On Friday, a familiar face visited Denver Broncos HQ to observe and analyze practice alongside Hall-of-Famer, and host the team’s new show Training Camp Live, Steve Atwater. It came as no surprise that Peyton Manning chose to focus on his old position, and share his voluminous insights on the Broncos’ new signal-caller Drew Lock.
“I think he’s a little swagger against him,” Manning told Atwater during the live broadcast. ‘He has a bit of an advantage, which I think is important. It’s a difficult position… having a little swagger for you is a good thing. ”
Lock’s five-game audition last year in which he helped lead the Broncos to a 4-1 finish sold the team’s key decision makers on his worthiness for the job in 2020. Much of the confidence he has in the team is brass cared for his swagger – as ‘the’ factor – just as his right arm.
During this past offseason, Lock said and did all the good things amid a pandemic as he grows into his role as head coach of a young team. Training Camp has provided the test ground and the competition of execution against a talented defense that Manning finds perfect for Lock to learn and develop further.
“I think Drew will benefit from competing against this Vic Fangio style of defense every day in practice,” Manning explained.
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The importance of getting these training camp reps under his belt has increased since the NFL chose to cancel all four preseason games. Continuing into only his second year, and only as the undisputed starter, the challenges for the 23-year-old Lock are even more daunting as a result.
Manning believes the Broncos need to be patient and adapt to their young quarterback as the season begins.
“I’m a quarterback defender, so I would say, let’s understand that early on will not be perfect,” Manning said. “Things will get better as the season goes on … I still think you can win games if you find your way.”
GM John Elway has provided Lock with many new, fast weapons to do real damage to opponents. If you keep blinding Jeudy in practice, pulse racing and optimism have grown, but for Lock’s own long-term development, expectations need to be treated with care.
“Well, I think we can get better through the whole season,” Manning said. “We need our defense to keep us there, because our crime finds our rhythm.”
With a new offensive coordinator comes a new schedule that Lock teaches. Of course, it will take time for Pat Shurmur and Lock to gel and get on the same page. With no OTAs as pre-season, this period of customer could come with each other being excluded.
Fortunately, Lock is no stranger to learning a new scheme on the fly, and Shurmur’s spread-oriented system is one that Lock knows well, having mastered a similar misdemeanor during his years in Missouri. Still, as Manning points out, the defense might have to carry the charge early in the shooting time of Lock and the company.
Many national experts are now waking up to the buzz that has been raging Broncos and their self-confident, young leader. Manning is certainly also on board with the positive vibes. Something in the air.
“I think we can have a team,” Manning said enthusiastically.
Broncos Country will be hoping that Manning’s deep-rooted knowledge of football is back on track, and that his insight into Lock is true. There will be trial and error and setbacks, but as The Sheriff points out, if this team is as talented as it seems, these falls should not prevent the Broncos from stacking some victories in the standings.
Follow Keith on Twitter @KeithC_NFL en @MileHighHuddle.
