A glimpse inside the psychology of the Broncos QB battle

The Denver Broncos preseason tilt with the San Francisco 49ers was billed as what second-year pro Trevor Siemian could do in a starting role coupled with how Mark Sanchez would perform with the second team.

Both came out strong in their first reps, driving the ball down the field. But perhaps most the most telling information gathered from the game was how Sanchez and Siemian handled adversity.

Siemian — who engineered a 10-play, 81-yard touchdown drive to start out the game — fizzled after throwing a pick six in his third drive. He would throw just two more passes, both incomplete, before being replaced.

Sanchez — who also led a long scoring drive to start out his reps — fumbled twice late in the first half deep in San Francisco territory, squandering two possible scoring chances. He’d go three-and-out to finish up his game.

And the scrutinizing commenced following the game, with some saying Siemian looked “rattled” after the interception and Sanchez — dejected.

However, performance psychologist Dr. Rick Perea offered his insight into what we may have been seeing with each quarterback as he joined 104.3 The Fan’s Sandy Clough Tuesday.

“We can’t always get an accurate reading on quarterback performance because there’s so much that it involves in terms of play call and personnel groupings,” Perea said. “Now that being said, you can look at non-verbal communication and watch these quarterbacks after they throw a pick six and determine whether they really are believing in themselves.”

Perea, who has experience being around Siemian during his time both in college at Northwester and last year with the Broncos, said Siemian’s personality is one of not highs and lows but of more an even keel and thus not easily deciphered from the stands or the press box.

“He is a guy that is more consistent, more plays within a regulated realm, so we’re not going to see necessarily that high up and down performance from him,” Perea said. “But, again, I wouldn’t read too much into how he performed after the pick six because he plays a dependent position — play calls, personnel groupings — and it’s the preseason.”

Sanchez had his share of critics following the game, also, but perhaps none harsher than himself.

Said Sanchez following the game: “I just squandered a great opportunity to separate myself, and I put the team in a bad situation. There’s no excuse for that, poor, poor quarterback play.”

Clough called the remarks “candid” but not the stuff of leaders.

“Even more discouraging might be what he said when asked if it was difficult to not know who would be the team’s starter so deep in the preseason and said, ‘It’s difficult playing like crap on two plays and ruining an opportunity. That’s difficult.’ That can’t be your leader,” Clough said.

Perea offered insight into Sanchez’s personality also. The two interacted during an outing in which Sanchez and his offensive line attended a Colorado Rockies — whom Perea also works with ­— game earlier in the offseason.

Sanchez, Perea explained, seems to come from a place of “deficit thinking” — wherein players motivate themselves to well out of fear.

“From my perception and my interaction with Mark from that time, I came away thinking he kind of operates from that deficit model,” Perea said. “… There’s been people who have done it over time, but it’s not long-term lasting.

“So if I were working with him, that’s the piece I would work on, to help him be a more of an asset thinker and what he can do as opposed to what he can’t do.”

And from a mental perspective, Perea said he’d give the edge to Siemian over Sanchez.

“I think Gary (Kubiak) is looking for someone to be more of an asset aspect to their quarterback position instead of a deficit,” Perea said.

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