The Denver Broncos are going through growing pains, and rookie quarterback Bo Nix is front and center. Despite his early struggles in the regular season, his mindset is still aimed at steadily improving and growing regardless of the results. Hopefully sooner rather than later, that growth factor does lead to more wins.
Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix embracing growing pains
It hasn’t been the start Bo Nix has aimed for in his debut with the Denver Broncos. He’s struggled the first two weeks of the season, but if you watch the tape and don’t get so caught up in the outrage and hyperbole, there are areas he’s going to grow in.
Particularly, a lot of conversations surrounding Nix lately have been about stepping up and playing within the pocket. Even though he’s faced some pressure from T.J. Watt and other defenders, there’s been times on film where he stays patient and stays in the pocket versus quickly abandoning it. This is an important factor for head coach Sean Payton and his offense.
“He is comfortable in the pocket, and we’ve seen him climb the pocket countless times,” Payton said. “I think that consistency relative to the pocket is important for any young player. Ultimately in our league, you can get outside. With mobile quarterbacks, we see it all the time. Ultimately there are times where we have to win from the pocket. We’ve seen that from him. Tonight will be third down. There aren’t many designed out-of-pocket third [-down plays]. Occasionally, depending on down and distance you can do that, but he functions well in pocket.”
Nix has seen the adjustment of how fast NFL defenses are, and he’s getting acclimated to it.
“I think when you look at the experience, I think I’ve been fortunate to play in a lot of different kinds of pockets,” Nix said. “Some clean, some unclean. Sometimes I have to get on the move, sometimes you have all day. It kind of depends on the situations to be honest with you. Each team I’ve played with has had all the above. Moving forward, it’s just playing [with] what the defense gives you. Every once in a while, you feel a clean pocket [and] you sit in there and you make a throw. Sometimes they bring an extra guy, and you can’t block them, and you have to stay in there and still make a throw. Sometimes you have to escape, so it’s the happy medium of the quarterback position. That’s why elusive quarterbacks and guys on the move can hurt defenses if they use them properly.”
For Nix, it’s about developing more consistency in hitting some of the longer-range throws when his feet are set in the pocket, and Broncos Country should embrace the time it takes for any rookie quarterback to adjust. This team is building around Nix, and that will be their emphasis over the course of his rookie contract — it may not happen right now, but as Denver ‘rebuilds,’ they will be doing so with Nix in mind.
Denver has had some issues with drops at the skill player positions this year, but Nix believes that everybody is growing and that he’s more focused on encouraging his teammates.
“Well, it’s like me,” Nix said. “When I miss a pass, they don’t come up and harp on me. So I think I have to treat them the same exact way. We’re professionals and we have high standards, but we’re allowed to mess up, too, and we make mistakes. Those guys, I see them work every day. I see them continuously show up, make plays in practice, make plays in games. So I’m not going to get too uptight about one play. If there’s something that I can do to help them, I’m definitely always there for them, but I definitely think it’s a work in progress and we’re all—all 11 of us on offense, have things we can improve on. Sometimes a drop is seen on national television, but you didn’t see the inaccurate throw, or you didn’t see somebody that might have messed up within the play. So sometimes that is made bigger than what it is. I think it’s just a mistake that everybody makes, and we just have to continue to fix our mistakes.”
His leadership has been something his teammates have praised him for despite his early ups and downs.
