QBs and other positions to watch
The past five months at Dove Valley have been about change — changing the Broncos’ coaching staff, changing their playbook, changing their roster, changing their attitude.
Starting Tuesday, Day 1 of organized team activities (OTAs), the Broncos will begin to show just how much they’ve changed, and how much more they have to do.
Phase 3 of the Broncos’ offseason program allows for full-speed drills but still no live contact. It’s not a complete evaluation, but it’s the team’s first real chance to begin to implement the classroom teachings on the field and the first real glimpse at the Broncos’ revamped offense taking on the defense.
Although most positional evaluations will take place during training camp, coach Vance Joseph has said the tryouts begin this week. And it’s not just the quarterbacks battling for starting jobs.
“Every position on our football team is going to be competitive, and that’s the way you want it every year,” Joseph said.
Most eyes will be on quarterbacks Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch, the former a starter for 14 games last year, the latter now a second-year player working with his second head coach and second playbook.
Mike McCoy’s offense is expected to be more passhappy, but the longtime coordinator has a history of tailoring his system to his players. That means the playbook will change and change often.
“You can find a lot of completions in this offense,” Siemian said. “I think it’s a little bit more on the quarterbacks as far as
protections and getting into the right play. But I like it.”
Siemian figures to have an edge in the race based on experience and comfort.
Lynch, too, appears more comfortable as a pro after a season of significant transition, on the field and off. Lynch spent much of the offseason working out in Florida with quarterbacks coach Charlie Taaffe to hone his technique and footwork in anticipation of, perhaps, the biggest “tryout” of his young career this summer. But he isn’t starting anew like he was in 2016.
“You can definitely see he is more comfortable,” running back C.J. Anderson said.
A further breakdown heading into OTAs:
Recovering players: Not everyone will be a full-go for the start of OTAs. Rookie tight end Jake Butt, still recovering from ACL surgery, will probably continue to work with trainers on the side. Quarterback Chad Kelly, the team’s final pick of the draft, is rehabbing from knee-and-wrist surgeries and isn’t expected to be fully cleared until August. And veteran running back Jamaal Charles, coming back from multiple knee surgeries that hindered his past two NFL seasons, is expected to be on a similar track.
“Jake Butt is on the same plan as Jamaal Charles,” Joseph said. “We want to get him through OTAs and continue to rehab him and get him healthy enough to be ready for training campand the same with Chad. Chad should be totally cleared with his wrist by August, so right in time for training camp.”
Offensive Garett Bolles, the first offensive lineman taken in the 2017 draft, is the Broncos’ new shiny toy. And, boy, do they need him.
The Broncos used their No. 20 pick on Bolles to have him anchor the left tackle position.
The selection of Bolles, along with the free-agent additions of guard Ron Leary and tackle Menelik Watson, add weight and tenacity to the line. But their effectiveness and cohesiveness will be a work in progress and certainly a story worth following.
Running back: Joseph is planning a running-backby-committee system.
“You need two or three guys that can carry the load. It is no longer a one-guy position,” he said. “I’m excited to have Jamaal, C.J., (Booker), even (rookie) De’Angelo (Henderson) in the mix there. It’s a good group. It’s going to be competitive.”
The running back room has grown significantly since the draft, and its hierarchy has become more muddled. Anderson, coming back from a meniscus injury, is the leader of the group, but the order of help behind him is to be determined.
Tight end: The tight end group, led by former playcaller Geep Chryst, remains somewhat of a mystery but one with a lot of potential. Virgil Green is the most veteran Bronco and the leader of the pack, but the skill sets and potential of all vary. A.J. Derby arrived via trade last year, but his time on the field was limited. Jeff Heuerman, hobbled by more injuries to start last season, is finally getting to enjoy his first healthy NFL offseason. But how all the pieces fit in this offense will be determined over the coming weeks.
And Butt is recovering from his ACL injury.
The good news for the group: Chryst’s background as a former quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator will have added benefits to the offense as a whole.
“The young guys want to come in and just play their role,” Chryst said. “That’s an important thing, but they want to have their blinders on. It’s important for them to understand what the other 10 people (on offense) are doing and what their role is. So by taking the blinders off and having them appreciate that they’re one of 11 but that they could be aligned as another position. Or we would love to be in a multiple-tight end position where more than one guy in the room can be out on the field. So taking those blinders off and learning the offense together — and it’s a great offense — I think all these guys benefited from the spring.”
Footnotes. The Broncos had their annual pre-OTAs golf outing at Castle Pines on Monday. … General manager John Elway will be honored with the Mizel Institute’s community enrichment award Wednesday. Past winners include Mayor Michael Hancock of Denver (2016) and Broncos owner Pat Bowlen (2013).