Big Al: Broncos Country can’t be mad at Case Keenum any longer

Through 13 games with the Denver Broncos, Case Keenum has been … well … Case Keenum-like. His 61.8 completion percentage sits just 1/10 of a point behind his career average (61.9). His yards per catch is the exact same (11.2). Even his passer rating (84.3) is just more than a point below his career average (85.5).

So, no longer can Broncos Country be mad at Keenum, said “The Drive” co-host Alfred “Big Al” Williams.

“It’s not Case Keenum’s fault that he got paid. And, you know what? He’s doing what Case Keenum does,” Williams said. “But when you say it like that, it almost sounds like you’re being derogatory, when you say that this is who Case Keenum is.”

In fact, Williams pointed out on Monday, Keenum is “on pace for having his best year ever.”

“I don’t think people around here in Denver even know. He’s 300 yards from beating his total last year in Minnesota when he started 14 games,” Williams said.

“He’s having a great Case Keenum year,” said Williams’ co-host, DMac, who called it a “great story for an undrafted guy.”

But the quarterback situation in Denver, DMac said, shouldn’t surprise anyone.

In terms of his contract, Keenum is 17th among quarterbacks in the NFL in terms of average salary at $18 million per year, according to Spotrac.com.

Statistically, Keenum ranks 27th in completion percentage (61.8), 27th in passer rating (84.3), 24th in touchdowns (15), 16th in passing yards (3,139), and 14th in interceptions (10).

“I didn’t see Case Keenum as a seven-year guy and neither did John Elway, frankly, because they signed him to a two-year contract, which was a good contract to sign,” DMac said.

But DMac said part of the two-year plan for Keenum should have also been “picking up a possible quarterback of the future.”

“The Broncos are exactly where they should be for the decisions they’ve made. And I’m glad Bradley Chubb is a really good player, but a sack is not equivalent to a touchdown,” DMac said.

As for games like Sunday’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers, however, Williams said the Broncos need to put Keenum in a “better position to play a winning style of football.”

“Our offensive line missed blocks. Our receivers missed blocks. Case Keenum is not going to carry this team. So, everything that you do outside of the quarterback play has to be efficient,” Williams said. “The quarterback is trying to be efficient. Everybody else on the offense has to operate at the same efficiency if we’re going to have any offensive production.”

On the day, Keenum completed 24 passes on 42 attempts for 186 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions, and had a passer rating of 76.1.

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