Drop the Mike: Hot takes from a laid-back Broncos camp
Aug 4, 2021, 6:12 AM | Updated: 12:48 pm
Okay, I know I’m coming out sounding like “Get Off My Lawn Guy,” but geez, NFL training camps are soft. No full pads. No tackling. Five-minute water breaks. Pumped-in crowd noise designed to get the crowd going and provide some juice.
When I go out to watch football practice, I want to watch… football. What passes for training camp these days isn’t it. Then again, when the season kicks off, all of this will be forgotten. Which, I guess, proves that the way they do things now isn’t really hurting the game we love so much.
More observations from Camp Fangio:
• Drew Lock is trying. He really is. He’s trying to be more of the QB the Broncos, and Broncos Country wants. He’s trying to make better decisions. He’s trying to make simpler throws. I know plenty of you are done with him and want anybody but Drew, but he is trying.
• Teddy Bridgewater has so far delivered as advertised. He’s in control. Throws a nice ball. Seems to read the defense. Thing is, I see the potential for more. He has a good arm. He is accurate. I wish he would try to be more of a big play quarterback. I don’t know if this is simply the way coaches want him to play or he feels is only chance to be a starter in the NFL is to be safe, but I believe it works to his detriment. He is safe. He does like the checkdowns. But for his sake, I would urge him to push the situation more. The way he plays now screams there is a ceiling to his game and that ceiling is pretty low. He needs to be more determined to break through it.
• So far, the QB battle is close. If it stays this way I would go with Lock. Just because his ceiling is potentially higher.
• It’s put up or shut up time for the Broncos. By that I mean for the last five years all I’ve heard is when you have a young QB or a veteran QB getting ready to be the man for the first time you have to support him with a good running game. Boy, the Broncos have certainly talked a good game. Every year, they say it, and then ignore it. This is the year they should walk the walk. The offensive line is as deep as its been since the Super Bowl years. I like the running back stable of Melvin Gordon, Javonte Williams and Mike Boone. There is no excuse for Pat Shurmur not to make a serious commitment to finally running the rock.
• I wonder if this is the year Broncos Country warms to Melvin Gordon? Last year, the reception was cool, to say the least. I get it. Former Charger. Contract that was regarded as overpaying. Coming in and being elevated over local hero Philip Lindsay. Gordon’s admission that Lindsay got in his head and rattled him was a big deal. Now, Lindsay is gone and Gordon is extra motivated going into a contract year. I liked Gordon last year. I’m looking for a big year this season.
• I like Pat Surtain. Kid looks like he can play. I also root for the guy because Broncos Country already has a bit of an unfair view of him because he’s not Justin Fields. While I understand a cornerback can’t immediately turn around the fortunes of a franchise like a QB can, I also know that if I take a look at all the Super Bowl winners through the years, I’ll find teams that had excellent, great cornerbacks. There is great value to have one. Plus, correct me if I’m wrong, but the last Broncos Super Bowl was won with an exceptional secondary and defense that covered up very mediocre quarterback play.
• Plenty of Broncos have a lot to prove but I don’t know if anyone has more to prove than Bradley Chubb. Has to prove he’s not injury prone. Needs to live up to his fifth-overall draft selection. Needs to show he’s worth a big contract. Chad Brown sat in with me recently and said the difference between a great season by Chubb and an average one could be the difference of $65 million for his next contract. Wow! Go get ’em, Chubb. No pressure!
