at this point. Now that opinion could change if he were to have another rough game against New Mexico, but I think he deserves the chance to show a bad 20 minutes against Oregon State wasn’t who he is as a quarterback or what he could bring to the table this year.
Heck he may have shown that Saturday had he not been pulled so early.
Avalos did what he thought needed to be done to try and win Saturday’s game. And I actually give him credit for making a bold, controversial move to bench a four-year, senior starter. I thought the hook was too early, but I can see why he did it. Some coaches wouldn’t have done it, so Avalos at least gets credit for that.
But I still think going back to Bachmeier for Friday night’s game at New Mexico is the right move. Give him another chance to get things rolling and see if he can prove he deserves to remain as the starting quarterback.
If Bachmeier struggles again, go to Green. I’ll be on board. But for now, I’ve yet to see enough to say Green should be starting over Bachmeier. The past few years should mean something.
There were plenty of other issues Saturday that contributed to the loss. How about George Holani rushing for just 13 yards on nine carries? How about George Tarlas finishing with zero tackles after hearing he was one of the best players during fall camp? What about Billy Bowens having two catches for just seven yards after being hyped as maybe the No. 1 receiver heading into the season?
Bachmeier was the easy one to blame Saturday night. He was far from the only problem. And given what Bachmeier has done the past few seasons, he deserves another shot to try and keep his job.
Many quickly forget his 407-yard performance in the comeback win at Florida State as a freshman or the 388 yards and four touchdowns he had last year against Nevada. Bachmeier has done enough to deserve the benefit of the doubt – especially in the first half of the first game of the season.
Did Bachmeier choke? Of course. Did he play poorly on a big stage and cost the Broncos a chance at a big-time early season win? Yes. Does that mean he should be ridiculed and thrown to the curb just one game into the season? Heck no.
Here’s to hoping Avalos and offensive coordinator Tim Plough start Bachmeier and give him another chance on Friday at New Mexico. Green is the QB of the future, but this team needs Bachmeier to win in 2022 – even if it’s the unpopular opinion amongst some in Bronco Nation.
It’s a tough spot for Avalos. But I’d give Bachmeier another shot. I think it’s the right thing to do.
