Denver Broncos: Calling for consistency from backup quarterbacks
The Denver Broncos are approaching their first preseason game of 2018, and still looking for consistency from Paxton Lynch and/or Chad Kelly…
If there’s one thing that will separate either Paxton Lynch or Chad Kelly in the Denver Broncos’ backup quarterback race, it’s consistency.
Head coach Vance Joseph said as much after the team’s ninth day of training camp practice.
"“We need more from those guys, obviously, as far as being consistent. I’m assuming every team in the league, with their backup, needs more consistency—except the Eagles probably. We have a starter and that’s Case Keenum. We’re pushing Paxton [Lynch] and we’re pushing Chad to be better quarterbacks, but Case is the starter and he should be the starter.”Vance Joseph (quotes via Broncos PR)"
What are the main weaknesses of the Broncos’ backup quarterbacks?
Bill Musgrave said earlier in training camp that Lynch came from an offense that he joked had an eight-play playbook. Coming to the NFL for Lynch forced him to expand his game mentally and it’s been a great challenge thus far.
Not only that, but Lynch struggles to make reads beyond his number one option in a progression. There have been a number of very blatant examples of Lynch’s inability to scan the field, which really cost him any shot at a starting job in the NFL this season.
For Kelly, his issue has obviously been staying healthy but he’s also got a tendency to revert to backyard football type of play when the first read breaks down.
As a result, and we saw this some on his college tape, he will take too many sacks.
We know Lynch and Kelly both have arm talent, but now they have to figure out a way to consistently make the right reads and understand what defenses are doing, and when they think they’ve got that figured out, they need to be ready to make adjustments to whatever the defense throws at them next.
As we saw last season with Case Keenum, it can take some players a significant amount of time to adjust to the caliber of these NFL players and play callers compared to the collegiate game.
dark. Next. Broncos depth chart revealed: Starters, surprises, analysis
Kelly played a much higher level of competition compared to Lynch in college, and some think he’s the favorite to win the backup job.
As of Saturday’s ‘scrimmage’, Kelly appeared to be the better of the two candidates, though again, neither has been overly consistent.
The Broncos need someone to emerge in the preseason, or they may need to look to some veteran options.