Broncos Journal: Striving for better start good reason to go with Teddy Bridgewater

Twelve things astir Broncos manager Vic Fangio’s determination to name backmost Teddy Bridgewater arsenic the starter for the Sept. 12 play opener astatine the New York Giants:

1. The infinitesimal Broncos wide manager George Paton flipped a sixth-round prime to Carolina connected April 28 for Bridgewater, the chances of Drew Lock starting successful Week 1 diminished greatly. First, I thought it could beryllium a pre-cursor to drafting Ohio State backmost Justin Fields ninth overall, uncovering a taker for Lock and going into the play with Bridgewater arsenic the place-holder for Fields. When that didn’t happen, I figured Bridgewater would triumph the job.

2. Reason A: Paton didn’t draught Lock 2 years agone successful the 2nd round, but helium did plaything the woody for Bridgewater. That had to beryllium done with input from Fangio, violative coordinator Pat Shurmur (who worked with Bridgewater successful Minnesota) and quarterbacks manager Mike Shula.

3. Reason B: Bridgewater was acquired to marque definite the Broncos got disconnected to a amended start. The docket was released successful aboriginal May and that lone emboldened my sentiment that Bridgewater would beryllium the guy. The Giants ranked 31st successful yards and points per crippled past year. The Jaguars (Week 2) volition commencement rookie backmost Trevor Lawrence. And the Jets (Week 3) volition commencement rookie backmost Zach Wilson. The Jaguars and Jets besides person caller caput coaches and offensively play-callers. Fangio is justified successful reasoning his defence should power the archetypal 3 opponents and lone needs a backmost who won’t beryllium reckless with the shot and marque capable plays to win. That’s Teddy.

4. Fangio is 0-for-September arsenic the Broncos’ manager — 0-4 successful 2019 and 0-3 past year. As overmuch arsenic helium says helium makes decisions successful the semipermanent involvement of the team, choosing Bridgewater was a short-term telephone … and that’s fine. The Broncos recognize a bully commencement to the play volition make thing that has been successful abbreviated proviso astir these parts — momentum.

5. Was Bridgewater amended than Lock successful the 2 preseason games? Narrowly. Bridgewater’s passer standing was 141.0 compared to 135.2 for Lock. His completion percent was 84.2% compared to 66.7% for Lock. They some threw 2 touchdowns and nary interceptions. But it’s what Fangio said aft Saturday’s crippled successful Seattle that served arsenic a large tell.

6. Following the triumph implicit Seattle, Fangio praised however Bridgewater “manipulates the pocket,” is patient, and waits for routes to develop. Lock uses his athleticism to his benefit, but besides sometimes to his detriment — turnovers and injuries. I deliberation Fangio preferred the less-thrills-makes-safer-plays Bridgewater.

7. As for Lock, he’s gone from uncontested Week 1 starter past twelvemonth to Week 1 backup this year, the archetypal clip he’s mislaid a backmost competition. It has to beryllium a footwear successful the gut for Lock, but helium should beryllium encouraged by however helium played against Minnesota and Seattle and beryllium prepared to commencement games this year.

8. I’ll spell with Bridgewater starting 11 games and Lock six.

9. Was this contention yet a tie? Fangio consistently said “no separation,” oregon “even Steven,” oregon “pretty (dang) close,” successful the past week. The necktie didn’t spell to the incumbent (Lock).

10. A astute determination by Fangio to denote his determination Wednesday morning. Up until Tuesday, helium handled this contention successful mostly the close way; my lone objection was him not letting Bridgewater oregon Lock instrumentality each of the first-team violative enactment snaps successful a azygous practice. When campy opened, Fangio said some players would commencement a preseason game, which near Monday oregon Tuesday arsenic the archetypal (and best) accidental to marque a decision. I thought helium erred successful not naming a starter connected Tuesday, but helium did little than 24 hours later.

11. I threw up a canvass connected Twitter aft the announcement: Right telephone (Bridgewater) oregon incorrect telephone (should person been Lock)? After an hour, it was 57.1% Lock and 42.9% Bridgewater.

12. Now that Bridgewater is the starter, Fangio and the Broncos tin attack the Rams crippled Saturday overmuch much conservatively. He said aft the Seattle crippled that moving backmost Melvin Gordon and receiver Courtland Sutton — retired the archetypal 2 preseason games — would play against the Rams. Outside linebacker Von Miller was besides expected to play a fewer snaps. Maybe Fangio does that, but helium won’t beryllium forced to overplay his violative starters successful bid to summation last bits of accusation for the backmost competition.