The Broncos will have to decide on a starting quarterback come September 8, and while Trevor Siemian looks to be the frontman for the job, Saturday’s preseason game could go a long ways towards deciding the Week 1 starter.
Jim Fassel, former Denver Broncos offensive coordinator and New York Giants head coach, believes the decision should come down to more than just pure ability.
“When I worked with quarterbacks, that (athletic ability) is probably 20 percent. I want to get into his head,” Fassel said. “I want to know what he’s thinking. I wanna know how he prepares for the game. Leadership is what I’m saying. If you look at the history of the quarterbacks, the first rounders. If they don’t make it, it’s because they don’t have any leadership qualities.”
He points to former No. 2 overall pick, Ryan Leaf, as the perfect example of a quarterback with all the ability in the world and none of the intangibles.
“The poster boy is Ryan Leaf,” Fassel said. “He had a lot of talent, but he was the last guy in the building and the first guy to leave. The players had no respect for the guy.”
And when it comes to leadership, Siemian looks the part, at least according to C.J. Anderson.
“He’s just so calm,” Anderson said Thursday after practice. “There’s just something about him. He’s just calm and composed. He doesn’t get riled up. Nothing really gets to him. If you see somebody like that with that confidence, you look at him. Even if he doesn’t have an NFL snap under him. When you look at him, there’s just something about that kid that makes you want to go play for him.”
With Lynch, though, it’s hard to deny the physical talent.
“Outstanding. For a guy who’s 6-foot-7, he is excellent at bending his knees, his quickness, his carry of the ball,” Fassel said. “There isn’t anything that I looked at on his mechanics that I’d say, gotta change that. I watched him interact with players and coaches, and he looked very much into it. He was paying attention at all times, and he knew what he was doing.”
To catch the full interview with Jim Fassel, including his thoughts on Brock Osweiller, check out the podcast below…
https://soundcloud.com/milehighsports/8-25-16-former-nfl-hc-jim-fassel-joins-afternoon-drive-to-talk-bronco-qbs
Catch Afternoon Drive with Goodman and Shapiro Monday-Friday from 4p-6p on Mile High Sports AM 1340 | FM 104.7 or stream live any time for the best local coverage of Colorado sports from Denver’s biggest sports talk lineup.