Saints coach Payton ‘impressed’ with Broncos QB Siemian in 2016

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton certainly knows his way around a quarterback.

During his entire tenure as an NFL head coach, Payton’s had a hall of fame-worthy gunslinger at his disposal: Drew Brees.

To say he knows a thing about high-quality quarterback play is an understatement. And an endorsement carries quite a bit of weight.

For instance, the 10-year head coach told “Schlereth and Evans” on Wednesday that Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian “impressed” him in his first real year as an NFL starter in 2016.

“That’s quite and endorsement from a guy who’s widely regarded as one of the top 10 offensive minds in the NFL, maybe higher,” co-host Mike Evans said.

Payton, whose Saints hosted the Broncos in Week 10 last season, said what struck him about Siemian was the young quarterback’s poise, especially with his inexperience under center.

“We use terms like, ‘Well, he’s going to play within himself.’ Well, part of being a good quarterback is eliminating errors and keeping away from plays that potentially keep your team or your offense from having success,” Payton said. “It’s the one position that touches the football every play while you’re on offense.

“And so, often times that player can fly their team into a mountain if you’re not careful. And I think he’s someone, in year one, who played with that poise.”

In 14 starts in 2016, Siemian ranked 15th in the NFL in terms of the percentage (2.1) of passes that were intercepted compared to attempts. Brees graded out at No. 17.

Payton also said he saw on film leading up to the early November tilt that Siemian had a command of what the Broncos wanted to do offensively, and he’s a player that coaches can have confidence in him despite a coaching staff shakeup during the offseason.

“I’m sure they’ll be some tweaks. I’m sure they’ll be some things that change with the turnover in staff there. And yet, you saw someone you trusted,” Payton said. “Now, where his skill set goes and how much further he gets developed in the vision for what they’re wanting offensively there will be interesting to follow. But I was impressed.”

“Schlereth and Evans” co-host Mark Schlereth agreed, though he did say Siemian needed to take further steps in making quicker decisions and protecting himself on the field.

“Know what you want to do. Be able to be accurate. Those things are all Trevor Siemian. The issues that you got into was holding the ball too long, sometimes not making the quick decision,” Schlereth said.

He added: “You can say, and I have, he earned the respect of his teammates. Because there was nobody any tougher than Trevor Siemian this year. That guy got waylaid. So, it was incredible toughness that he showed.

“Now you’ve got to learn to do the Peyton Manning origami and fold like a swan, the self-sack. You’ve just got to fold up. You’ve got to learn to protect your body, and then you’ve got to learn at times when just to get the ball out of your hand and say, ‘Hey, live to fight another day.'”

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