The Denver Broncos have boasted the NFL’s best defense for the last couple years, but success on the offensive side has not followed. A high powered offense starts with the quarterback, and in Denver there is no clear cut starter. Both Paxton Lynch and Trevor Siemian are young quarterbacks looking to make a name for themselves in the NFL. Throughout training camp, head coach Vance Joseph will be continuously asked about which quarterback has the edge in the competition. So, who is more likely to win this battle?
Trevor Siemian vs. Paxton Lynch: Denver Broncos Quarterback Competition
The Case for Siemian
Trevor Siemian is the safe choice for the Broncos. He won’t wow with an array of down the field passes but more often than not, he will make the right decision. He often checks down to the running back for a safe five yard gain instead of making the risky pass across the middle for the first down. Siemian finished last year with only 18 touchdowns and ten interceptions, but he was injured much of the season. When he was healthy, he actually thrived in the Broncos offense. His best game came in week three when he led the Broncos to a 29-17 victory over the Bengals. He completed 66 percent of his passes, threw four touchdowns and no interceptions. He looked razor sharp and even took shots down the field.
His performance in this game gives Broncos fans hope of Siemian’s potential. He also showed tremendous promise in games against Kansas City and Tennessee. He will never be a gunslinger quarterback, but as he gets more comfortable in this league he will start to take more shots down the field. Last year, Siemian won the job because of his conservative, mistake-free play, but this year he will have to prove that he can make big plays as well. The Broncos can’t waste their defensive prowess with repeated three-and-outs on offense.
If Siemian is going to win the job, it will be because the Broncos want to go with the safe pick. But ultimately, he needs to prove he can also win them games as well. If last year’s game against Cincinnati is any indication, Siemian may just be that guy.
The Case for Lynch
The Broncos moved up last year in the draft to select Paxton Lynch because they believe he can be their quarterback of the future. So the question is, is the future now? Paxton played in only two and a half games last year but his performance was underwhelming. In the game against Atlanta, he looked uncomfortable in a pro-style offense and misfired on a plethora of throws.
Despite his lackluster play, there remains reason to be hopeful. Lynch has apparently improved dramatically this off-season. There have been rumblings from Denver that Lynch has made a very aggressive push for the starting job in the final couple weeks of mini-camp. He can make all the throws, moves well and has the ability to make passes both in and outside the pocket.
Lynch has a rocket arm which bodes well for a Mike McCoy run offense. McCoy led the Broncos to the greatest offensive year in NFL history in 2013 and now he returns. Lynch will obviously not provide the same success as Peyton Manning did that season, but he will throw the ball down the field more often than Siemian. If McCoy is looking to replicate an ounce of the success he got out of the quarterback position in 2013, he may be inclined to choose Lynch because of his aggressive playing style. Lynch will make throws that can absolutely wow people but also makes questionable decisions. He is a gunslinger and with him, you have to take the good with the bad.
So Who Will Start in Week One?
Siemian is most likely the current leader in the quarterback competition, but it is far from over. This decision will likely only be decided by week three of preseason. The quarterback competition will force Siemian to be more aggressive, and Lynch to improve his decision making. If Lynch starts week one, it is very good news for Broncos fans. Lynch will not start unless the coaching staff completely believes he is ready to thrive against NFL defenses. If Lynch does start, that means the Broncos completely trust him with the offense. Siemian is the safer choice and if he starts, it is because the Broncos want to limit mistakes on offense and let the defense lead them. Siemian has the potential to look like a different quarterback if he can stay healthy. He would then be able to prove that he is more than just “the safe choice.” Lynch must continue to improve and prove that he can maintain his aggressive nature, while limiting mistakes. As of now, Siemian is likely to start in week one, but this competition is far from over.
