Evans: Broncos need to now practice, not just preach, accountability

I like how the Denver Broncos approached this draft.

They put an emphasis on picking players who produced in college and, more importantly, were leaders and captains of their teams.

It’s a sound strategy. It’s as good a strategy you can hope for in the crapshoot that is the NFL Draft.

So while I like this draft class, expectations are way too high.

They are rookies. They’re like golf balls in high grass — lost.

The new collective bargaining agreement rules do no favors to teams like the Broncos, who are trying to rebui …er … re-tool their roster through the draft.

The CBA limits the amount of time teams can spend with players, which severely impacts their development.

The Los Angeles Rams recently did a study and found it takes rookies three years to get the kind of development they used to get in just one year prior to this recent CBA.

I’m warming to the idea of Chad Kelly.

If the biggest reasons he dropped down to “Mr. Irrelevant” status were injuries and off-field behavior, then Kelly dropping 40 pounds and recommitting to being a pro during his redshirt year should answer some of those concerns. Instead, it should allow us to focus on what he did in college.

Look at his junior year at Ole Miss, when he completed 65.1 percent of his passes for 4,042 yards and 31 touchdowns, not to mention he beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

I’m intrigued and want to see more of Kelly.

I want to see less of Paxton Lynch.

I’m just about over Paxton. The final straw was Vance Joseph coming out on Saturday and saying Lynch needed to R-E-L-A-X in his quest to win the backup quarterback job.

Are you kidding me?

The last thing he needs to do is relax. All he’s done for the last two years is relax.

His career is at a crossroads. He needs to feel a sense of urgency, both internally and from external sources … like his coach.

I don’t like all the focus and talk about backup quarterbacks but it’s important.

I’m not convinced Case Keenum is the answer.

In the absence of having a true starting quarterback, the focus naturally shifts to the backups. In the absence of having anyone at quarterback who you think is the long-term answer, then the debate as to why the Broncos didn’t draft a quarterback — either at No. 5 or later in Rounds 2 through 4 — is fair.

Until Denver has a clear-cut answer at quarterback, they should be in the business of drafting one every year.

I can’t help but eye roll when Vance Joseph talks about “accountability” as the team motto.

I’m not totally against the idea of mottos. When you’re trying to rebuild your culture and re-establish your identity, having a motto to rally around isn’t the worst thing.

But, “accountability?” Don’t you have to practice what you preach?

Is sending Isaiah McKenzie out for more punts after he’s fumbled demanding accountability? Is John Elway sticking with Lynch when Broncos veterans have had it with his lack of professionalism demanding accountability?

That motto sounds good. Now go out and act it.

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