Schlereth breaks down why Case Keenum is effective in the 4th quarter

In the Denver Broncos last drive Sunday to set up a game-winning field goal against the Los Angeles Chargers, quarterback Case Keenum went 5-of-5 passing for 86 yards. Before that last-minute, hurry-up drive, Keenum was just 14-of-27 for 119 yards.

On Tuesday, “Schlereth and Evans’ co-host Mark Schlereth explained that Keenum seems to “just have a better flow” in hurry-up situations because of the looks defensive give.

“When you’re in hurry-up, often times you can’t be as exotic. When you’re going to snap the ball, you’ve got to show what you’re in,” Schlereth said. “You’ve got to, basically, tip your hand and you’ve got to lay it out on the table.”

Head coach Vance Joseph offered a similar explanation on Monday.

“He likes the challenge of bringing our team back. I think the looks are cleaner from a defensive perspective,” Joseph said. “He’s always been that way. From college to his NFL career, he’s been a gamer.

“He’s played his best football in the critical moments. Our team expects that from Case and he’s been good at it.”

In 2018, Keenum’s fourth-quarter quarterback rating ranks highest at 93.7, more than 30 points higher than his third quarter rating (63.4).

Keenum has thrown for a better completion percentage (70.48), more yards (808), and more touchdowns (4).

But, if “going fast,” as Joseph put it, helps Keenum with better looks defensively, why not do it the whole game?

“I know you can’t do it all the time, but you can do more of it,” Schlereth said. “You can do it in regular situations.”

Schlereth said that, among other things, hurry-up offenses eliminates much of the running plays in the playbook and team’s ability to be situational — relying on multiple packages and personnel groupings.

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.