Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I'm playing the Jared Stidham role, filling in for Benjamin Albright,
and right by my side, as always, we've got the
one and only the great Nick Ferguson, Nick Feeling.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
What is this backup stuff? Is this backup? Hey?
Speaker 1 (00:14):
I'm comparing myself to the AFC Championship starting quarterback.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
How about that?
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Oh? Oh, you compare yourself to jar or as coach would.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Say, city stity consummate professionals. What do you think about
the confidence around city? How much of that is bluster
from Sean Payton trying to build his guy up, and
how much do you think is really Sean Payton believes
in this?
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Dude?
Speaker 3 (00:39):
I think it's a combination of both things. Because Stidham
is in this position for a reason. He is the
highest paid backup quarterback at eight million dollars a year.
He's been in a system for three years now. Some
and I don't know if you were one of these individuals,
but there was some of the very beginning of twenty
(01:01):
twenty five in training camp who were suggesting that, especially
after that Arizona game, that maybe Jared Stidham should have
been the starter.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
And I said, to hell with that.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
When pigs fly, because that was not gonna happen because
Sean Payton signed off on bone knicks. And yes, you
have more of a veteran guy who I don't want
to say he had more experience and a lot of
games than boy at the time, but he had four
games of experience before and he was one and three
in that time. So I don't think no matter what happened,
(01:35):
Sean Payton was gonna put Stidham in that position. Now,
Stendham was great as a backup. And I've always said this.
When we look at backup quarterbacks or quarterbacks in general,
usually this is what we hear that if you have
more than one quarterback, you don't have any.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Now. I never subscribed to that, because guess.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
What, you don't realize us how valuable your backup quarterback
is until you freaking need him.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
How about the old Charlie Casherly quote, the most important
guy on your rosters the quarterback. The second most important
guy on your roster's the backup quarterback.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Absolutely, but most people don't subscribe to it. I'm like, well,
how can you not subscribe to it? Knowing as though
it has been shoved down our throat with a jackhammer
that hey, the quarterback you need, you need to have
a guy, and if you don't have a guy, you're
in trouble. Well, if you got a guy, you better
have another guy, because if you don't, you're going to
(02:34):
be in trouble.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Like the case in point.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Think about the New York Jets with Justin Fields and
Taylor right, and you can say, well, Justin Fields probably
wasn't the guy, and the guy behind him was a
proven backup, but not so much of a starter. Now
the question is when you go to your backup, can
that individual.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Win games for you?
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Or are they competent enough to know the system where
you're you know, okay, well they're not going to make
a mistake. And I think that's where Stidham is at
this particular point. You're looking at him as a steady hand.
It's not a panic because it's not like you're going
to Sam Essinger, who I think has the ability but
hasn't really played a whole hell of a lot.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
And I think now there's a reason Bill Parcells coined
the phrase, but there's a lot of truth to that.
There are plenty of teams every year that have multiple
of the top thirty two quarterbacks in the league. I
think it happened here a couple of times in Denver
when they were running with Drew Locke and Teddy Bridgewater
at the same time, you know, or maybe even when
they signed Jared Sidham initially and you had Russell Wilson
(03:39):
and Jared Siddim here. Oftentimes it's not a team with
an established starter, but because Boonix has climbed those ranks
so quickly and Payton has such an affinity for Jared Sidam,
it's worked out that way. But I think just look
at you know, the saying actions speak louder than words.
I'm sure you're a fan of that. And the actions
around Jared Stidham point to coaches loving this guy. You know,
(04:00):
when Josh McDaniels goes to the Raiders, he works hard.
I believe he even traded for him to get him
from the Patriots. Bring that quarterback with him. He wanted
him to be his guy there in Vegas. And then
after McDaniels leaves, Peyton makes Jared Sidham his very first transaction.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Of any sort after becoming Broncos head coach.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Peyton's first transaction was signing Jared Sidham on the very
first day of free agency, and then he brought him
back on a contract. To your point, that is the
highest paid backup deal in the league. And I think
there's reason why he's making that money. I think there's
a great chance that you know, he performs well on
Sunday or during this stretch, however long it may be,
(04:41):
and then you know, after the twenty twenty sixth season,
maybe even this coming off season, the Broncos are looking
to ship him and get some draft picks.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Well, okay, so here's the thing.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
And I like to talk in metaphors to help.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Pink the pitcher, if you will.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
It's like, if you're on a plane and is going down,
it's better to have a parachute than not have a parachute,
and that kind of whether the Broncos find themselves with
Jared Stidham. And I'll go back to this because I've
had several conversations.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Or people who have spoken to me about this.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
There are some people who feel as though Jarrett should
have started over Bow. And here's what I would say
announce this because all season long, and I don't have
the numbers exactly, but Bow was not put under center
a lot, and as a defensive player, the first thing
(05:37):
I think when a quarterback is under center, we are
unsure what the percentage of run passes are, so we
have to play it honest. When you go to shotgun back,
off set, pistol or whatever, we're thinking, Okay, this is.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Pretty much a passing formation.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Could you hand it to him in a pistol formation? Yes,
but guess how far back that running back is and
he's got to get to the line of scrimmage, so
the banners goes to the defense. So I'm thinking on Sunday,
there's no bow knicks, We're probably gonna see Stidham because
he is part of the traditional quarterback and I'm giving
you air quotes because bow was part of the backyard
(06:18):
football quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
He's part of the Josh Allen that, the Patrick.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Mahomes, the Kyler Murray's or Lamar Jackson group. Stidham is
more of your Drew Brees, a little more foot speed.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
You're your traditional dropback pass. That's right.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
So don't be surprised if you are to see Stedham
under center more than.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
We saw bo.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
And this is maybe controversial, but I think Stedham might
have been an upgrade on Bow for the first half
of the season when Bow was really struggling.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
I think so. So you do believe that Stidham is
a better than BO. I don't think that.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
I think Bo's better now for sure, And I think
in general I would start BO.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
I would have never considered benching.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Him for Sidham because of the controversy that would create.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
But there was a potback battle, right was it not
a quarterback battle because rookie No no, no, no, no, I'm saying,
coming off of the rookie season, right and losing a
buffalo and then now going into twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
See, that's what a conversation was like.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Okay, well Bo did a couple of good, good things,
but obviously for the reason you said, Josh mcdanius and
Sean Payton made him his first you know, offissue.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
I guess signing or whatever prefers signing. So I don't in.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Case, I don't think you blow it up with Bo
like he you know, he didn't win Rookie of the
Year anything, but I think he was runner up.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
He had a really promising rookie season.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
I think you want to continue to develop that rather
than blow that up with Sidham. Now, I do think
you bring Sidhem back on the contract they brought Siddem
back on, because you know, hey, we've seen one half season,
honestly of good play from bo Is, because he really
struggled to start of his rookie year. I need to
have an insurance plan because I do believe so much
(08:06):
in the rest of this roster. Remember, Payton's been telling
everybody since April or May that this is a super
Bowl caliber team. I've had six in my career and
this is one of them. And I think with that
in mind, you don't want, you know, a sophomore slump
to totally derail things, or you know what if it's
a mac Jones situation where a good rookie year but
(08:26):
it ends up being a total mirage and now all
of a sudden, you're just wasting what the Vikings just
experienced with JJ McCarthy. All of a sudden, you're wasting
a very talented roster. I think that's what students here
for the in case of emergency, you know, break glass. Now,
I don't think it got that bad, but bo was
really struggling the first half of the season. He was
the least accurate quarterback in the league. The passing game
(08:48):
was really struggling. As a result, he was JK Dobbins
in the run game, having to really carry the offense.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Team. See that's where the rubber meets the role.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Because I heard that so many times at the beginning
of the season, all the flaws that Bo had as
a quarterback. And the thinking is, even if you have
a young quarterback going into his second year, the best
way to help him out is the run game. Whether
it's better it's a rookie or veteran quarterback. Then it
goes down to, well, what's the rock consistency, what's the
(09:20):
route combinations?
Speaker 2 (09:21):
What are some of the players that are called?
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Because I will say this and I said to before
and I have no problem saying it now. When we
look at Bo in his sack total right Pro Football
Focus and everyone said, well, Broncos have this top offensive lineman.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Which they do.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
But I'm like, well, you just can't mention how great
or how good the offensive line has been without mentioning
number ten.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Because number ten.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
I mean, this is the one thing about mobile quarterbacks
that I think some people don't fully grasp the concept
mobile quarterbacks. Can they sometimes get you in trouble as
far as sacks of concern or holding calls of office alignment.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Absolutely, but can they bail you ass out? Yes they can.
It's a case by case basis.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
Well, all the cases, if it was a Coy case,
are leaning heavily towards number ten because he was one
of the reasons why the Broncos have as little sacks
as they have right now.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Oh, he's the primary reason. I think he's I think.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
The number one and he's got a lot of things
that make him great, but I think the number one,
like superpower to those game right now, is his ability
to avoid negative plays here races up. He doesn't throw
a lot of interceptions, Nope, he very rarely fumbles the ball,
and he doesn't take sacks. And I think, honestly, you
want to talk about why has national media as a whole,
(10:41):
you know, undervalued bo. I think it's because he doesn't
have maybe the crazy as many of the crazy flashy moments.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Is a Jordan Love or a Trevor Laura. I'm with you.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
I'm saying why I think he's being underrated. He doesn't
have those flashy moments that pop up on your NFL
red zone or on Sports Center highlights or whatever, that
the whole national media cognizant scene. But what he does
do is he eliminates negative plays. And it's that old
Peyton Manning quote, you can't go broke taking a profit,
and he just takes a profit, even if it's a
small one, every single play, and that stacks up at
(11:15):
the end of the day to being as valuable as
some of these other guys, because yeah, they might have
those big, splashy plays, but they also have the big
splashy negatives that can counteract them.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
And I think Bo gets to the same place ultimi
a different route. So this.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Goes in line with several people's misunderstanding and interpretation of
mobile quarterbacks. The idea is that, you know, the same
thing was said about Bo as it was said about
Russell and said about other mobile quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Oh, they have a tendency.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
To hold the ball too long, And I'm like, did
you know why. Let's helped them understand the why, because
I think that's the part that's important moving forward.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Mobile quarterbacks have tendency.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
To hold the ball longer than their statue esque more
traditional quarterbacks because they are very mobile and ever since
they were in high school or whatever, their mobility allowed them,
Like we're talking about Bow, to avoid the sack, to
extend the play.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
So that means that you're holding the ball in Charlie
to long case in point.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
What do we just see on Sunday with Josh Allen
right before the half, right the Broncos rush three, drop eight,
He sees the passageway, he runs, but he doesn't.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Tuck the ball right.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
You have to live and die with those types of
situations because mobile quarterbacks they believe right, they will truly
believe that they can make that extra play, and most
times they do.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Another example, Caleb Williams right.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
From usc to Chicago first year to where he is
right now with Ben Johnson making sensational thrones running around
and quarterback coaches losing their mind around the country like what.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
Is he doing?
Speaker 3 (13:03):
Then he drops back and then zip the ball in
there caught Cole Comet, Colin Lusson, whom whomever the tight
end was for Chicago. These are the things Bow has,
these capabilities, and he was criticized and arstracized early.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
On in the season because the critician was one.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
He's holding onto the ball too long, so they're thinking
that he's indecisive.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
No, you know what he's doing.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
He's waiting for a wide receiver to break clear right,
to clear.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Them saying free themselves up from coverage.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
So this is why it frustrates me when I hear
so many narrators from local media, narratives from national media.
And I want to say I don't say it because
I'm a very kind person, but let me tell you
what I think.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
I want to say, Shut the hell up. I really want.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
I wish I could carry a neon sign like a
Krispy Kreme.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Sign and flash and every time.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Someone says something like that and it just flashed.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
Shut the hell up.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
Well want to as that position anymore? I think they're
a dinosaur like. Look around the NFL. You need that ability. You,
I mean, earlier in that segment, you listed off the
guys who have that ability. It's Mahomes, It's Alan, it's
Lamar Jackson, It's the best quarterbacks in the sport. And
I think, you know, there's exceptions to every rule. I
guess I'm trying to even think who one would be
(14:21):
like Joe Burrow is probably the.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Exception to the rule.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Who else in the top eight quarterbacks, top ten quarterbacks
in the league can't get you ten fifteen yards with
their legs when the chips are down, Like Herbert is
maybe a little more robotic, but man, he can run
when he asked to and we saw that a lot
this year.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Trevor Lawrence can do that stuff.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
I think he did it Rock Purty as he has
sent it like one of the things.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Actually, that's the perfect example.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
What has made Rock Party the answer for the forty
nine ers in a way, Sorry, what's the fame Jimmy
Garoppolo wasn't It's the extra like play creation ability.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
He gives them the ability to extend those plays to
work out structure.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
Sean Payton, I think is a great offensive schemer, offensive designer.
He's going to give bo a lot of good answers
to the test on a lot of his dropbacks. He
drops back forty times in a game. Sean Payn's going
to give Bo Nix a good answer twenty five of
those times, thirty of those times. Sometimes it's not going
(15:21):
to be the right answer. And when you have a
Jimmy Garoppolo or a Kirk Cousins, you're sol like, hey,
you didn't have a win schemed up on the play sheet.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
You're kind of screwed here.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
You're not You don't have a quarterback that can elevate
that play and make it right. Caleb Williams, Patrick Mahomes,
Bo Nix are guys who you know, even if the
play calls wrong, they can make it right. I think
on some of those runs, not the one he got
injured on, but there's one earlier in the game. They
needed a conversion late and it's dead to rights. The
Bills have it totally contained. They have numbers on their side,
(15:56):
and Bo just finds a little crease and like smoke
through a key hole, gets the first sound.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
But this is where Garristidam is going to have to
be great.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
It's a difference.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
I didn't say good, I said great because once you
on the field, you have to have the ability as.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
A player to overcome coaching.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Your coach is gonna tell you, here's on this particular situation,
here's what what type of defense we're expecting.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
This is why we call this particular passing.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
Protection to jet protection or this passing formation, right, this
is why we're doing it. Well, what happens if they
give you something other than what you were told, and
now you have to improvise. Now, sometimes improvisation can be
really bad and it.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Is not encouraged for everyone. Right.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
It's almost like a roller coach ride, right, everyone is welcome,
but we don't encourage everyone to ride. So improvisation is
going to be important. And for me, Jared Stendham has
to pass that test because we got to figure that.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Hey, Josh McDaniels, Mike Vrabel, they know him too. They
know him.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
They're gonna try to give him some difficult things. And
this is not a multiple choice test, not soon as
you see it. You got to cut it loose, you
gotta go. And if it's not, then from a progressive
standpoint and they've taken it away, this is where Jarvistitham
is going to have to pull his best bow knicks,
pull the ball down and keep the that possession and
(17:26):
second and third and manageable because if he doesn't, now
the advantage goes to the New England Patriots and they're
gonna try to explore it. So giving it just like
you said, Sean Payton would give bow nicks the answers
to the test.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Right now, it's like multiple choice for Jared cinam.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Right, you've seen this test before, right, you've seen the
copies before, whatever. But once you get out of there
on the field, you're gonna have to make your own decisions,
and you're gonna have to make sure that you're spot
on with every decision that you make.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
To this point, and the difference between the two players.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Jarrett Stidham in his career thirty seven attempts for one
hundred and one rushing yards. That is a rushing average
of two point seven yards per carry.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
It's a lot less than what bo Nicks has given you.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
And this isn't college where they're counting sacks as rushing attempts.
That's what he's doing on scrambles and designed run play.
So it's an element the Broncos won't have. They're replaying
the Broncos Bills game on NFL Network right here. Bon
Nicks was their leading rusher of that game. He converted
a lot of first downs with their legs or with
his legs. I should say that's an element the Broncos
won't be able to tap into.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
In this one, we're going to get more into how.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
The Broncos can adjust their offense to make Jared Stidham
the best version of himself in this upcoming game. All
that's coming up next right here on Broncos Country tonight
on eight fifty Kowa.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
Jared Stidham and bow Knicks.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
And you know, I think this has been a good
season for bow Nicks, that he's kind of solidified himself
with this franchise going forward. But now it's going to
be about Jared Stidham to try and get them over
the hump and across the finish line. Nick, we were talking
about the differences in the two quarterbacks. If you're Sean
Payton approaching this game, how are you building the offense
(19:13):
around Jared citaborg I guess tweaking the offense around Jared
Stidham to make sure you are playing in Santa Clair
on Super Bowl Sunday.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
Well, the idea is that one first and foremost, you
put him on the center, and that way you give
him somewhat of a chance because taking him and shotgun
for let's just say he has sixty plays and now
you put him a shotgun for let's just say the
majority of those plays those sixty plays, you're not.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
Really helping him out and not really playing to his skill.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
Set because you want to give him a chance by
setting him up giving him easy throws. And what I'm
talking about, we're talking about like first day install like
route combinations. And I don't want to get to deep
into the weeds, but I'll give a little explanation where
you run what offenses sometimes into terminology is different, but lions,
(20:08):
which means as though those are slants, dragons, slant flats
where you have the running back going to the flat,
the receiver running a slant route.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
So you kind of reduce the formation a little to give.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
The quarterback an easy one two three step turn and
throw the ball.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
And now you're putting the ball in the hands of RJ.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
Harvey, who showed last week against Buffalo that he can
break tackles the same way that he did in college.
So you want to put the ball in the hands
of your playmakers, allowed them to carry the workload. You
just want to basically, really simple, it's the ups game plan.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
What can Brown do for you? I want to deliver.
Speaker 3 (20:51):
I want to give you those passes and allow you
to make big plays. And we're talking about jackyards like
the contact yaws have to catch. That's the way that
for me This is how I would build it for
Jarvis Stanham because now when you play him on the center,
the one thing that you open up for him is
(21:12):
the boot keep game. Right to me, that's why I
feel as though he excels as a quarterback because he
doesn't have the same skill set as bo Nicks.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
And I think the boot keep game is a great point.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
What tree of offenses relies on that the most heavily.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
It's a Shanny entry. It's a staple of theirs. And what.
Speaker 1 (21:34):
Set of offenses do we talk about are always you know,
elevating random quarterback talents to at least functional starting level
or even higher than that in the case of Kyle
Shannyan quite often. You know, I think it makes sense
to build it around that. And I also think the
under center point's a good one because you know, why
did that work for bo Nicks? Why did that help
(21:56):
get him back on track? I think in part it's
it got him in them with these concepts you're talking about,
you know, their old school passing game concepts. They go
back to the fifties or the sixties, and you know
they were built around the drop back passing game, the
under center drop back passing game where there's a three
step concept, of five step concept, a seventh step concept.
(22:19):
Obviously you know all this, but in shotgun that kind
of goes out the window. They're called the same thing,
but the footwork's different. It's a little less I guess
standard or traditional, And I think getting a quarterback who
hasn't attempted to pass since December of twenty twenty three
or whatever back in rhythm by having some of that
(22:40):
under center stuff where hey, this is like you've been
repping since high school, you know, five step drop back
for this this concept and just marry you know, the
feet to everything else. He's doing the feeder like the
most underrated part of the quarterback position, and I think
that's how you can help raise that floor and at
least build him some comfortability early where everything's rhythm. Like
(23:00):
that's what we talk about with Bow when he's looking
his best. Oh well, the offense was in rhythm. I
think getting more of that under center drop back game
is a great way to add rhythm to the offense.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
But you know, here's the most important thing as to
why putting your quarterback under center helps with the passing game,
because it is for mechanics.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
But the most important thing for me, my perspective.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
This is me saying this that I feel timing and
rhythm because when you pull away from the being under center,
like you said three, five, seven, right, ideas, once you
hit your back foot, if there's a dig route and
the dig route is the receiver outside receiver running an incut. Right,
(23:47):
if we're talking about route numbers, they would call it six. Right,
you're running that dig route at ten to twelve or
maybe even fifteen. When I hit my back foot, I
am ready to deliver the ball. It's got to go
right now. Because now I'm dropping back. I can see
if it's Zoe, that the hook drop players are now
hitting their spots and it opens up wide open because
(24:11):
usually that second receiver and he's running the clear out
one shotgun.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
You can't do that because you're taking seven steps out
of it. You're running at the back of the pocket.
Speaker 4 (24:19):
If you try that, here's the thing is in a shotgun,
you're already in a drop. It's thrown off the timing
completely right because now, and we've seen it happen to
both several times where he's in he's already in his
drop and he's looking to deliver the ball, but the
receiver is not out of his break yet.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
Put him on the center. That you're working all those mechanics.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
It's almost like you taking your hand scratching your forehead. Right,
everything is working in concert with one another. So, like
you said, your feet are tied together. And we've seen
quarterbacks in the pocket when they go.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
To look in the left, they want to throw left.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
Now they have to come back, reset their feet and
look for the other progression.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
Right.
Speaker 3 (25:05):
All of these things come into mind and they play
into the idea and the concept of playing the quarterback position.
But how you make life easier for a guy who
hasn't played since twenty twenty three? You want to make
his life easy.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
I mean one.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
Fish, two fish, redfish, bluefish. You wanted that damn elementary. Right,
we're not trying to reinvent the wheel because you know why,
because guess who's who's down on that sideline sitting on
the right side of the bench is Vance Joseph and
the Broncos defense. You don't want to put them in
a very tough situation. So you helped, you know, It's
(25:42):
like the scene from Jerem Maguire help me, help you.
That's what it is.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
Yeah, everything needs to pick up sid him in this game.
It's not going to be again. I think it's a
credit to bow and it'll be a part of his legacy.
But the team kind of just popped on bo Nix's
back and had him carry them to that victory over
the Bills. Like the run game wasn't there. The defense
allowed a lot of boys.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
Wait, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Did I hear you.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
Correctly that I think Bonus carried the team to that
that victory.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
Oh yeah, please dotail, please do tail.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
Oh gladly, gladly go as far as yours. Bonix bawled out,
you had no run game to support them. I think
we'd agree there ten carries, which isn't enough. Will agree
the Bonus creates eighty five percent of this team's offensive
yardage and it's a thirty to thirty game that goes
to overtime. It was an offensive shootout that he won
(26:34):
while being responsible for the Lion's share of the yardage. Now,
the defense deserves credit for helping set up some scoring drives.
They gave him six points with those takeaways. They also
deserve critique for allowing the Bills to darn near get
three points to drive, which would have made them the
worst defense in the league.
Speaker 3 (26:49):
Does he let me help you out, young singers, because
I think your theory is a little flaw, but I
understand why.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
And here's what I mean.
Speaker 3 (26:59):
Well, we talk about the Broncos defense, and I've heard
so many people are not heard, I guess read so
many comments on social media about this Broncos defense. Keep
in mind, who in the hell you were playing against.
That was the reigning MVP, right, the reigning MVP and
Josh Allen and oh, by the way, they were bringing
(27:21):
in the number one rushing offense in the league, not
in the division, not in the conference. So you have
to figure that you're gonna been, You're gonna you may
even break that times, right, but that's gonna happen because
you're playing against more elite offenses.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
Right. And I give Boenick some credit.
Speaker 3 (27:42):
Right, he made a tell of a play to Marvin
Mahams dropping it out in the in the left corner.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
I think that was a south end zone, right, great play.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
But see, we can't overshadow what the defense did. Remember
they got five turnovers, two of which said the.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
Offense that won to kick a field goal right before
the half. Two others put the Broncos on a.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Twenty twenty five yard line and they kicked field goals.
So some of these points that we talk about, yes,
the defense helped set that up. So make sure we
keep that in perspective, because I don't want people to
lose this idea because I know this is a quarterback
driven league where we can't keep baby on the sideline
(28:30):
by not giving validation to the Broncos defense.
Speaker 1 (28:38):
Nick Ferguson and Nick we're talking. The last time I
was here, I think it was ahead of the wild
card weekend, but just about you know, expectations for this
Broncos season and you know what would make it a success.
I'll get into the defensive stuff, I think at the
top of the next hour when we have a little
more time, because I think both of us have a
lot to say about that. My How does Jared Sidham
(29:04):
entering the starting lineup change your expectations for this Bronco season?
Are you still hate the Broncos country is the standard
of excellence? You still need to go out there and
win the Super Bowl? Or because it's shared Sidham do
you look at it now as hey, you know the
season's been a success. They took such a stride.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
Else the standard is the standard.
Speaker 3 (29:24):
We don't look the last time I checked, the place
that we live in is called Denver, Colorado, not Cleveland
freaking Ohio.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
Right, we don't lower the bar.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
The bar goes up, right, And this is why the
pressure in this game for everyone is elevated.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
Right, it's not going down. We know what's at stake.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
And this is why Sean Payton, after announcing Bo's injury,
said he has all the confidence in Jared Stenham.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
We've heard every player say.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
That they have confidence in Jared Stinham as though they should.
He's been in this offense for three years. He is
one of their teammates, right, and from what I hear,
he does a great job carving up the starting defense
at times. So that builds a certain level of confidence.
But now you're running your own plays, you have to
(30:21):
go out there with all the chips pushed at the
center the table and say, okay, are you betting on
black or whatever? And Jared Stendham has to bet on himself.
Every single player, I can tell you this, no matter
whatever the sport they have had a dream, either as
(30:42):
an adult or as a kid, where almost like you're
shooting that final shot in the NBA Finals, Game seven,
the ball is in your hands, three two one, and
did you make it? Every player's had that thought in
that mindset. Now Jared Stidham gets a chance to live
(31:02):
out his childhood dreams and it can change everything.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
Like do we remember Nick Foles's name nowadays? If he
doesn't win that Super Bowl, it can get you a
starting job. And even if that starting job flames out,
that's thirty million dollars in your pocket at least, you know,
with with guarantees and everything, you might have sixty million
in the bank immediately. Like Jared Sidm's not hurting for money.
He's making eight million right now.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
He's back good, he's good. But he can buy a Hamburger.
Speaker 3 (31:28):
You know.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
It's better than than eight million dollars a year.
Speaker 1 (31:31):
Forty million dollars a year, you know, like that's that's
a pretty seismic difference. And you have two good performances here.
That's coming Jared Sidham's way. Someone will pay him well
as at least a bridge option.
Speaker 2 (31:41):
He's still on the contracts. It's twenty twenty seven.
Speaker 1 (31:44):
So well, you're setting me up for something else on
the contract. If he plays well, I think the Broncos
could look to maybe trade him and get some draft picks.
Speaker 3 (31:53):
And then who's going to be your backup? Be very
careful by what you suggest, young Segers. Be very careful.
Speaker 1 (31:59):
That's future ZACT problems com back. So Broncos Country Today,
I'm playing the Jared Stidham role, filling in for Benjamin Albright,
and right by my side, as always, we've got the
one and only the great Nick Ferguson, Nick Feeling.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
What is this backup stuff? Is this backup? Hey?
Speaker 1 (00:14):
I'm comparing myself to the AFC Championship starting quarterback.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
How about that?
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Oh? Oh, you compare yourself to jar or as coach would.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Say, city stity consummate professionals. What do you think about
the confidence around city? How much of that is bluster
from Sean Payton trying to build his guy up, and
how much do you think is really Sean Payton believes
in this?
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Dude?
Speaker 3 (00:39):
I think it's a combination of both things. Because Stidham
is in this position for a reason. He is the
highest paid backup quarterback at eight million dollars a year.
He's been in a system for three years now. Some
and I don't know if you were one of these individuals,
but there was some of the very beginning of twenty
(01:01):
twenty five in training camp who were suggesting that, especially
after that Arizona game, that maybe Jared Stidham should have
been the starter.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
And I said, to hell with that.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
When pigs fly, because that was not gonna happen because
Sean Payton signed off on bone knicks. And yes, you
have more of a veteran guy who I don't want
to say he had more experience and a lot of
games than boy at the time, but he had four
games of experience before and he was one and three
in that time. So I don't think no matter what happened,
(01:35):
Sean Payton was gonna put Stidham in that position. Now,
Stendham was great as a backup. And I've always said this.
When we look at backup quarterbacks or quarterbacks in general,
usually this is what we hear that if you have
more than one quarterback, you don't have any.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Now. I never subscribed to that, because guess.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
What, you don't realize us how valuable your backup quarterback
is until you freaking need him.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
How about the old Charlie Casherly quote, the most important
guy on your rosters the quarterback. The second most important
guy on your roster's the backup quarterback.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Absolutely, but most people don't subscribe to it. I'm like, well,
how can you not subscribe to it? Knowing as though
it has been shoved down our throat with a jackhammer
that hey, the quarterback you need, you need to have
a guy, and if you don't have a guy, you're
in trouble. Well, if you got a guy, you better
have another guy, because if you don't, you're going to
(02:34):
be in trouble.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Like the case in point.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Think about the New York Jets with Justin Fields and
Taylor right, and you can say, well, Justin Fields probably
wasn't the guy, and the guy behind him was a
proven backup, but not so much of a starter. Now
the question is when you go to your backup, can
that individual.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Win games for you?
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Or are they competent enough to know the system where
you're you know, okay, well they're not going to make
a mistake. And I think that's where Stidham is at
this particular point. You're looking at him as a steady hand.
It's not a panic because it's not like you're going
to Sam Essinger, who I think has the ability but
hasn't really played a whole hell of a lot.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
And I think now there's a reason Bill Parcells coined
the phrase, but there's a lot of truth to that.
There are plenty of teams every year that have multiple
of the top thirty two quarterbacks in the league. I
think it happened here a couple of times in Denver
when they were running with Drew Locke and Teddy Bridgewater
at the same time, you know, or maybe even when
they signed Jared Sidham initially and you had Russell Wilson
(03:39):
and Jared Siddim here. Oftentimes it's not a team with
an established starter, but because Boonix has climbed those ranks
so quickly and Payton has such an affinity for Jared Sidam,
it's worked out that way. But I think just look
at you know, the saying actions speak louder than words.
I'm sure you're a fan of that. And the actions
around Jared Stidham point to coaches loving this guy. You know,
(04:00):
when Josh McDaniels goes to the Raiders, he works hard.
I believe he even traded for him to get him
from the Patriots. Bring that quarterback with him. He wanted
him to be his guy there in Vegas. And then
after McDaniels leaves, Peyton makes Jared Sidham his very first transaction.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Of any sort after becoming Broncos head coach.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Peyton's first transaction was signing Jared Sidham on the very
first day of free agency, and then he brought him
back on a contract. To your point, that is the
highest paid backup deal in the league. And I think
there's reason why he's making that money. I think there's
a great chance that you know, he performs well on
Sunday or during this stretch, however long it may be,
(04:41):
and then you know, after the twenty twenty sixth season,
maybe even this coming off season, the Broncos are looking
to ship him and get some draft picks.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Well, okay, so here's the thing.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
And I like to talk in metaphors to help.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Pink the pitcher, if you will.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
It's like, if you're on a plane and is going down,
it's better to have a parachute than not have a parachute,
and that kind of whether the Broncos find themselves with
Jared Stidham. And I'll go back to this because I've
had several conversations.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Or people who have spoken to me about this.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
There are some people who feel as though Jarrett should
have started over Bow. And here's what I would say
announce this because all season long, and I don't have
the numbers exactly, but Bow was not put under center
a lot, and as a defensive player, the first thing
(05:37):
I think when a quarterback is under center, we are
unsure what the percentage of run passes are, so we
have to play it honest. When you go to shotgun back,
off set, pistol or whatever, we're thinking, Okay, this is.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Pretty much a passing formation.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Could you hand it to him in a pistol formation? Yes,
but guess how far back that running back is and
he's got to get to the line of scrimmage, so
the banners goes to the defense. So I'm thinking on Sunday,
there's no bow knicks, We're probably gonna see Stidham because
he is part of the traditional quarterback and I'm giving
you air quotes because bow was part of the backyard
(06:18):
football quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
He's part of the Josh Allen that, the Patrick.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Mahomes, the Kyler Murray's or Lamar Jackson group. Stidham is
more of your Drew Brees, a little more foot speed.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
You're your traditional dropback pass. That's right.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
So don't be surprised if you are to see Stedham
under center more than.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
We saw bo.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
And this is maybe controversial, but I think Stedham might
have been an upgrade on Bow for the first half
of the season when Bow was really struggling.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
I think so. So you do believe that Stidham is
a better than BO. I don't think that.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
I think Bo's better now for sure, And I think
in general I would start BO.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
I would have never considered benching.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Him for Sidham because of the controversy that would create.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
But there was a potback battle, right was it not
a quarterback battle because rookie No no, no, no, no, I'm saying,
coming off of the rookie season, right and losing a
buffalo and then now going into twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
See, that's what a conversation was like.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Okay, well Bo did a couple of good, good things,
but obviously for the reason you said, Josh mcdanius and
Sean Payton made him his first you know, offissue.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
I guess signing or whatever prefers signing. So I don't in.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Case, I don't think you blow it up with Bo
like he you know, he didn't win Rookie of the
Year anything, but I think he was runner up.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
He had a really promising rookie season.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
I think you want to continue to develop that rather
than blow that up with Sidham. Now, I do think
you bring Sidhem back on the contract they brought Siddem
back on, because you know, hey, we've seen one half season,
honestly of good play from bo Is, because he really
struggled to start of his rookie year. I need to
have an insurance plan because I do believe so much
(08:06):
in the rest of this roster. Remember, Payton's been telling
everybody since April or May that this is a super
Bowl caliber team. I've had six in my career and
this is one of them. And I think with that
in mind, you don't want, you know, a sophomore slump
to totally derail things, or you know what if it's
a mac Jones situation where a good rookie year but
(08:26):
it ends up being a total mirage and now all
of a sudden, you're just wasting what the Vikings just
experienced with JJ McCarthy. All of a sudden, you're wasting
a very talented roster. I think that's what students here
for the in case of emergency, you know, break glass. Now,
I don't think it got that bad, but bo was
really struggling the first half of the season. He was
the least accurate quarterback in the league. The passing game
(08:48):
was really struggling. As a result, he was JK Dobbins
in the run game, having to really carry the offense.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Team. See that's where the rubber meets the role.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Because I heard that so many times at the beginning
of the season, all the flaws that Bo had as
a quarterback. And the thinking is, even if you have
a young quarterback going into his second year, the best
way to help him out is the run game. Whether
it's better it's a rookie or veteran quarterback. Then it
goes down to, well, what's the rock consistency, what's the
(09:20):
route combinations?
Speaker 2 (09:21):
What are some of the players that are called?
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Because I will say this and I said to before
and I have no problem saying it now. When we
look at Bo in his sack total right Pro Football
Focus and everyone said, well, Broncos have this top offensive lineman.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Which they do.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
But I'm like, well, you just can't mention how great
or how good the offensive line has been without mentioning
number ten.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Because number ten.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
I mean, this is the one thing about mobile quarterbacks
that I think some people don't fully grasp the concept
mobile quarterbacks. Can they sometimes get you in trouble as
far as sacks of concern or holding calls of office alignment.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Absolutely, but can they bail you ass out? Yes they can.
It's a case by case basis.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
Well, all the cases, if it was a Coy case,
are leaning heavily towards number ten because he was one
of the reasons why the Broncos have as little sacks
as they have right now.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Oh, he's the primary reason. I think he's I think.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
The number one and he's got a lot of things
that make him great, but I think the number one,
like superpower to those game right now, is his ability
to avoid negative plays here races up. He doesn't throw
a lot of interceptions, Nope, he very rarely fumbles the ball,
and he doesn't take sacks. And I think, honestly, you
want to talk about why has national media as a whole,
(10:41):
you know, undervalued bo. I think it's because he doesn't
have maybe the crazy as many of the crazy flashy moments.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Is a Jordan Love or a Trevor Laura. I'm with you.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
I'm saying why I think he's being underrated. He doesn't
have those flashy moments that pop up on your NFL
red zone or on Sports Center highlights or whatever, that
the whole national media cognizant scene. But what he does
do is he eliminates negative plays. And it's that old
Peyton Manning quote, you can't go broke taking a profit,
and he just takes a profit, even if it's a
small one, every single play, and that stacks up at
(11:15):
the end of the day to being as valuable as
some of these other guys, because yeah, they might have
those big, splashy plays, but they also have the big
splashy negatives that can counteract them.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
And I think Bo gets to the same place ultimi
a different route. So this.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Goes in line with several people's misunderstanding and interpretation of
mobile quarterbacks. The idea is that, you know, the same
thing was said about Bo as it was said about
Russell and said about other mobile quarterbacks.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Oh, they have a tendency.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
To hold the ball too long, And I'm like, did
you know why. Let's helped them understand the why, because
I think that's the part that's important moving forward.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Mobile quarterbacks have tendency.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
To hold the ball longer than their statue esque more
traditional quarterbacks because they are very mobile and ever since
they were in high school or whatever, their mobility allowed them,
Like we're talking about Bow, to avoid the sack, to
extend the play.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
So that means that you're holding the ball in Charlie
to long case in point.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
What do we just see on Sunday with Josh Allen
right before the half, right the Broncos rush three, drop eight,
He sees the passageway, he runs, but he doesn't.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Tuck the ball right.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
You have to live and die with those types of
situations because mobile quarterbacks they believe right, they will truly
believe that they can make that extra play, and most
times they do.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Another example, Caleb Williams right.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
From usc to Chicago first year to where he is
right now with Ben Johnson making sensational thrones running around
and quarterback coaches losing their mind around the country like what.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
Is he doing?
Speaker 3 (13:03):
Then he drops back and then zip the ball in
there caught Cole Comet, Colin Lusson, whom whomever the tight
end was for Chicago. These are the things Bow has,
these capabilities, and he was criticized and arstracized early.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
On in the season because the critician was one.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
He's holding onto the ball too long, so they're thinking
that he's indecisive.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
No, you know what he's doing.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
He's waiting for a wide receiver to break clear right,
to clear.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Them saying free themselves up from coverage.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
So this is why it frustrates me when I hear
so many narrators from local media, narratives from national media.
And I want to say I don't say it because
I'm a very kind person, but let me tell you
what I think.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
I want to say, Shut the hell up. I really want.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
I wish I could carry a neon sign like a
Krispy Kreme.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Sign and flash and every time.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Someone says something like that and it just flashed.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
Shut the hell up.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
Well want to as that position anymore? I think they're
a dinosaur like. Look around the NFL. You need that ability. You,
I mean, earlier in that segment, you listed off the
guys who have that ability. It's Mahomes, It's Alan, it's
Lamar Jackson, It's the best quarterbacks in the sport. And
I think, you know, there's exceptions to every rule. I
guess I'm trying to even think who one would be
(14:21):
like Joe Burrow is probably the.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
Exception to the rule.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Who else in the top eight quarterbacks, top ten quarterbacks
in the league can't get you ten fifteen yards with
their legs when the chips are down, Like Herbert is
maybe a little more robotic, but man, he can run
when he asked to and we saw that a lot
this year.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Trevor Lawrence can do that stuff.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
I think he did it Rock Purty as he has
sent it like one of the things.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Actually, that's the perfect example.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
What has made Rock Party the answer for the forty
nine ers in a way, Sorry, what's the fame Jimmy
Garoppolo wasn't It's the extra like play creation ability.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
He gives them the ability to extend those plays to
work out structure.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
Sean Payton, I think is a great offensive schemer, offensive designer.
He's going to give bo a lot of good answers
to the test on a lot of his dropbacks. He
drops back forty times in a game. Sean Payn's going
to give Bo Nix a good answer twenty five of
those times, thirty of those times. Sometimes it's not going
(15:21):
to be the right answer. And when you have a
Jimmy Garoppolo or a Kirk Cousins, you're sol like, hey,
you didn't have a win schemed up on the play sheet.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
You're kind of screwed here.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
You're not You don't have a quarterback that can elevate
that play and make it right. Caleb Williams, Patrick Mahomes,
Bo Nix are guys who you know, even if the
play calls wrong, they can make it right. I think
on some of those runs, not the one he got
injured on, but there's one earlier in the game. They
needed a conversion late and it's dead to rights. The
Bills have it totally contained. They have numbers on their side,
(15:56):
and Bo just finds a little crease and like smoke
through a key hole, gets the first sound.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
But this is where Garristidam is going to have to
be great.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
It's a difference.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
I didn't say good, I said great because once you
on the field, you have to have the ability as.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
A player to overcome coaching.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Your coach is gonna tell you, here's on this particular situation,
here's what what type of defense we're expecting.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
This is why we call this particular passing.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
Protection to jet protection or this passing formation, right, this
is why we're doing it. Well, what happens if they
give you something other than what you were told, and
now you have to improvise. Now, sometimes improvisation can be
really bad and it.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Is not encouraged for everyone. Right.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
It's almost like a roller coach ride, right, everyone is welcome,
but we don't encourage everyone to ride. So improvisation is
going to be important. And for me, Jared Stendham has
to pass that test because we got to figure that.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Hey, Josh McDaniels, Mike Vrabel, they know him too. They
know him.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
They're gonna try to give him some difficult things. And
this is not a multiple choice test, not soon as
you see it. You got to cut it loose, you
gotta go. And if it's not, then from a progressive
standpoint and they've taken it away, this is where Jarvistitham
is going to have to pull his best bow knicks,
pull the ball down and keep the that possession and
(17:26):
second and third and manageable because if he doesn't, now
the advantage goes to the New England Patriots and they're
gonna try to explore it. So giving it just like
you said, Sean Payton would give bow nicks the answers
to the test.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Right now, it's like multiple choice for Jared cinam.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Right, you've seen this test before, right, you've seen the
copies before, whatever. But once you get out of there
on the field, you're gonna have to make your own decisions,
and you're gonna have to make sure that you're spot
on with every decision that you make.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
To this point, and the difference between the two players.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Jarrett Stidham in his career thirty seven attempts for one
hundred and one rushing yards. That is a rushing average
of two point seven yards per carry.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
It's a lot less than what bo Nicks has given you.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
And this isn't college where they're counting sacks as rushing attempts.
That's what he's doing on scrambles and designed run play.
So it's an element the Broncos won't have. They're replaying
the Broncos Bills game on NFL Network right here. Bon
Nicks was their leading rusher of that game. He converted
a lot of first downs with their legs or with
his legs. I should say that's an element the Broncos
won't be able to tap into.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
In this one, we're going to get more into how.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
The Broncos can adjust their offense to make Jared Stidham
the best version of himself in this upcoming game. All
that's coming up next right here on Broncos Country tonight
on eight fifty Kowa.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
Jared Stidham and bow Knicks.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
And you know, I think this has been a good
season for bow Nicks, that he's kind of solidified himself
with this franchise going forward. But now it's going to
be about Jared Stidham to try and get them over
the hump and across the finish line. Nick, we were talking
about the differences in the two quarterbacks. If you're Sean
Payton approaching this game, how are you building the offense
(19:13):
around Jared citaborg I guess tweaking the offense around Jared
Stidham to make sure you are playing in Santa Clair
on Super Bowl Sunday.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
Well, the idea is that one first and foremost, you
put him on the center, and that way you give
him somewhat of a chance because taking him and shotgun
for let's just say he has sixty plays and now
you put him a shotgun for let's just say the
majority of those plays those sixty plays, you're not.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
Really helping him out and not really playing to his skill.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
Set because you want to give him a chance by
setting him up giving him easy throws. And what I'm
talking about, we're talking about like first day install like
route combinations. And I don't want to get to deep
into the weeds, but I'll give a little explanation where
you run what offenses sometimes into terminology is different, but lions,
(20:08):
which means as though those are slants, dragons, slant flats
where you have the running back going to the flat,
the receiver running a slant route.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
So you kind of reduce the formation a little to give.
Speaker 3 (20:22):
The quarterback an easy one two three step turn and
throw the ball.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
And now you're putting the ball in the hands of RJ.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
Harvey, who showed last week against Buffalo that he can
break tackles the same way that he did in college.
So you want to put the ball in the hands
of your playmakers, allowed them to carry the workload. You
just want to basically, really simple, it's the ups game plan.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
What can Brown do for you? I want to deliver.
Speaker 3 (20:51):
I want to give you those passes and allow you
to make big plays. And we're talking about jackyards like
the contact yaws have to catch. That's the way that
for me This is how I would build it for
Jarvis Stanham because now when you play him on the center,
the one thing that you open up for him is
(21:12):
the boot keep game. Right to me, that's why I
feel as though he excels as a quarterback because he
doesn't have the same skill set as bo Nicks.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
And I think the boot keep game is a great point.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
What tree of offenses relies on that the most heavily.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
It's a Shanny entry. It's a staple of theirs. And what.
Speaker 1 (21:34):
Set of offenses do we talk about are always you know,
elevating random quarterback talents to at least functional starting level
or even higher than that in the case of Kyle
Shannyan quite often. You know, I think it makes sense
to build it around that. And I also think the
under center point's a good one because you know, why
did that work for bo Nicks? Why did that help
(21:56):
get him back on track? I think in part it's
it got him in them with these concepts you're talking about,
you know, their old school passing game concepts. They go
back to the fifties or the sixties, and you know
they were built around the drop back passing game, the
under center drop back passing game where there's a three
step concept, of five step concept, a seventh step concept.
(22:19):
Obviously you know all this, but in shotgun that kind
of goes out the window. They're called the same thing,
but the footwork's different. It's a little less I guess
standard or traditional, And I think getting a quarterback who
hasn't attempted to pass since December of twenty twenty three
or whatever back in rhythm by having some of that
(22:40):
under center stuff where hey, this is like you've been
repping since high school, you know, five step drop back
for this this concept and just marry you know, the
feet to everything else. He's doing the feeder like the
most underrated part of the quarterback position, and I think
that's how you can help raise that floor and at
least build him some comfortability early where everything's rhythm. Like
(23:00):
that's what we talk about with Bow when he's looking
his best. Oh well, the offense was in rhythm. I
think getting more of that under center drop back game
is a great way to add rhythm to the offense.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
But you know, here's the most important thing as to
why putting your quarterback under center helps with the passing game,
because it is for mechanics.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
But the most important thing for me, my perspective.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
This is me saying this that I feel timing and
rhythm because when you pull away from the being under center,
like you said three, five, seven, right, ideas, once you
hit your back foot, if there's a dig route and
the dig route is the receiver outside receiver running an incut. Right,
(23:47):
if we're talking about route numbers, they would call it six. Right,
you're running that dig route at ten to twelve or
maybe even fifteen. When I hit my back foot, I
am ready to deliver the ball. It's got to go
right now. Because now I'm dropping back. I can see
if it's Zoe, that the hook drop players are now
hitting their spots and it opens up wide open because
(24:11):
usually that second receiver and he's running the clear out
one shotgun.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
You can't do that because you're taking seven steps out
of it. You're running at the back of the pocket.
Speaker 4 (24:19):
If you try that, here's the thing is in a shotgun,
you're already in a drop. It's thrown off the timing
completely right because now, and we've seen it happen to
both several times where he's in he's already in his
drop and he's looking to deliver the ball, but the
receiver is not out of his break yet.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
Put him on the center. That you're working all those mechanics.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
It's almost like you taking your hand scratching your forehead. Right,
everything is working in concert with one another. So, like
you said, your feet are tied together. And we've seen
quarterbacks in the pocket when they go.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
To look in the left, they want to throw left.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
Now they have to come back, reset their feet and
look for the other progression.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
Right.
Speaker 3 (25:05):
All of these things come into mind and they play
into the idea and the concept of playing the quarterback position.
But how you make life easier for a guy who
hasn't played since twenty twenty three? You want to make
his life easy.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
I mean one.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
Fish, two fish, redfish, bluefish. You wanted that damn elementary. Right,
we're not trying to reinvent the wheel because you know why,
because guess who's who's down on that sideline sitting on
the right side of the bench is Vance Joseph and
the Broncos defense. You don't want to put them in
a very tough situation. So you helped, you know, It's
(25:42):
like the scene from Jerem Maguire help me, help you.
That's what it is.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
Yeah, everything needs to pick up sid him in this game.
It's not going to be again. I think it's a
credit to bow and it'll be a part of his legacy.
But the team kind of just popped on bo Nix's
back and had him carry them to that victory over
the Bills. Like the run game wasn't there. The defense
allowed a lot of boys.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
Wait, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Did I hear you.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
Correctly that I think Bonus carried the team to that
that victory.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
Oh yeah, please dotail, please do tail.
Speaker 1 (26:14):
Oh gladly, gladly go as far as yours. Bonix bawled out,
you had no run game to support them. I think
we'd agree there ten carries, which isn't enough. Will agree
the Bonus creates eighty five percent of this team's offensive
yardage and it's a thirty to thirty game that goes
to overtime. It was an offensive shootout that he won
(26:34):
while being responsible for the Lion's share of the yardage. Now,
the defense deserves credit for helping set up some scoring drives.
They gave him six points with those takeaways. They also
deserve critique for allowing the Bills to darn near get
three points to drive, which would have made them the
worst defense in the league.
Speaker 3 (26:49):
Does he let me help you out, young singers, because
I think your theory is a little flaw, but I
understand why.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
And here's what I mean.
Speaker 3 (26:59):
Well, we talk about the Broncos defense, and I've heard
so many people are not heard, I guess read so
many comments on social media about this Broncos defense. Keep
in mind, who in the hell you were playing against.
That was the reigning MVP, right, the reigning MVP and
Josh Allen and oh, by the way, they were bringing
(27:21):
in the number one rushing offense in the league, not
in the division, not in the conference. So you have
to figure that you're gonna been, You're gonna you may
even break that times, right, but that's gonna happen because
you're playing against more elite offenses.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
Right. And I give Boenick some credit.
Speaker 3 (27:42):
Right, he made a tell of a play to Marvin
Mahams dropping it out in the in the left corner.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
I think that was a south end zone, right, great play.
Speaker 3 (27:53):
But see, we can't overshadow what the defense did. Remember
they got five turnovers, two of which said the.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
Offense that won to kick a field goal right before
the half. Two others put the Broncos on a.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Twenty twenty five yard line and they kicked field goals.
So some of these points that we talk about, yes,
the defense helped set that up. So make sure we
keep that in perspective, because I don't want people to
lose this idea because I know this is a quarterback
driven league where we can't keep baby on the sideline
(28:30):
by not giving validation to the Broncos defense.
Speaker 1 (28:38):
Nick Ferguson and Nick we're talking. The last time I
was here, I think it was ahead of the wild
card weekend, but just about you know, expectations for this
Broncos season and you know what would make it a success.
I'll get into the defensive stuff, I think at the
top of the next hour when we have a little
more time, because I think both of us have a
lot to say about that. My How does Jared Sidham
(29:04):
entering the starting lineup change your expectations for this Bronco season?
Are you still hate the Broncos country is the standard
of excellence? You still need to go out there and
win the Super Bowl? Or because it's shared Sidham do
you look at it now as hey, you know the
season's been a success. They took such a stride.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
Else the standard is the standard.
Speaker 3 (29:24):
We don't look the last time I checked, the place
that we live in is called Denver, Colorado, not Cleveland
freaking Ohio.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
Right, we don't lower the bar.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
The bar goes up, right, And this is why the
pressure in this game for everyone is elevated.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
Right, it's not going down. We know what's at stake.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
And this is why Sean Payton, after announcing Bo's injury,
said he has all the confidence in Jared Stenham.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
We've heard every player say.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
That they have confidence in Jared Stinham as though they should.
He's been in this offense for three years. He is
one of their teammates, right, and from what I hear,
he does a great job carving up the starting defense
at times. So that builds a certain level of confidence.
But now you're running your own plays, you have to
(30:21):
go out there with all the chips pushed at the
center the table and say, okay, are you betting on
black or whatever? And Jared Stendham has to bet on himself.
Every single player, I can tell you this, no matter
whatever the sport they have had a dream, either as
(30:42):
an adult or as a kid, where almost like you're
shooting that final shot in the NBA Finals, Game seven,
the ball is in your hands, three two one, and
did you make it? Every player's had that thought in
that mindset. Now Jared Stidham gets a chance to live
(31:02):
out his childhood dreams and it can change everything.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
Like do we remember Nick Foles's name nowadays? If he
doesn't win that Super Bowl, it can get you a
starting job. And even if that starting job flames out,
that's thirty million dollars in your pocket at least, you know,
with with guarantees and everything, you might have sixty million
in the bank immediately. Like Jared Sidm's not hurting for money.
He's making eight million right now.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
He's back good, he's good. But he can buy a Hamburger.
Speaker 3 (31:28):
You know.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
It's better than than eight million dollars a year.
Speaker 1 (31:31):
Forty million dollars a year, you know, like that's that's
a pretty seismic difference. And you have two good performances here.
That's coming Jared Sidham's way. Someone will pay him well
as at least a bridge option.
Speaker 2 (31:41):
He's still on the contracts. It's twenty twenty seven.
Speaker 1 (31:44):
So well, you're setting me up for something else on
the contract. If he plays well, I think the Broncos
could look to maybe trade him and get some draft picks.
Speaker 3 (31:53):
And then who's going to be your backup? Be very
careful by what you suggest, young Segers. Be very careful.
Speaker 1 (31:59):
That's future ZACT problems com back. So Broncos Country Today,
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