Miles
Well-known member
- Mar 18, 2019
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So, why would the Broncos choose to take Jeff Driskel as backup instead of Newton? It doesn't make sense to me. - Scott T.
Scott, I won't pretend to know if the Broncos would've had interested in Cam Newton as a backup, but it doesn't really matter in this situation. The timing just didn't work out. The Broncos agreed to terms with Jeff Driskel on March 17, and the Panthers didn't release Newton until a week later.
Could the Broncos have traded for Newton when it became clear he was on the outs in Carolina? Sure, hypothetically. The Broncos had already executed a pair of trades, though, and likely wanted to save capital for the draft.
I'm not here to tell you whether Driskel or Newton is a better quarterback and which fits the Broncos' system better. Newton obviously has more career accolades, but his health has been a concern over the last couple of seasons.
What I will say is that Driskel vs. Newton is never a decision the Broncos had to make. The timing ensured that.
I know that training camp is all about competition. We all know that the CB 2 position is up for grabs but could we see players like DeMarcus Walker and Josey Jewell push, not only for playing time, but for a starting position? - Jose B.
Jose, I have a tough time seeing either Walker or Jewell cracking the starting lineup — barring injury to a starter. At linebacker, Alexander Johnson replaced Jewell in the starting lineup last year and was somewhat of a revelation. On the defensive line, Walker would have to unseat some combination of Shelby Harris, Dre'Mont Jones and perhaps Jurrell Casey. I suspect Walker will be fighting for a roster spot because of the increased competition on the defensive line.
If you're looking for training camp battles to watch, start at left tackle, where Garett Bolles and Elijah Wilkinson will face off. Running back, where Gordon and Lindsay will vie for carries, should be another good one. At tight end, there will be massive competition for the fourth spot behind Noah Fant, Nick Vannett and Albert Okwuegbunam. You already mentioned the cornerback position, but that will be another competition to watch.
If the season opens with no fans / reduced number of fans, what will happen to tickets that have been purchased? — Erin T.
Erin, the Broncos are preparing as if there will be a complete regular season in which Denver will host 10 games — two preseason and eight regular season. If, however, there's a situation where fans cannot attend games, the Broncos will offer full refunds or a credit for next season to season ticket members. If you bought/buy your tickets through an NFL-approved ticketing service, you'll also be protected in the case of changes. For more information, you can click here.
How do you think the Broncos will divide up the carries with a crowded backfield? - Will J.
Will, I'm going to focus here on Melvin Gordon III and Phillip Lindsay here, because I think the carries for the Broncos' third running back — whether that be Royce Freeman or LeVante Bellamy — will be relatively marginal.
If everyone is fully healthy, I expect that Gordon would get a majority of the touches — I'd guess around 60 percent — but I think Lindsay's workload should still be substantial. The third-year player has proven in his first two seasons that he's too good to not touch the ball.
Keep in mind, it's not like Lindsay had 20-25 carries a game last season. He broke 20 carries just once, and he often hovered in that 10-15 range as the team's lead back. He was still able to do damage, as he carried the ball 15 times for 114 yards against the Chargers and nine times for 92 yards against Cleveland. I believe Lindsay is at his best when he's fresh and can turn the 10-yard runs into 40-yard runs. His explosiveness declined a bit last year, so it'd be nice to see a reduction in carries — he jumped from 192 as a rookie to 224 last year — hopefully lead to more big plays for the offense.