Offseason training activities don’t usually reveal a great deal, but there were some major revelations during Day 1 of Broncos OTAs at UCHealth Training Center.
As the entire roster of 2017 Denver Broncos gathered for their first day of on-field team training, several things became very clear to those in attendance. Chief among them, new head coach Vance Joseph will indeed make the quarterback competition fair and balanced between returning starter Trevor Siemian and 2016 first-round draft pick Paxton Lynch.
VJ says Siemian and Lynch will alternate days at QB. Each guy will get 5 days with the ones #Broncos
— Jake Marsing (@JakeDMarsing) May 23, 2017
No one would have faulted Joseph for giving Siemian the lion’s share of reps. He is, after all, the returning starter and led the team to an 8-6 record in his starts last season.
Additionally, Joseph revealed that the team does not intend to bring in additional veteran quarterbacks to compete against Siemian and Lynch. Last year Denver brought Mark Sanchez to camp, only to see Siemian win the job in the preseason.
Coach Joseph says that Sloter is the 4th QB and they aren't planning on bringing in any other QBs pic.twitter.com/5oJ8MQNRco
— Ryan Edwards (@redwardsradio) May 23, 2017
Joseph told the gathered media he is also content with the tight end group at the present moment. Outside of Virgil Green, Denver’s tight ends unit has a combined 26 NFL receptions and zero touchdowns. Green only has 57 and three himself, so there’s absolutely a need for playmakers at that position.
Vance Joseph says he is content with the TE group as it stands.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) May 23, 2017
As expected, first-round draft pick Garett Bolles will compete with veterans Ty Sambrailo and Donald Stephenson for the left tackle position.
Stephenson, Bolles and Sambrailo competing at LT
— Ryan Edwards (@redwardsradio) May 23, 2017
But in probably the biggest surprise of the day, Joseph said that Stephenson has the starting job for now and that Bolles will have to earn that position.
Bolles and Stevenson will NOT rotate equally. Bolles will have to earn it. Stevenson IS the starter. pic.twitter.com/OdYPPVRxyF
— Darren McKee (@DMacSportsCO) May 23, 2017
Considering Stephenson and Sambrailo were both at one point considered among the five worst tackles in the NFL last year, it’s a big surprise that Bolles won’t have more of an opportunity to push them aside right out of the gate.
Given the open nature of the QB competition, it’s a little strange that there’s not a similar approach with the position of greatest need for improvement on the roster.
Featured Image Credit: Ryan Greene, 5280 Sports Network