Learning something new takes time.
Like driving a stick shift, speaking a new language or playing an instrument, mastering something comes down to repetition.
Some things take longer to learn than others, as both Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch are figuring out.
While both of them continue to battle it out to find out who will be the Denver Broncos starting quarterback come Sept. 11, they first have to master new Offensive Coordinator Mike McCoy‘s system.
“Just having to learn it and come out here and practice it against the defense you’re practicing against,” Lynch said is the most challenging part of learning the offense. “There’s very little room for error when you’re practicing against these guys because of the coverages that they play, and you know how good they are. There’s small windows to throw it into, but like I said, when you make a mistake there’s obviously going to be turnovers when you play a defense like this, and the best thing to do is learn from that. When you get in the game it’s not like practice, it’s easy because you’ve been through it before.”
While execution might be what Lynch considers to be the toughest part of the new offense, Siemian thinks it’s what happens before the ball is snapped that has been the toughest thing he’s had to adjust to in the new offense.
“I think just pre-snap, having an idea,” Siemian said. “It’s just a different deal as far as your mechanics once you break the huddle. You get your protections lined up, get your eyes in the right spot and then just play fast. Getting that feel, that’s kind of what I’m talking about. Getting comfortable where you’re feeling things more so than thinking things out. I think we’ve all grown quite a bit and it’s good to get these reps. We’re obviously excited to play somebody else pretty soon.”
One unique thing about the situation that Siemian and Lynch find themselves in is the number of quarterbacks around the organization that they can look to for advice. Starting at the top with President of Football Operations and General Manager John Elway, to Head Coach Vance Joseph, to McCoy and Quarterbacks Coach Bill Musgrave. According to Siemian, he’s already learned a great deal from Musgrave.
“For me as a quarterback, you just want to be exposed to a bunch of different philosophies, kind of see what you think like and pick up whatever you can,” Siemian said. “He’s a contrast personality-wise from [former Broncos QB Coach Greg Knapp] Knapper. I’ve enjoyed them both and I’ve picked up as much as I could from both of them. Bill is obviously super bright and done a lot of good things around the league, so I don’t take a day for granted in that meeting room.”
While the Broncos offense is still a work in progress, the primary thing both quarterbacks want to do is improve their game and help improve the team.
“I just think I know more who I am as a player after playing in live games,” Siemian said. “I think, like I’ve said before, I did some things okay last year and I did some things I really want to work on and get better at. For me, I want to improve and add value to this team. I think as a starting quarterback, that’s up to coach and what he decides, but that’s what I want to do; I want to add value to the Denver Broncos.”
“I think it’s just progressing and getting better day in and day out,” Lynch said. “I think that it’s important not to get caught up in the competition and trying to be better than this guy in this drill and better than this guy in that drill. I think it’s just about progressing day-in and day-out and making yourself a better football player and making the guys around you better.”