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Trevor Siemian ushers in new era for Broncos

Kubiak names 2nd year player as quarterback

The Denver Broncos have gone from Peyton Manning as their starting quarterback in 2015 to Trevor Siemian as their starting quarterback in 2016.

The change in stature is immense. The change in production? Maybe not so much.

The Broncos’ announcement Monday that Siemian will be their season-opening starter was a bit anticlimactic. It had become clear through training camp and three preseason games that Siemian was likely to get the nod over Mark Sanchez and rookie Paxton Lynch.

In the bigger picture, though, it is remarkable that the defending Super Bowl champions are turning over their quarterback position to a second-year pro who was a seventh-round draft choice last year out of Northwestern, then took one regular season snap as a rookie – a kneel-down.

Last year, when the Broncos had Manning finishing out his legendary career and Brock Osweiler on hand as the successor-in-waiting, it would have been unthinkable that Siemian was less than a year away from inheriting the job.

Even this past offseason, after Manning’s retirement and Osweiler’s free-agent exit led to Sanchez being added and Lynch being drafted, Siemian’s status seemed best described as the “other quarterback on the roster.”

But the more things progressed, the more the Broncos seemed enamored with Siemian’s play and on-field demeanor. Coach Gary Kubiak spoke of being impressed by the sense of calmness Siemian projects. Sanchez, meanwhile, was being Sanchez. Lynch did not appear quite ready to take over as the season-opening starter.

The Broncos won last season’s Super Bowl primarily because of Von Miller and their defense, not because of what Manning and Osweiler accomplished. Manning had one of the least productive seasons ever by a quarterback to reach a Super Bowl. Yes, he is an all-time great. But last season, he mostly was along for the ride, carried by a memorably superb defense.

Manning had 17 interceptions to go with nine touchdown passes during the regular season, with an eyesore of a passer rating of 67.9. Osweiler was better, with a regular season passer rating of 86.4 after throwing 10 touchdown passes with six interceptions.

So it clearly is possible that the Broncos could go from Manning to Siemian at quarterback and get better. The bar is not that high.

Kubiak managed the quarterback situation deftly last season, going to Osweiler when Manning’s body was breaking down and then going back to Manning for the postseason.

That apparently miffed Osweiler and reportedly was a major factor in his decision to leave. But Kubiak has a Super Bowl trophy to justify his approach.

Careful management could be required again this season. Lynch is a promising quarterback who is big, athletic and talented. He had to make great progress to become a productive passer in college and he faces another significant adjustment to the NFL, and many draft analysts expressed doubt he would be ready to play as a rookie. But the Broncos traded up to get him in the draft’s opening round, and presumably he will get his chance at some point.

Getting Sanchez in the offseason bought the Broncos some time. Chief front office roster architect John Elway moved slowly and avoided making a just-get-somebody move like trading for Colin Kaepernick or signing Ryan Fitzpatrick.

But Sanchez hadn’t been the answer, and now the Broncos seem likely to trade or release him. He is by far the most expensive quarterback currently on the Denver roster, and parting with him would save the Broncos $3.5 million in cash and salary cap space.

The Denver defense might not be what it was last season, having absorbed some offseason departures.

But it presumably will remain quite good. The Broncos should be able to remain in contention if they get anything even approaching competent quarterback play.

Siemian gets the first chance to provide that.



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