My Kingdom for a Quarterback
Future Hall-of-Fame linebacker Von Miller recently claimed he could play quarterback for Denver and basically implied anyone can play that position. However, the Broncos did try and prove him right by playing as many people back there as possible. It appears not just anyone can play signal caller in the National Football League.
I also think the conversation about football in Denver should include lots of other player positions that could use some help. For example, we could spend a few weeks discussing the wildly inconsistent effort by the very offensive line. Or has the tight end spot been replaced by Where's Waldo? We might even spend some time trying to get placekicker Brandon McManus an appointment with a sports psychologist. After signing his first substantive contract, McManus has barely been able to keep his roster spot, much less earn the bonus cash.
Dark humor is all the fans have left this season on the eve of the second to last game of the season. And much humor has been had this week since the Broncos have yet to name a starting quarterback for tomorrow's game against the Washington Redskins.
If John Elway spent yesterday afternoon above the semi-frozen blue artificial turf in Boise, Idaho to scout University of Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen, why so much consternation regarding Denver's starting QB this week?
Perhaps some of the lack of information about the current quarterback situation involves true concern about Paxton Lynch's sore ankle. Maybe the coaches are waiting as long as possible to anger the rest of the team by not starting Brock Osweiler. Because we do have to give some credit to Brock for his gutsy off the bench performance last week in Indianapolis. The victory ended Denver's 8-game road losing streak and a rare win at Indy. We saw long, fun, touchdown passes with accuracy as well as the slowest scramble into the open field I've witnessed in years, that somehow culminated in yet another Osweiler score via an awkward forward swan dive.
Brock rallies, rocks and rolls despite being relegated back to the void of back-up Hell until Trevor Siemian's shoulder injury.
It should be a no-brainer decision as to who starts this week.
Indeed, since no brains appear to be involved or engaged at the moment in Dove Valley.
Don't get me wrong, I was with most folks who figured Paxton Lynch was the third best quarterback available in that draft class. He may yet prove that evaluation, but it isn't going to be this year. I realize three regular season starts aren't enough to define a career. But they are enough to show whether or not he is ready for tomorrow. He isn't. He does have a good arm, but seems to fear throwing it more than 10-yards with accuracy. We know he can run, but he's no Elway when he tucks that ball under his arm every other play.
I do agree you can only gain confidence by playing more. But you also have an entire team risking injury, going all out every week to compete and win. It is a locker room that is losing faith in the coaches and in management to make it worth their blood, sweat and tears.
And what if the coaches don't want to name a starter so that Paxton doesn't have to answer tough questions? Because NFL teams are required to make the starters available to questions leading up to the game. I certainly hope they aren't worried about a fragile ego in front of tough questions. Start or not, the questions are only going to get harder to answer for all involved.
I'm not among those ready to toss Elway to the wolves. That's silly. All three of those Lombardi trophies, and 7 out of 8 of those AFC titles were in earned in part by old number seven. Maybe as a QB and GM he gets too much credit or blame in those positions, but he actually has a better track record than any other current front office right now with contributing draft picks on rosters.
That said, he constructed this current mess. It shows how hard the job is. Ask Cleveland how tough it is to build a competitive NFL team. Heck, ask the Cowboys who have all the money in the world how hard it is to win a playoff game. Dallas has 2-post season wins in 22-years. It ain't easy.
It should be easy to find a starter in a lost season.
Give the rock to Brock.
Let the Broncos be competitive and yet find themselves a quality pick in the NFL Draft next spring. I'm getting soft and kind of hoping Brock earns a permeant spot here in Denver. Hell, I finally feel comfortable spelling out Osweiler without having to look it up on the roster.
Or maybe Elway's visit to Boise was the first step to finding a way back to a winning roster.
I also think the conversation about football in Denver should include lots of other player positions that could use some help. For example, we could spend a few weeks discussing the wildly inconsistent effort by the very offensive line. Or has the tight end spot been replaced by Where's Waldo? We might even spend some time trying to get placekicker Brandon McManus an appointment with a sports psychologist. After signing his first substantive contract, McManus has barely been able to keep his roster spot, much less earn the bonus cash.
Dark humor is all the fans have left this season on the eve of the second to last game of the season. And much humor has been had this week since the Broncos have yet to name a starting quarterback for tomorrow's game against the Washington Redskins.
If John Elway spent yesterday afternoon above the semi-frozen blue artificial turf in Boise, Idaho to scout University of Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen, why so much consternation regarding Denver's starting QB this week?
Perhaps some of the lack of information about the current quarterback situation involves true concern about Paxton Lynch's sore ankle. Maybe the coaches are waiting as long as possible to anger the rest of the team by not starting Brock Osweiler. Because we do have to give some credit to Brock for his gutsy off the bench performance last week in Indianapolis. The victory ended Denver's 8-game road losing streak and a rare win at Indy. We saw long, fun, touchdown passes with accuracy as well as the slowest scramble into the open field I've witnessed in years, that somehow culminated in yet another Osweiler score via an awkward forward swan dive.
Brock rallies, rocks and rolls despite being relegated back to the void of back-up Hell until Trevor Siemian's shoulder injury.
It should be a no-brainer decision as to who starts this week.
Indeed, since no brains appear to be involved or engaged at the moment in Dove Valley.
Don't get me wrong, I was with most folks who figured Paxton Lynch was the third best quarterback available in that draft class. He may yet prove that evaluation, but it isn't going to be this year. I realize three regular season starts aren't enough to define a career. But they are enough to show whether or not he is ready for tomorrow. He isn't. He does have a good arm, but seems to fear throwing it more than 10-yards with accuracy. We know he can run, but he's no Elway when he tucks that ball under his arm every other play.
I do agree you can only gain confidence by playing more. But you also have an entire team risking injury, going all out every week to compete and win. It is a locker room that is losing faith in the coaches and in management to make it worth their blood, sweat and tears.
And what if the coaches don't want to name a starter so that Paxton doesn't have to answer tough questions? Because NFL teams are required to make the starters available to questions leading up to the game. I certainly hope they aren't worried about a fragile ego in front of tough questions. Start or not, the questions are only going to get harder to answer for all involved.
I'm not among those ready to toss Elway to the wolves. That's silly. All three of those Lombardi trophies, and 7 out of 8 of those AFC titles were in earned in part by old number seven. Maybe as a QB and GM he gets too much credit or blame in those positions, but he actually has a better track record than any other current front office right now with contributing draft picks on rosters.
That said, he constructed this current mess. It shows how hard the job is. Ask Cleveland how tough it is to build a competitive NFL team. Heck, ask the Cowboys who have all the money in the world how hard it is to win a playoff game. Dallas has 2-post season wins in 22-years. It ain't easy.
It should be easy to find a starter in a lost season.
Give the rock to Brock.
Let the Broncos be competitive and yet find themselves a quality pick in the NFL Draft next spring. I'm getting soft and kind of hoping Brock earns a permeant spot here in Denver. Hell, I finally feel comfortable spelling out Osweiler without having to look it up on the roster.
Or maybe Elway's visit to Boise was the first step to finding a way back to a winning roster.
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