Stokley lauds Broncos OC Scangarello for adapting to QBs

When it comes to the developing the quarterback position, new Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello “gets it,” says Brandon Stokley.

The “Stokley and Zach” co-host lauded Scangarello after his introductory press conference on Thursday, especially regarding the play-caller’s philosophy of every quarterback is unique and the team must adapt to him, not vice versa.

“They can do anything with this offense. If you’re good under center, perfect. We’re going to have you under center and we’re going to put you in the shotgun,” Stokley said. “But if you’re better and feel more comfortable in the gun, you know what, we’re going to do more gun stuff. It’s fine. We’ve got this.

“We’ll adapt to you. You don’t have to adapt to us.”

Scangarello specifically pointed to when, as the San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks coach, he had to help develop Jimmy Garoppolo, who hadn’t been under center a lot in his young career.

“Early on, we felt it was easier to maybe put him in the gun. That’s our job, to put players in the situation to do what they do best,” Scangarello said.

That flexibility with quarterbacks, Stokley said, is something that’s been lacking from the Broncos in recent years, pointing to how the club managed former first-round pick Paxton Lynch.

“What was Paxton more comfortable doing? (Being) in the shotgun. He wasn’t very comfortable under center, and that was very evident,” Stokley said. “Did they put in him the shotgun most of the time? No, they tried to fit him into their system instead of adapting to him.”

Stokley said that the outcome with Lynch likely wouldn’t have changed much, but he believes that philosophy ended up hurting and delaying the young quarterback’s development.

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