Broncos Country: Stop Dividing Over Quarterback

For the last two seasons, there have been arguments among fans about who they believed should be the Denver Broncos starting quarterback…

In 2015-2016, Denver Broncos fans heavily debated amongst themselves about the quarterback position.  Last season Denver’s two quarterbacks were Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch.

As of today, those two remain as Denver’s only options at the position. The debate is ongoing and it has created division within Broncos Country.

Many fans wanted Lynch to start because Denver drafted him in the first round. Siemian was a huge question mark before last season even began. The hype advantage went in Lynch’s favor. He has amazing intangibles with athleticism, arm strength, and the ability to create plays with his legs. Oh, and he was a first round draft pick…

Fans only had a couple drives to go off of when evaluating Siemian, which came in Peyton Manning’s final year during the preseason games. With the expectation being that Lynch would be the day one starter against Carolina, Siemian went to work.

The odd variable in all of this was that Mark Sanchez at this point was still an option on the Broncos roster. Training Camp came and all three got reps with the ones and twos, but preseason would be the defining factor regarding who would start.

In four preseason games, Lynch threw for a total four touchdowns versus two interceptions and 458 total yards. His best action was against Chicago (final quarter) and Arizona (entire game). Lynch completed 58 percent of his throws.

Siemian played only three games during the preseason and started 2 of them. In his limited action he threw for 285 total yards with a 62.8 completion percentage. What separated the two had to deal with game management.

Siemian stood in the pocket more comfortably than Lynch did. Lynch was sacked a total of seven times compared to Siemian’s zero.

For Gary Kubiak and the Broncos, Siemian was the best option at quarterback at the time. Despite the decision, there were evident disagreements among Broncos fans.

Many NFL quarterbacks play as rookies when they are not ready which leaves them vulnerable to quick labels. Let’s take Vince Young, JaMarcus Russell, and Brady Quinn to be our example.

These quarterbacks were ‘the show’ from the very beginning and failed to live up to the lofty expectations. They simply were not emotionally, physically, or psychologically ready for the position.

The quarterback position is more than throwing the ball and standing in the pocket. It is about leadership, command, and uniting the offense. Quarterback is the common denominator in the NFL.

Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, and Carson Palmer are examples of a true quarterback. In my opinion, neither Lynch nor Siemian displayed some of those important qualities and that is perfectly okay.

Leadership takes time to develop. Some have the trait within them naturally, and with others it takes time. Both young quarterbacks spoke the proper way to the media which is also important in my eyes.

The Issue For The Denver Broncos

The issue I have is not with Siemian or Lynch, but the fans who demand that you choose one or the other or else you are not a fan of the team. I was disappointed last year when I actually saw supposed Broncos ‘fans’ rooting for Siemian to fail.

Siemian stood behind an offensive line that was a shambles with Paradis being the glue that held them together. A line where Siemian fell 31 times.

One game in particular that I witnessed Siemian withstand brutal hits and keep fighting was against the Saints. Siemian threw for 258 yards and threaded the needle to receivers while being sacked six times.

Lynch hesitated often in the pocket when facing pressure, and Siemian at times would hold onto the ball too long. So what’s the issue between these two?

It is insane to insinuate that if you don’t want Paxton to start or Trevor, that it makes you less of a Denver Broncos fan. This has always been my motto: whoever is behind center is the guy I will cheer for.

There are fans and analysts who love Paxton Lynch and hate Trevor Siemian, and vice versa. With the Tony Romo rumors escalating, the Broncos’ issue is not getting deeply involved with the media’s spin of things.

Next: Denver Broncos 2017 NFL Draft Primer

Fans must also allow both of these two men to compete for the spot, which Vance Joseph has already said will be something to look forward to in camp.

We must unite as a fanbase and not become divided because of who we think should or should not be our starting quarterback!