Renck: ‘Platform’ there for Lynch to win Broncos job, ‘no excuses’
Jun 19, 2017, 9:15 PM | Updated: 9:17 pm
For the second offseason in a row, the Denver Broncos will head into training camp with no quarterback separating himself enough to be named the team’s starter.
Last season, second-year quarterback Trevor Siemian pushed veteran Mark Sanchez enough for then-head coach Gary Kubiak not to declare a winner ahead camp.
Now Siemian plays the role of the veteran, after not only winning the quarterback job in 2016 but starting 14 games, with another second-year guy, Paxton Lynch, making a push.
Lynch, the Broncos first-round pick last year, did end playing in three games last season, starting twice, and was given a 50-50 shot at competing for the starting role with Siemian by current head coach Vance Joseph.
But general consensus trended toward Siemian having the edge coming into OTAs, despite Joseph’s instance of an equal, fair competition.
However, as Denver 7 Broncos Insider Troy Renck told “Schlereth & Evans” on Monday, Lynch has had a “wonderful” offseason and brought the competition to “a point where they’re not declaring a winner.
“Even is probably a relative term because if they had to play today, I’m sure Siemian would have a slight edge because of his experience,” Renck said. “But if Siemian was that much better I don’t think they would wait and just say, ‘Oh, let’s create more drama for us because it’s so much fun to have a quarterback competition in camp.’
“He’s brought it close enough, just as Siemian did with Mark Sanchez.”
Because of NFL team’s propensity to “hate uncertainty,” Renck said he gives Lynch credit for making enough progress to make it a true competition with Siemian.
But there are no more excuses, Renck said.
“If Lynch is the player everyone thinks he is, the platform is there for him to go win the job. No excuses. The platform is there now. No excuses,” Renck said. “This offense fits him better. He’s in a true competition. If he’s the guy everyone thinks he is, then go win the job. It’s that simple because he has that opportunity now.”
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