Schlereth: All Osweiler needs to do for Broncos is not ‘screw it up’

In his first press conference as the Denver Broncos starting quarterback since the 2015 season, Brock Osweiler said he was told one thing as he took over under center: “Protect the ball.”

“That’s absolutely where it starts,” Osweiler said on if limiting turnovers is his top directive. “In fact, every week in the National Football League, winning starts with protecting the football. … When you win the turnover margin and when you don’t turn the ball over at all, your chances of winning skyrocket.”

That theory seems to prove correct for the Broncos, who are 0-4 this season when the turnover ratio is minus-2 or greater. Just one game, Denver’s 16-10 win over the Oakland Raiders, has the team had a positive turnover ratio.

Head coach Vance Joseph said he’s “anxious” to see how good his offense can be when they don’t turn the ball over.

“It’s impossible to win in this league with three to four turnovers a game. Monday night, it was a 20-13 game with three minutes to go in the third quarter, and we have four turnovers,” Joseph said. “How about just two and see where we are?”

And that small spark, just not giving up the football, is the formula for success, said “Schlereth & Evans” co-host Mark Schlereth.

“A small little spark can start a roaring forest fire, and that’s all you need,” Schlereth said. “That’s what this defense is ready to provide if you just don’t turn the ball over.”

Basically, Schlereth said, “be in control” of the offense and let the defense take care of the rest.

“All you’re tasked to do if you’re Brock Osweiler is don’t screw it up,” Schlereth said.

And that’s a point seemingly not lost on Osweiler.

“The saying is, ‘Ball security is job security.’ If you protect the football, you’re going to stay out there on the field,” Osweiler said. “Game manager, protecting the football, whatever you call it, that’s our job every week.”

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.