In the off-season, the Denver Broncos inked free-agent quarterback Case Keenum to be the team’s starting quarterback. Overall, the move was met with praise, as well as skepticism. Many saw Keenum as a clear upgrade over Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch. But others worried Keenum wouldn’t perform as well as he did for the Minnesota Vikings in 2017. What’s going to separate Keenum from being the Broncos franchise quarterback and just a spot-gap “bridge” quarterback? It all starts with the Broncos home-opener against the Seattle Seahawks. Here are some of Case Keenum‘s keys to success against the Seahawks, and for the rest of 2018.
Case Keenum Week One Keys
Protect the football
The biggest problem that plagued the Broncos in 2017 was turnovers. The Broncos finished their dismal 2017 season with a -17 turnover differential, which ranked 31st in the NFL. The starting trio of Siemian, Lynch and Brock Osweiler accounted for 31 combined turnovers. Comparatively, Keenum committed only eight turnovers during his breakout 2017 season. Last season, the Seahawks finished eighth in the NFL with a +8 turnover differential. Arguably the most important of Keenum’s game will be to take care of the football to give the Broncos a fair chance to win the game.
Spread the Ball Around
The Broncos have a plethora of weapons for Keenum to throw to. Pro Bowlers Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders are the first two names that come to mind. Both players’ skillsets compare similarly to the duo of Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. The Broncos also have rookies Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton at Keenum’s disposal. Rookie sensation Phillip Lindsay and tights ends Jeff Heurerman and Jake Butt give Keenum plenty of receiving options to throw to.
Against a Seahawks defense that has lost numerous starters over the past two seasons, spreading the ball around will be an effective strategy. It should keep the defense on its toes. Keenum shouldn’t have any problem giving everyone their fair share. Last season, no Vikings offensive player accounted for more than 25.5% of Keenum’s total completions.
Use his Legs (Scramble)
The most important of Keenum future longevity will be his ability to keep the play alive by scrambling. It’s no secret that the Broncos have had offensive line troubles for more than two seasons. If any quarterback can thrive behind the Broncos offensive line, it’s Keenum. The Vikings ranked sixth in the NFL in sacks allowed per game (1.1) in 2017. With Keenum’s ability to move inside the pocket and extend plays, the Vikings were able to keep Keenum upright throughout most of the season.
2018 brings a new ray of hope with as strong of a starting unit as the team has had in years. However, that seems to be the story of every season. Until the Broncos offensive line produces results, Keenum will need to play alert and use his legs to avoid taking sacks. Expect the Broncos to use plenty of play-action passes to take full advantage of Keenum’s skillset.
Take Charge, and Win
This is now Keenum’s team. Teammates have raved about Keenum’s leadership traits, which resulted in him being named an offensive captain for 2018. Keenum stated in his introductory press conference that he grew up watching John Elway play. Now, he has a chance to be the next great quarterback in Broncos history. Despite their physical limitations, none of the combination of Lynch, Osweiler, or Siemian ever took charge of the team. Keenum has the opportunity to be the veteran leader under center the Broncos have sorely missed since Peyton Manning. Keenum has done a phenomenal job so far impressing teammates with his ability to take charge in the huddle. With his teammates’ respect, Keenum has the chance to get the Broncos back in the playoffs.
On Sunday, Keenum will face the Seahawks in the Broncos home-opener in front of 70,000+ roaring fans in the Mile High City. Fans who are hungrier than ever to see their team return to greatness. With a fan base growing more impatient, the stakes are higher than ever this season. If Keenum can beat the team who embarrassed the Broncos in Super Bowl 48, he’ll be a hero in Denver sports. If not, it might just be a matter of time before the Broncos start the hunt for their next franchise quarterback.
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