Could one of the offensive whiz kids be the solution for Drew Lock?
Jan 26, 2022, 6:41 AM | Updated: 6:42 am
Thoughts on the Broncos Coaching Search and other offseason observations…
• I’m just not feeling it with Nathaniel Hackett. The Broncos have him as one of their three finalists and they just conducted an eight-hour, follow-up interview with him. However, I’m not fired up about the idea of him being the head coach. I would prefer someone who has coached before. He hasn’t. Plus, is he some kind of offensive wunderkind? He had a good year in 2017 running the Jacksonville offense. But the next season, he was fired midway, during a seven-game skid. The problems with the Jags offense centered around slow starts and struggles in the red zone. Sorry! I just got off the Pat Shurmur rollercoaster that featured many of those same stomach churning ups and downs. No thanks.
• Dan Quinn remains my choice. I know some of you mock the idea of a “culture builder.” All I know is when Peyton Manning arrived on the scene, the culture changed overnight. There was a new standard. There was a new professionalism. While I acknowledge a coach can’t do that as rapidly as a future Hall of Fame quarterback can, the coach can make a difference. The Broncos need that. A losing culture has permeated Dove Valley. I don’t know if there’s a standard or what it is. If Quinn can deliver as advertised, that will go a long way towards turning things around.
• Kevin O’Connell? I get it. The Sean McVay/Kyle Shanahan influence is strong right now. Of course, I thought the idea of the offensive whiz kid took a bit of a hit during last weekend’s NFL Divisional Round. Zac Taylor’s offense scored 19 points, gave up nine sacks, and Taylor himself was trying to call a timeout on the interception that gave the ball back to the Bengals and allowed them to win the game. Shanahan’s 49ers won with defense and special teams. Matt LaFleur was the architect of a second-consecutive Green Bay gag job that mustered one opening drive TD. McVay’s offense delivered, but he was at the helm as the Rams came this close to blowing a 27-3 lead (I’m sure Quinn with his 28-3 choke job in the Super Bowl was rooting for Tom Brady to do it again). So do I meed to have O’Connell? Lets just say unless you’re telling me the Broncos have a stud QB coming in, I’m not aware of I sincerely doubt O’Connell would dazzle Broncos Country. Probably more along the line of painful rookie seasons in the spirit of McDaniels, VJ and Vic.
• Speaking of QBs. The Aaron Rodgers’ candle is once again burning bright! I said prior to the San Francisco game that all it would take is a Packers upset loss to send the Mercurial One into a tizzy that would lead to him wanting out of Green Bay. Mission accomplished. Thank you 49ers and Lafleur. Now the question is does he still want to play (he does) and how many trade suitors would the Packers have besides the Broncos?
• I’m liking Jimmy Garappolo more and more. If the Broncos can’t land any of the Big Three QBs (Rodgers, Wilson or Watson), then trading for Jimmy G would be at the top of my Plan B list. The numbers don’t jump off the page, but he’s a winner. He went to the Super Bowl two years ago. He led an impressive game-tying drive in the regular season finale and then again in OT to get the 49ers into the playoffs. Then, he won in Dallas. Then, he was the QB still standing – not Rodgers – in the cold at Lambeau. I can win with a guy like that. Especially one who just turned 30 and still isn’t in his prime.
• The question is at what point does SF have to shelve their plans to hand the reigns over to Trey Lance, who they gave up a haul for in trade and stay with Jimmy? I still believe even now the plans haven’t changed. I believe SF would have to win the Super Bowl in order to stay with Jimmy and perhaps even look to trade Lance. Anything short of that, Jimmy goes on the market. George Paton should be ready to swoop.
• Finally, a thought on Drew Lock. If the Broncos can’t or won’t trade for a veteran QB, and if the draft prospects aren’t that enticing, why not give Lock another chance? Before you scream and toss your phone, hear me out.
• How is it that we spent the entire season blasting the Broncos coaching, but don’t use it to explain Lock’s struggles? We hammered Pat Shurmur every week, right? Well, how can you blame so much on the Broncos coaching and think that coaching didn’t hurt Lock’s development? Especially when we now realize the so called 50/50 competition in camp was a charade and Vic Fangio made it quite clear he couldn’t stand the idea of Drew being his QB? Stay with me on this.
• So if these offensive whiz kids make that much of a difference and really work wonders, doesn’t it logically follow they could probably do a lot more with Lock than what Shurmur did these last two years? If the difference between Lock and any of the college QBs you’d be thinking of taking with the ninth pick isn’t that big, then why not give Lock another chance? If you don’t trade for a vet? Something to think about.
• All done. Going to stare reverently at my Aaron Rodgers’ candle.
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