It’s all come down to this. OTAs. Minicamp. Training Camp. It’s all been building to Thursday’s big preseason opener against the Chicago Bears.
Okay, maybe we’re hyping it up a biiiiit much – it is just a preseason game, after all.
But first-year head coach Vance Joseph himself said on Tuesday that there is extra urgency heading into this game.
“For myself, yes,” Joseph said. “But, just to see our team, to see our young kids play and to see our quarterbacks play, it’s a huge, huge game for a lot of people on this football team including myself.”
And with opinions so divided across Broncos Country about what this team can be…
– A legitimate Super Bowl contender, some say, thanks to an all-world defense
– A major factor in the AFC West, arguably the best division in football, others believe
– A sub-.500 team led by a rookie head coach and lacking a definitive answer at quarterback, still others think
… the answers can’t come soon enough.
Fortunately, we’ll start to get some of those answers on Thursday.
Here are the top five questions the crew at Mile High Sports Radio wants answered by the time the final whistle blows on preseason game No. 1 at Soldier Field.
Les Shapiro – Afternoon Drive, M-F 4p-6p
How well will the offensive line work together in the run game?
John Elway has done a major overhaul on the offensive line this offseason. Three of four starters have been replaced (at least for now) and there are several positions still up for grabs through the preseason. Last year’s line struggled to open up lanes for the running game, even in a run-centric offense. Joseph says the running game will be a big part of what they do on offense this year, so what this new group can do for C.J. Anderson and the rest of the backfield will be a big marker of success this season.
TJ McBride – Walsh & McBride, M-F 2p-4p
Who steps up as the No. 3 receiver?
Bennie Fowler has the early lead, and Cody Latimer seems to have locked up a spot on the roster if only for his special teams prowess. Still, no one has outright grabbed the No. 3 spot behind Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. A handful of other receivers are in the mix; what they do against the Bears could be an early indicator of who else remains in the competition into next week.
Renaud Notaro – The Final Verdict, M-Th 6p-8p
Can the revamped defensive line stop the run?
Much like the O-line, the Broncos made it a point of emphasis heading into this season to beef up the interior D-line. Chicago’s running game was middle-of-the-road last year, and their quarterbacks are nothing to write home about. If the first-team defense, which is expected to play about three series, can shut down the Bears’ rushing attack it will be a good sign.
Sean Walsh – Walsh & McBride, M-F 2p-4p
What do the Henderson’s bring to the table?
Carlos Henderson (third round) and De’Angelo Henderson (fifth round) were both drafted for their big-play potential – Carlos as a wide receiver and kick returner, and De’Angelo out of the backfield. Both showed flashes during training camp, but both are battling a group of established veterans for playing time. Neither one will get a chance to play with the first-team offense, but if they can make some noise against lesser competition this week, they could vie for more playing time in the second and third preseason games.
Eric Goodman – Afternoon Drive, M-F 4p-6p
Will there be separation in the quarterback battle?
After splitting first-team reps through the entire offseason program, opinions are wildly divided over Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch. Vance Joseph himself has said that the competition remains open and that the decision will be made based on their performance across the offseason program as well as game. Still, there’s no better gauge of what a quarterback can do than against a real-life opponent.