The names Brock Osweiler and Peyton Manning certainly have been incendiary over the past week. From Manning being benched during the 29-13 loss to Kansas City and Osweiler leading the team to their only points that day, from the questions surrounding Manning’s injury to Osweiler’s short- and long-term future with the team, it may not be a full-blown “quarterback controversy” at the moment, but one mention pro or con of either name has proven it will fire up the fan base.
Inside the Broncos’ locker room, at least one defender thinks things are about to go boom for Brock Osweiler – in a good way.
“I think he’s going to go off and explode,” defensive end Malik Jackson told Sports Stampede on Mile High Sports AM 1340 earlier in the week. In his weekly appearance, Jackson said Osweiler “looks good” and is as prepared as anyone in his position could be.
As if getting his first NFL start wasn’t enough pressure, Osweiler will be doing so in place of the legendary Manning, with his team currently at 7-2 and in the driver’s seat for the AFC West, starting on his 25th birthday, against his former head coach and offensive coordinator (the only ones he knew through his first three years in the league), John Fox and Adam Gase. Despite all that pressure, Jackson says the young quarterback is ready.
He also says the Broncos defense isn’t deflated after surrendering 29 points to the Chiefs last week, their highest total allowed on the season and one that caused them to fall out the league’s top spot in points allowed. Against Kansas City, the defense was actually quite strong, allowing less than 20 yards per possession, but was routinely forced to defend a short field due in part to five offensive turnovers and multiple onside kicks.
Despite the setbacks, Jackson says the defense is undeterred in it’s mission to remain one of the dominant units in the league. “Anyone can go out there and stop someone from their zero or their five,” he said. They were holding their heads high after the loss to Kansas City, even after giving up nearly 30 points, because they held the Chiefs mostly to field goals despite an average starting field position of nearly the 50-yard line.
If Osweiler is truly prepared and ready to but up some big numbers as Jackson suggests, the defense can get back to playing the aggressive, attacking style that has made it one of the best in football through the first 10 weeks. Jackson would be just fine with that, and would be happy to greet his old head coach with some sacks. “A few sacks would be nice,” he said, laughing.
Jackson doesn’t seem worried about the switch at quarterback. If he’s right, all the explosive talk that’s been going on over the past week will go “boom” with a Broncos win.
Catch the full conversation with Jackson in the podcast below…
Catch Sports Stampede every Saturday from 8a-10a on Mile High Sports AM 1340 or stream live any time for the best local coverage of what’s new and what’s next in Colorado sports.