Why Broncos are going with Trevor Siemian
Why we ride with Trevor Siemian can be summed up in two words: Alex Smith.
Smith shows that you don’t need to have a flashy game to win in this league. And win a lot. He’s had a perfect passer game. He has a 142 to 83 TD to INT ratio. He’s lead the league in completions, as well. He’s taken his teams to playoff games. He’s the guy that won’t dazzle you, but he gets the ball down the field and does it with very few interceptions. His play matches his personality. Efficient.
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Trevor Siemian is being held up to impossible standards. Denver fans have become quarterback snobs. While Peyton Manning had a poor last year, his pre-snap analysis was still the best in the league. Four years of having an elite quarterback like Manning, makes everybody else pale in comparison. His engaging and funny personality didn’t hurt, either.
While Siemian isn’t going to blow our doors off, he does know what he’s doing. Sounds simple, but it’s not. He is smart and can process information quickly. This means when a play is relayed to him, he knows where his team needs to line up and what look he wants on defense to make it happen.
He also has proper technique. His hand off and drops backs are correct. When he goes to make a throw, he’s in the right spot, with the right weight distribution. This goes far in making completions and using the entire playbook.
His team knows Siemian will have the correct line-up, call the right play and has enough scrambling and arm strength ability. I’m going to assume his no pulse demeanor translates well to keeping it professional. This makes him the leader in the huddle.
Combine these things and Siemian can execute the playbook Gary Kubiak wants. Kubes won’t have to call a timeout because the team is lined up incorrectly. Give Gary a Smith type of quarterback with our defense and he will win. That’s what it appears we have in Siemian.
Many are befuddled as to why it’s Siemian and not Paxton Lynch starting. Above is why. Lynch has the Elway style of play, but he has to master the Smith way, first. He’s hasn’t, yet.
His five step drops backs are the biggest stumbling block and combined with not being fully comfortable with the entire playbook, sending him out now, could set him up to fail.
In order for the scheme Kubes wants to play to work, the quarterback must drop back into the correct spot and/or step up in the pocket to the right spot. Lynch has three step, roll outs, and boots to perfection. He can make all the throws on the run. He can muscle a ball anywhere.
On his five step though, his steps are too big. A problem every super tall quarterback has to deal with. It’s very possible that with an offensive line that knows how to block for three or four seconds this issue may clean up sooner, rather than later. Repetitions in practice, with the first string OL should help.
When you know your protection is nil, it’s habit to drop away from the pressure to buy time. Unfortunately, this also is feasting time for good edge rushers. You’re the lone antelope at the watering hole.
Too big of steps besides making you dinner, has other issues, as well. Everyone has a job and a spot they want to be in. If your drop is too deep, that effects timing with the receivers. That extra foot, that extra split second is the difference between a ball hitting the sweet spot and one being a sour ball. The linemen, who aren’t small guys, may now be in your line of sight, too so seeing who’s covering your number one read will be rough. Even at 6’7″.
In short, this means accuracy is effected. If you know you’re now a split second late, you rush the ball, back foot throw it. You don’t see a defender and throw a pick. The timing is off and throw an incompletion. Follow your receiver with your eyes because you’re not in the right spot to lead a defender away from the play. While you may have every tool in the box, using a flat head when you need a Phillips screwdriver can be done, but not efficiently.
Siemian isn’t the exciting choice, but he’s the safe choice, for now. Until Lynch gets his feet right and knows the playbook well enough to call the correct plays, knows where everyone should be lined up, it does make sense to go with Smith talent over Elway talent if we’d like Lynch to live long enough to be the XXL Elway.
Whether that time is in a week, a month or six, Siemian is our guy, NOW. We can win with an Alex Siemian.
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