Broncos minicamp Day 2: Here's why giveaways could decide the QB competition

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — What matters most to offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur in formulating a decision at quarterback between newcomer Teddy Bridgewater and incumbent Drew Lock?

“Hard data” matters, Shurmur said Wednesday after the Broncos concluded their second minicamp practice at UCHealth Training Center.

“You want to get more completions and you want less interceptions. You want to throw touchdown passes. All the hard data,” Shurmur told Denver-area media in a Zoom press conference.

But beyond that, Shurmur is focused on the mistakes and the ability to correct them.

“When we look at it, I’m kind of looking at it generally to — when this guy’s in there, are less bad things happening?” Shurmur said. “When he makes a mistake, is it catastrophic, or is it something that we can correct?”

The focus on miscues is understandable. The Broncos led the NFL in turnovers last year, and 24 of the giveaways came from the team’s three pure quarterbacks: Lock, Jeff Driskel and Brett Rypien. With a defense that possesses the components to contend, the Broncos’ success equation could rely upon the offense limiting its giveaways.

It’s a formula that the Broncos wanted to execute in other recent years. But the quarterbacks they utilized — Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiler, Paxton Lynch, Case Keenum and Joe Flacco — were not suited for the role.

The viability of Bridgewater rests on his ability to avoid giveaways; over the last four seasons, his rate of one fumble or interception every 38.7 plays is ninth-best among the 62 quarterbacks with at least 250 combined pass attempts, rushes and times sacked. Lock is 50th in the same metric, with one fumble or interception every 23.6 plays.

That brings us to Wednesday’s practice.

An example of a “catastrophic” mistake would be a pick-6. And unfortunately for Lock, he had one Wednesday — when Justin Simmons read Lock’s intent as he held the ball for a bit too long and threw toward rookie TE Shaun Beyer. Simmons jumped the route, got the ball and had what likely would have been a touchdown in a game situation.

Simmons had a similar interception off Lock during one of the OTAs that was open to media viewing; that came in a seven-on-seven period on a pass intended for offseason free-agent pickup Eric Saubert.

That said, the Broncos’ pass-catching targets let down Lock, too. Rookie WR Seth Williams and veteran TE Noah Fant each dropped passes thrown by the third-year quarterback. Rookie RB Javonte Williams also dropped a Bridgewater pass in a seven-on-seven period.

Still, drops are mistakes from which a team can usually bounce back. Turnovers that end up going downfield in the opposite direction, not so much.

When the Broncos reconvene in for training camp, perhaps the most important thing Lock must show is the ability to limit giveaways. Otherwise, Bridgewater’s low-risk skill set could be the better fit for what Shurmur desires.

NOTES

• The Teddy Bridgewater-to-Jerry Jeudy connection returned to normal service Wednesday after Jeudy left Tuesday’s minicamp session with a stomach issue. Judy caught three passes from Bridgewater, including a touchdown pass near the right sideline in the south end zone during the red-zone period at the end of practice.
• Bridgewater also ran for a touchdown during the red-zone period.
• Even though Surtain allowed the red-zone touchdown, he was step for step with Jeudy in coverage and was beaten by a sharp break by the second-year wide receiver and a perfectly placed Bridgewater throw.
• Rookie safety Jamar Johnson showed his nose for the football by alertly reaching in to Branden Mack’s grasp to break up a pass during a seven -on-seven period.
• May acquisition Cameron Fleming worked at right tackle with Bobby Massie still sidelined.
• Max Duffy got the punting work Wednesday, with a continued emphasis on directional punting in his work. During one period, he had a pair of blasts that covered 60-plus yards, but nearly half of his hang times in that period were under 4.00 seconds.
• OLB Malik Reed was a disruptive force throughout the day. He frequently burst into the backfield to blow up running plays, and whipped around Fleming’s outside shoulder to reach Lock for a play that would have likely been a sack under game conditions.
• TE Austin Fort continues to get involved, catching a pair of passes from Lock on Thursday. He has seen more playing time this week with Saubert watching from the sideline.
• Despite the near-record heat baking the Front Range this week, Broncos coach Vic Fangio continued to wear his standard team-issue gray sweatshirt for minicamp practices. “It hides my gut a little bit,” he said.