The Denver Broncos have had quite the tumultuous offseason, and we are still more than a month out from training camp. But make no mistake. Their eyes are still on the prize.
First, there was Brock Osweiler shattering the dreams of any who saw him as the quarterback of the future. There was the departures of Danny Trevathan and Malik Jackson, the prolonged saga of Von Miller’s contract deal, and finally – Sunday morning’s news about Aqib Talib.
Talib suffered a gunshot wound to the leg, reportedly at a Dallas strip club, just over 24 hours before he was supposed to depart for Washington D.C. with his teammates to meet the President.
Through it all, head coach Gary Kubiak has kept his eyes and his mind focused forward – a tactic that his team emulates.
“Coach Kubiak just has a great way of grabbing everyone’s attention and getting to the truth of the matter quickly – whether it’s on the outside or the inside,” quarterback Mark Sanchez said after Tuesday’s mandatory minicamp practice. “Even if it’s the simple message to do your job, but the blinders on and quit listening to the crap on the outside. It doesn’t matter.”
Sanchez got reps with the first team Tuesday at practice, while Trevor Siemian worked with the twos and rookie Paxton Lynch threw with the third team. But that status, much like the offseason drama, carries little to no weight for this team.
Kubiak told the media that a depth chart at quarterback would be released at the start of training camp, but stressed it would be subject to change based on what he sees from the guys on a day-to-day basis.
Lynch, though naturally disappointed with his temporary position at number three, said he intends to take full advantage, whether he is on the field or off.
“I’m still getting my reps, and even when I’m not in, I’m watching those guys and getting the reps I can when they are going,” Lynch said. “The biggest thing is, when they are calling a play in the headset, I’m just saying it to myself outloud, so I can get used to it. Just like I am out there, going through the play myself.”
Running back C.J. Anderson says the strategy Kubiak has implemented concerning the three quarterbacks is beneficial for the rest of the offense in allowing them to build a rapport.
“I think these reps are critical for all of us,” Anderson said. Emmanuel [Sanders] and D.T. [Demaryius Thomas], they get a chance to get a ball from all three quarterbacks. Me, Ronnie [Hillman] and Devontae [Booker], we get a chance to get a ball from all three quarterbacks, so I just think the rhythm is good. Whoever is in there starting, we’ll be ready to go.”
For a team that lost a couple of its defensive stars, its future Hall of Fame quarterback and his backup, Anderson and his teammates remain optimistic and extremely confident.
“This time last year, we had 40-plus players learning the whole offense. All of us know the offense so we can catch up everyone who is here to help us win, catch them up to speed,” Anderson said. ““I’m all in, all here. All in for us to win Super Bowl 51.”