After finishing 9-7 and outside of the playoffs last year, the Denver Broncos are keeping all options on the table for finding the best lineup to get them back to the NFL’s second season in 2017.
New head coach Vance Joseph made it clear that he’s making it an open competition at several key positions, including quarterback. Here’s what Joseph had to say Tuesday about the various position battles that are already underway, after day one of OTAs. All quotes courtesy of Broncos PR.
On how he plans to split the reps between veteran quarterbacks
“It’ll be day-by-day. Today it was [QB] Trevor’s [Siemian] turn to be with the first unit. Tomorrow it will be [QB] Paxton’s [Lynch]. It will be day-by-day. There are 10 OTAs, so it will be five and five, very even.”
On what he’s looking for in the quarterbacks
“All of the above: decision making, accuracy, command of the huddle and consistency. That’s always key with quarterback play. So far so good. It’s the first day. Both guys were engaged. It was a good day.”
On whether QB Kyle Sloter will stand as the fourth quarterback
“Kyle is that guy. We’ve got four on the roster right now that we’re satisfied with. Obviously, the two veteran guys (Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch) and the two young guys (Kyle Sloter and Chad Kelly). We’re satisfied with that.”
On splitting reps between left tackles
“It’s a different deal there. Obviously we drafted [T Garett] Bolles in the first round, but he’s got to earn his place. [T Donald] Stephenson has been here every day between Phase 1 and Phase 2. He’s a veteran player, he played for us last year. As far as a starter right now, it’s Stephenson with Bolles. We’re also working in [OL] Ty Sambrailo there. So, it’s three guys working the left tackle position.”
On whether Sambrailo has a chance to start at left tackle
“Absolutely. Everyone has a chance. Every guy who plays tackle on this team has chance. Every player has a chance to be a main guy for this football team.”
On if Bolles is receiving an extra ‘push’ to become starter
“Not really. He is a rookie that has to earn his way. That starts with the classroom and knowing what to do. Then, transferring from the classroom to the field. He’s no different than [WR] Carlos Henderson or [DE] DeMarcus Walker. He’s a rookie, he has to earn his way.”
On the tight end group
“It’s a mixed-bag group. It’s a big blocker in [TE Virgil] Green. It’s a new move guy in [TE A.J.] Derby. It’s a young guy in [TE Jeff] Heuerman. It’s a group of great potential first of all. It’s exciting to watch those guys go make plays. Our safeties are really, really good players, [S T.J.] Ward and those guys—so to beat those guys one on one, that’s fun to see.”
On TE Jake Butt hearing calls in the huddle while recovering from injury
“It helps a lot because a rookie in this league, knowing what to do is half the battle. Once he’s healthy and he’s getting full live reps, it’s going to obviously pay dividends. He’s heard these plays over and over again during the entire offseason.”
On who will be filling the defensive end position opposite DE Derek Wolfe
“First of all, a defensive end position is usually a rotational position. It’s going to take probably five guys to fill that role. Whoever starts, it won’t matter much, they’ll all play. Right now it’s [DE Jared] Crick because he earned that last year, and obviously, [DE] Zach Kerr signed. We have [DE Adam] Gotsis who’s healthy again. And we’ve got [DE DeMarcus] Walker, the Florida State draft pick. We got five guys who can play there. Whoever starts, it doesn’t matter. It’s a rotational group position—by committee I should say.”
On where Kerr will play
“Kerr’s played some nose. That’s the beauty of having Kerr. He’s played nose, the five[-technique] and the three[-technique]. He’s a big body like that can hold a point at nose, but he’s a quick athlete inside that can rush the passer. He’s a beauty to have inside. He can play nose, five or three. Even on sub-downs, he can rush inside for us. It’s great having a guy like that.”
