Williams: Broncos offense with Musgrave, Lynch will ‘look way better’
Nov 22, 2017, 3:06 PM | Updated: 3:43 pm
Denver Broncos head coach Vance Joseph said on Wednesday the need for his squad to play better offensively not only led him to change up coordinators earlier this week but also make the move to second-year quarterback Paxton Lynch.
Lynch, the Broncos 2016 first-round draft pick, will make his first start of the season (third of his career) after first losing the training camp quarterback competition to Trevor Siemian then injuring his throwing shoulder.
“He’s worked hard. He’s healthy. He’s ready to go,” Joseph said on Wednesday after practice.
Joseph said he doesn’t expect Lynch to play perfect, but the team, including newly-named offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave, are coaching him to the “point where he can be efficient.”
“Running the football is always a must for a young quarterback. And giving him a chance to have some easy completions, that’s also a must for a young quarterback,” Joseph said.
And with the new coordinator and simplification of the playbook, “The Drive” host Alfred Williams predicts the “offense is going to look way better.”
“The reads should be clear. It should be a one-read, maybe two-read, offense for the quarterback. Maybe more sprint passes, more boots, more things to get the ball out of the hands of the quarterback quickly so that there is not a whole lot of “sit back and read the defense” type of stuff,” Williams said on Tuesday.
“I don’t know if the passes will be accurate, but at least the coordination will be there.”
“Schlereth & Evans” host Mark Schlereth too said he thinks Lynch can thrive in a more efficient offense.
“I think you’ll see a style of offense that fits his skill set. I think you’ll see a lot of the zone read plays. I think you’ll see a lot of the run-pass option stuff. I bet you’ll see a lot of single-receiver routes and things of that nature,” Schlereth said on Wednesday.
“I think he’ll play pretty well.”
However, Schlereth still predicted the Broncos to drop Sunday’s game in Oakland against the Raiders, though it will be tighter than previously anticipated.
“I think you’ll see them more a lot more than 16 points or whatever they’ve been averaging,” Schlereth said.
Denver’s averaged 18.3 points per game, putting them at 24th in the NFL.
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.