ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — John Elway, Vic Fangio and Co. have played the long game with Drew Lock.
After every game, both the general manager and the head coach have thrown a bone or two to their rookie quarterback, but have kept the ultimate prize—being named the guy—tucked far, far away.
On Monday, after Lock delivered another convincing win, Vic Fangio went as far as he’s ever gone in anointing Lock the quarterback past Sunday’s final game of the season.
“He’s done enough to show that he definitely could be the guy and we’re looking for that to be the case,” Fangio said with optimism in his voice when asked if the 6-foot-4 quarterback has done enough to show the’s the guy moving forward.
So, crown him, Vic?
To some, Fangio’s comment might not come across as that glowing. But when it comes from Vic, who rarely tosses around compliments, especially to his rookie quarterback who he continues to push to be better, Monday’s comments were that big.
“I’m very encouraged by what Drew has done these four games,” Fangio added on Monday, not afraid to hold back.
And how can’t anyone be? In Lock’s first four games, not only does he have a 3-1 record with a team that was 4-8 before he took over, he’s quickly earned the respect of his teammates and got the job done on the field.
Statistically, Lock’s exceeded expectations for a quarterback making his first four starts. His 64.8 completion percent, 4.7 touchdown percent, 89.4 passer rating and 60.6 QBR all rank in the top half of the league. His 2.3 sack percent is the best in the entire NFL.
“Part of it too is because of the negative, too,” Fangio said, explaining how he’s not just encouraged by Lock’s positives. “I mean, we played a tough game in a tough environment a week ago against a great team and things didn’t go well. But I like the way he handled it.”
On Nov. 20, before Lock even played his first game, Fangio warned of potentially getting a false positive because of a limited sample size. On Monday, Vic confirmed there was something more special going on with Lock than a false positive he was around in New Orleans decades ago.
Once again, Fangio pointed to Lock’s 10-week stint on the injured reserve as where he made his “biggest jump” as he learned more about the NFL, playing the quarterback position and “all the things that go with playing quarterback in the NFL.”
Every week he’s continued to take jumps on the field. Against the Texans, Lock proved he could be a gunslinger and put up over 30 points—a feat the Broncos haven’t done since Oct. 18, 2018. But on Sunday, he showed he can be a game manager and take what the defense gives him.
“He didn’t force it, which is good,” Fangio said, encouraged by another positive step from Lock.
With only one game left to prove to Fangio and Elway that he can be their guy going into the 2020 season, Drew Lock simply just needs to be Drew Lock.
“Just more good play. Which he’s done for the most part,” Fangio said, responding to what he needs to see from his rookie quarterback against the Raiders in the season finale. “I think he’s capable of more. Being consistent. He’s played good, but I think he can play better.”
Vic Fangio’s looking for Drew Lock to be the future. All Drew has to do is be himself on Sunday to try to Lock that up for the offseason.
