Coach Gary Kubiak named Trevor Siemian the starter for the Broncos’ third preseason game over Mark Sanchez and said he will decide next week who will be under center against Carolina for the season opener on September 8.
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Kubiak also added that Siemian, Mark Sanchez, Paxton Lynch will all play and play around the same amount of time in the game.
He will now get another chance to impress against a first-string defense on Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams, with Kubiak set to name his starter for the season opener with the Carolina Panthers soon after.
Kubiak said he has done what he can to make the competition fair, right down to the number of plays Siemian and Sanchez get with the first-team offense. Although Lynch has looked raw at times, he has adjusted to the speed of the rush and gotten more comfortable with every series in the games he’s played. Denver will start whoever will give them the best chance to win and the competition is heated right now.
Sanchez, an eight-year veteran, by far has the edge in game experience with 72 career regular-season starts, including two last season when he was a backup with the Eagles.
Though Siemian has largely played well in preseason, he has yet to throw a pass in regular-season action.
“We don’t have to, but I’m going to make a decision next week and we’re going to go to work”.
That was evident Monday when Kubiak would not say if Lynch or Sanchez would enter Saturday’s game after Siemian. Sanchez disappointed in his second preseason game, going 10-17 for 120 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions.
The Broncos won the Super Bowl previous year with below average quarterback play.
I heard grumblings that if Sanchez is named starter he could be pulled by Week 4 if he struggles, but what happens if you name Siemian the starter, and he struggles the same? Playing his second season under a rookie contract, Siemian would make the ideal, low-cost long-term backup quarterback for the franchise. Kubiak said today that Siemian’s interception was “just a poor decision“.
Just when Siemian seemed to be in a position after the first quarter last night to win it, he threw it away. “That one bad play, unfortunately you can’t have one bad play”.
Most NFL teams have a firm idea of who will start at the game’s most important position by Week 3 of the preseason. The 49ers ended up with a 31-24 victory in the second exhibition game for both teams.
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Five days after signing, Ponder insisted he’s ready to get thrown into the fire Saturday night. He is going up against a lot of talented linebackers and pass rushers trying to earn playing time within the Denver defense. I want to see an increased urgency to get Lynch at least somewhat prepared to be the starter. He made some mistakes, too. Set to become one of the best quarterbacks in the National Football League – one who could have been likened to the status of Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Russell Wilson – Johnny Manziel got caught up in the off-field issues that eventually led to his dismissal from the Cleveland Browns. Yes,” he said. “Will I?
