Mile High Sports

5 biggest takeaways from Denver’s OTAs thus far

JT Matthews

Jul 18, 2019; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock (3) during drills at the UCHealth Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

May 24th marked the beginning of organized team activities (OTAs) for the Denver Broncos.

With a number of questions surrounding the team, these practice sessions should help Broncos Country filter through the minutia and latch onto some of the more compelling storylines leading into mandatory mini-camp and training camp.

Players showed up in droves to reunite with their teammates in person, or meet them for the first time in an attempt to begin preparing for the 2021 NFL season.

Here are the most noteworthy takeaways from OTAs thus far.

Attendance was perfect…almost

Day one of organized team activities yielded a strong attendance of 81 of 90 rostered Denver Broncos, Melvin Gordon and Justin Simmons being the only two of those who we absent by choice. By day two, Simmons was also present and ready to work.

Gordon does not appear to have plans to attend any of the voluntary workouts. He instead has a personal regimen that he prefers to implement and will be executing that away from the team’s facility. He will be at mandatory mini-camp, though

Simmons chose not to appear during day one as a nod to the NFLPA and its request for players to boycott the optional team sessions due to health and safety concerns for players.

When asked at his media session about the NFLPA’s statements in regard to OTAs, he said “I think the whole point of this was players knowing, for one, that it was their right to exercise voluntary workouts. And they’re just that.”

He went on to explain his feelings about OTAs in general. “I think there is some value in OTAs. There are different aspects. We’re talking about Phase 1, which is just lifting and working out. Some guys are comfortable doing that on their own. Phase 2 is the same thing with a little bit of individual drills incorporated there. At that point, some guys still like doing individual drills with certain guys that they’re comfortable with. Going onto Phase 3, I find a lot of value in Phase 3 because it’s football.”

Regardless of the player’s feelings surrounding the COVID-19 protocols and safety concerns, it is clear they desire to be there and are ready to attack the offseason on a united front.

Teddy Two-Gloves is here to play football

Teddy Bridgewater has been the definition of a quintessential professional since he has arrived in the Mile High City.

Having gone through a tumultuous NFL career, Bridgewater has been a part of numerous teams, a number of offensive schemes, and has played with a myriad of players. He is the exact player you want on this young, developing team.

“I’m very excited to be here. Looking forward to this opportunity that’s ahead of me. It’s a football town. The town, the team, the organization—it has a ton of history,” said Bridgewater. “I’m just looking forward to what’s in store for this team. It felt good being out there today and laying the foundation.”

Since his acquisition just a few short weeks ago, it has been no secret that his arrival brings with it the potential for a fierce quarterback competition with Drew Lock. However, based on Bridgewater’s cool, calm demeanor you would never sense that intensity from him.

When asked about coming in with the mentality to be the Denver Broncos starting quarterback, he simply stated, “I’m here to play football and whatever happens, happens. I’m here to help this team become a better team. I’m here to help players become better football players and men become better men. Whatever happens, I’m here to play football and I’ll take whatever comes with it.”

The words may not get you pumped up but when the reps begin to matter, you can rest assured that Teddy Two-Gloves will be out there trying to win the starting quarterback position for this team.

Lock wants the last laugh

It is known that Lock is in a battle for his job this season and that fact is not lost on him. George Paton executed a trade for Teddy Bridgewater to create a football habitat that breeds competition and growth.

“I think being in a quarterback competition—if you were to say last year not being in one—the mindset doesn’t change at all. I’m here to compete and do everything you can to be the best quarterback for this team. He elaborated, stating “I’m excited to be able to go out there and have this competition, push myself to a whole different level that maybe I wouldn’t have gotten to without this.”

It has been well documented, by multiple sources, that Lock has been single-minded in his off-season approach. Lock was also confirmed to be working with NFL and Bronco legend Peyton Manning in an attempt to get coached up and talk X’s and O’s.

Lock left no doubt that his plan is to lead this team to success in 2021.  “I was going to give everything I had this offseason—the offseasons before—but especially this one, to be able to come in and help this team get to the playoffs and help this city come back.”

Whether he can do so is another question entirely, but any failure will not be for a lack of trying.

And just in case you do not think Drew is paying attention to his doubters, he left no uncertainty, stating “Maybe I’ll go back one day, read and laugh about things that were being said by people who ended up being completely wrong.”

Von Miller is ready to work

Coming off of a lost season, due to a freak injury, Von Miller appears to be as motivated as ever to do what he does best — sack quarterbacks.

When asked about this being a ‘prove-it’ year, Miller said “Every time I walk out here, I feel like I’ve got to prove something. It’s not to you guys or the GM or anybody like that. It’s to myself. I love this game; I want to be a great. [The way people] feel about Kobe and Jordan and the type of guys they were in their sport, I want to do the same thing for my guys and my teammates. The time is now. I’ve been working hard, I’ve been grinding.”

Miller still has the ability to be one of the premier pass-rushers in this league and in tandem with Bradley Chubb this group has a chance to be special.

When asked about his potential impact playing alongside Chubb, Miller remarked “I just want to perform to the best of my ability. I want to do the same thing with me and Chubb out there. We just want to go out there and do what we’re supposed to do, live up to our potential and perform to the best of our ability.”

And don’t think he won’t have any fun doing it.

2 minutes of defeat, a year grinding

Courtland Sutton is another casualty of an infinitely unfortunate injury year for the Broncos last season. Sutton tore his ACL trying to make a tackle in the second game of the season following an errant throw by Lock that led to an interception.

When asked about how long it took him to adopt his positive mindset after his injury occurred, Sutton remarked, “When they told me it was actually torn, I had a good two minutes of letting everything happen and soaking everything in—the season is over, I’m going to have to rehab, I’m going to have to have surgery and all these different things about I’m going to have to do.”

He went on to say, “I’m big on mindset. How you look at things can really determine how a lot of things [play] out for you. Once I sat down, I realized that this is the situation I’m in right now. I can’t control that my ACL is torn, and I can’t control that I have to get surgery. However, the thing that I can control is how I attack this rehab once surgery is done.”

Sutton is considered a key to unlocking the potential of the Broncos offense in 2021. In his sophomore campaign, he gathered an impressive 72 receptions for 1112 yards and brought down 6 touchdowns.

His rapport with Lock seemed natural and paid dividends for their mutual growth and chemistry.

When asked about him suffering any setbacks or having any limitations he was quoted as saying,  “I don’t see myself coming back and having any setbacks, any hiccups or anything that I’ll say, ‘I can’t do that in my game anymore.’ I’ve been working my butt off in rehab and really attacking it so I can come back and not just be at the standard that I was before I got hurt. I’m trying to exceed that even more so. I don’t see myself coming back and losing any of those things that I was able to do. If anything, we’re going to be adding to that.”

Barring any setbacks, Sutton will provide one more dangerous weapon for whomever the starting quarterback will be. If he is able to return to his previous form this gives the Broncos a chance at a Pro-Bowl caliber performance from him in 2021.

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