Oh boy... this should be fun to talk about I'm sure.
Going into 2020, the Broncos were so certain that they had finally found their franchise signal caller. Drew Lock showed the flashes and potential to be just what the Broncos needed. But so far, 2020 is not going the way the Broncos or Drew Lock envisioned. Things have just gone wrong in every way possible for the Denver Broncos. Injuries have decimated vital positions across the board, leaving the team desperate to plug the holes. You can only coach the "next man up" philosophy so much when injuries keep piling up. The growing pains of having such a young offense is showing. There is a clear disconnect between Pat Shurmur and his players. The Broncos have also had a healthy dose of bad luck. Things like running through a gauntlet of contenders on the schedule with as many injuries as they have just feels like cruel luck.
Drew Lock is quickly learning what the NFL learning curve for quarterbacks can bring. This is, unfortunately, something all young quarterbacks must go through. Some adjust quicker than others, but it's tough nonetheless. It will test your mental, physical, and emotional limits. Sometimes you'll feel like you're riding on top of the world! And others, like this past week against the Raiders, you'll feel like walking away, hiding your head in shame. Drew's four interceptions against the Raiders certainly shattered a lot of fans' confidence in him as a franchise QB and now has the Broncos in a situation they had hoped was over: a quarterback controversy. But is it all Lock's fault?
In my opinion, no. Yes, he certainly has his problems and he has many areas to improve. But to completely shoulder him with the blame is wrong. A good amount is to go the factors of injuries across the line, leading to Drew being pummeled relentlessly. And a major part of the blame rests with offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur. Again, there is a clear disconnect between him and his personnel. When Philip Lindsay only runs the ball four times, you're doing something wrong. Shurmur has put all the problems on Lock's back and asked him to carry them up the mountain. A little much to ask of him, don't ya think? As much as I want Lock to be in a consistent system, it could be beneficial for him to play in a system that plays off his strengths.
Simply put, I am not bailing on Drew Lock. Yes, it's tough to defend him right now. But sometimes the path to being a good quarterback is learning how not to be bad one. And to do that, you have to have games like this. They're tough, they suck, and they are not fun to learn from. But I'd rather he have this game now while he's still learning in a lost season, than down along the line when it really matters. I'll give this story as an example. My grandpa, who is as diehard a Broncos fan as you can get, recalled John Elway's first couple years in Denver. He was booed relentlessly, fans were upset, and it looked as if the Broncos had swung and missed on a quarterback they really liked. Through his first two seasons, he had a 51.9% completion rate, averaged 2,130 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 29 interceptions. Ouch. But he showed flashes of brilliance. His talent was there as was his potential! The Broncos elected to stick it out and it paid dividends. I believe Lock will get better. I really do. It'll be tough, it won't always be fun. But, if the Broncos believe in this and are willing to ride this roller coaster, it could pay off long term.
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