5 Offseason Storylines Broncos Fans Should Be Watching
DENVER (CBS4) - The Broncos organized team activities get going on May 24, and there might be a few players on the roster who won't be taking part.
James Palmer, a national reporter for the NFL Network, appeared on the CBS4 Sports show All Access and shared some perspective on where things stand with the Super Bowl champions as the offseason moves along.
Paxton Lynch has a crucial next few weeks of practice.
The Broncos wanted competition at the quarterback position after announcing the acquisition of Mark Sanchez, and they got it when they drafted Paxton Lynch out of Memphis in the first round of the draft. Lynch took part in rookie practices earlier this month, and now he's projected to be one of only two QBs who are taking part in drills at the start of OTAs with Sanchez recovering from minor surgery on his non-throwing hand. But Palmer said Lynch "has a long way to go" before he's ready to lead the offense. "Gary Kubiak told me these next five or six weeks are absolutely huge for him before that break for training camp," Palmer said. "If he makes big strides then, maybe there's a competition, but right now Mark Sanchez is the starter. He'll be the starter at the start of training camp, and look for him to be the starter at the start of preseason. If something crazy happens, it's really all because of what Paxton Lynch does."
Mark Sanchez is leaving a good first impression.
New York and Philadelphia can be tough places to be an athlete, with a media atmosphere that is great when you're succeeding but often overly critical when you're struggling. Palmer said he thinks Sanchez is saying and doing all the right things in Denver so far. "You look at a guy that handled what he went through in New York and Philadelphia, I think coming here to Denver and talking to media here was a bit of a breeze for him," he said. Sanchez has been making a good impression on his teammates, too, by doing things like bringing the offensive linemen to a Rockies game and inviting some teammates to an offseason workout in California.
He has also been making an impact in the community by giving advice to young athletes and making an appearance at a Children's Hospital Colorado functions.
As for his on-field abilities, Palmer says the team has high hopes. "If you look at the system that he's going to be playing in, it's very favorable to all the strengths he has as a quarterback. He's mobile, he's a lot more athletic than people think," he said. One thing Sanchez will have to work on -- since 2009, he has been the most turnover-prone quarterback in the NFL.
The selection of running back Devontae Booker in the NFL Draft may have been a steal.
He'll have to compete hard if he wants to get much playing time next season, but Palmer said fourth-round pick Devontae Booker could eventually wind up being a game changer for the Broncos. "I've talked to people around the league that really believe that might have been one of the best picks in the entire draft," Palmer said. "If you look at the way he runs, he's a patient one-cut runner, which is absolutely perfect for Gary Kubiak's system." Palmer said Booker's ability to find holes in zone schemes could translate to the kind of success Arian Foster had when Kubiak coached him in Houston. Palmer also pointed out that Kubiak likes to use the running back in the passing game, and Booker "catches the football better than any other running back on this roster right now."
The deadline for a deal with Von Miller is looming.
The deadline to get a long-term deal done with Von Miller is two months away, and the Broncos and the Super Bowl 50 MVP are taking their time in reaching an agreement. "Everyone wants a deal to happen, everyone expects a deal to happen, but don't expect to see Von Miller on a field for some time until a deal gets done," Palmer said. In addition to the likelihood of Miller being absent from OTAs, linebacker Brandon Marshall and the Broncos haven't reached a deal on his contract and there's a possibility he might sit out as well.
The defense feels disrespected. Are they, though?
The Broncos defensive players who have done interviews with reporters from team headquarters this offseason have often said they feel their unit isn't getting enough respect. "If you look at guys like these guys that are as motivated as they can be ... they need something new to get them going after winning the Super Bowl and having one of the best defenses maybe in NFL history," Palmer said. "You've got to find another reason to motivate yourself. If you talk to the opposing coaches and the opposing teams, I don't think any of them are not giving this group enough respect. I think this is some self-motivation tactics during this offseason."
