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Schlereth: Broncos should ‘go with Sanchez’ at starting QB

Aug 22, 2016, 7:27 PM | Updated: 7:30 pm

The Denver Broncos have, for at least Game 3 of the preseason, a starting quarterback. And he’s not the gunslinger ESPN NFL analyst and co-host of 104.3 The Fan’s “Schlereth and Evans” Mark Schlereth wanted under center.

Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak announced Monday that second-year pro Trevor Siemian, not veteran Mark Schlereth, would be starting preseason Game 3 against the Los Angeles Rams Saturday night.

Before Kubiak’s press conference Monday, Schlereth said the team should settle on Sanchez to start at quarterback for the regular season opener Sept. 8 against the Carolina Panthers.

“I think the sacrificial lamb that goes out first, for the first opportunity, is Mark Sanchez,” Schlereth said Monday morning. “… I think that’s the guy who you say, ‘Hey, I want some continuity. He’s my starter.’ Name it, and it’s subject to change.”

Right now the competition ongoing, as Kubiak not only didn’t name a No. 2 quarterback for Saturday’s tilt but also said Siemian, despite the start, hasn’t beat the competition for the starting job. Siemian, Sanchez, and rookie first-round draft pick Paxton Lynch will see equal playing time against the Rams.

“I think Trevor did a good job the other night. Obviously he has one play that he’d like to have back or it would have been as good as it could be,” Kubiak said. “I’m going to go back and give him a chance to do that again, but like I said, we’re going to play them equally.”

Schlereth settled on Sanchez because he believes Siemian looked rattled after throwing a pick six last Saturday against the San Francisco 49ers. Siemian had been 10 for 11 until the interception and followed up that drive with one ending in a punt.

“You have got to be able to just be like, ‘Well, that’s over. Moving on. Doesn’t bother me a bit.’ And you could see him go kind of go into a shell. It just didn’t look the same,” Schlereth said.

Kubiak, who said Lynch has always been in the mix for the starting role after Saturday’s game, said, “we’ll see how it works out,” in terms of the rookie quarterback getting any reps with the first team offense against St. Louis.

Schlereth, however, said he thinks it a mistake to play Lynch early, despite the energy he brings to the field and the clamoring on social media to hurry up the process.

“I get that Paxton Lynch is playing with some energy and playing with third teamers, playing against third-team defenses. There’s no question about his athleticism and his gift and all this stuff,” Schlereth said. “But I just don’t think you want him out there Thursday Night against the Carolina Panthers.”

Follow 104.3 The Fan digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.

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