2017 Great Mile High QB Debate
The 2017 NFL Preseason will be underway when the Texans take on the Panthers on Wednesday. But the most anticipated storyline comes from the AFC West; specifically the Denver Broncos. Coming off of a Super Bowl 50 championship in 2015, the Broncos had a classic hangover and were the first defending champion since the 2013 Baltimore Ravens to miss the postseason and for the first time since 2010. It started by drafting rookie QB out of Memphis Paxton Lynch in the first round of the 2016 Draft. What followed was an unusual season for the Broncos in 2016 as they ended up having a winning record of 9-7, but missing the postseason to the Miami Dolphins; their first trip since 2008.
2017 has been a total rebuild for the Broncos as their head coach Gary Kubiak retired from coaching (only to find out later that he would come back as a scouting executive). Also, defensive mastermind Wade Phillips headed to L.A. (Rams) as their defensive coordinator. As for a new head coach, the Broncos looked and got in touch with another defensive coordinator. In fact, this defensive coordinator's former team knocked his current team out of the playoffs. His name is Vance Joseph. Joseph is more of a defensive minded coach himself, but throughout this offseason he has wanted to make the Denver offense better than it was last year. Speaking of offense, the Broncos hired "former" offensive coordinator and division rival head coach Mike McCoy to call the plays. To supersize the legendary "No Fly Zone", the Broncos also promoted DB coach Joe Woods to Defensive Coordinator.
In the 2017 draft, the Broncos upgraded their O-line with drafting first round pick out of Utah, Garrett Bolles. They also added 5th round pick and current punt returner Issiah McKenzie out of Georgia, and nephew of former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly, former Ole Miss QB Chad Kelly.
Like any presidential candidate, they need to have strong supporting ideas and reasoning on why they would be perfect for the job. The same goes for the two Broncos quarterbacks Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch. As for position competitions 3 have been decided. Starting LT goes to Garrett Bolles, starting punt returner goes to Issiah McKenzie, and starting RT goes to Menelik Watson. But the quarterback competition for the Denver Broncos will be decided before Week 1 comes. As for the preseason, the starter for Week 1 at the Chicago Bears will be Trevor Siemian and in Week 2 against the 49ers, it will be Lynch. Both of their performances in the next few weeks will be crucial in deciding who will be the starting quarterback for the Broncos when the host Week 1 for the first Monday Night Football game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Now of course there can always be the Kurt Warner story in which one (or 2) quarterback(s) get injured and some whacky guy from a grocery store takes an average offense, turns them into something great, takes them onto a postseason run for the ages, and wins his team the Super Bowl along with league and Super Bowl MVP honors. Like that's never happened before *cough*.
Well, I guess if that ever does happen, the Broncos always have Chad Kelly to back them up.
4 preseason games, two quarterbacks, one opening night starter for the Denver Broncos.