Drew Lock, Teddy Bridgewater hone in on Seattle as QB decision approaches

ENGLEWOOD, Colorado – The Broncos have seen almost enough.

Throughout the course of organized team activities, mandatory minicamp, and first preseason game, Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater fought back and forth for the starting quarterback job.

Every throw, streak, and day was another data point for head coach Vic Fangio and his staff to evaluate, and as the team nears their second preseason game, the Broncos have seen almost enough to make a decision.

“Pretty close,” said Fangio, “but we have more information.”

Bridgewater will kick off the game against Seattle on Saturday, and Lock will be relieved when the two quarterbacks see their second chance in the preseason. In Week 1 against the Vikings, Lock was an impressive 5-of-7 for 151 yards, two touchdowns and a rating of 153.3. His 80 yard bomb against KJ Hamler was the offensive game of the game. Bridgewater responded well as he scored a nearly flawless 7-of-8 line for 74 yards, a touchdown, and a rating of 144.8 during his move.

Although Lock and Bridgewater didn’t compete against many of Minnesota’s starters, Fangio said he still got a real rating from both players.

“We can judge that very precisely, I think,” said Fangio. “I think the practices against Minnesota are illuminating. I think the practices [with] Ones against ones for ourselves are very meaningful and we cannot control what the other teams play in these preseason games. “

The Broncos will control who they play in the last two games, and Fangio said he envisioned both Lock and Bridgewater playing the Rams in the final preseason game. Both could see action, even with a starter named after the Seattle game, which Fangio thought was possible after Monday’s practice session.

Before that decision is made, the two quarterbacks will try to provide Fangio and the coaching staff with more good data points.

“The first game was obviously good,” said Lock. “We have another test this weekend and I’ll go out and try to do the same. We have a lot more training until the first game. I just want to come out every day and show.” that I am improving. As I’ve always said, care about football and just make smart decisions – getting out there, protecting the ball, moving across the field, taking it day after day. I try not to get too absorbed and just focus on myself. [I need to] take care of the business that I have to take care of. “

Bridgewater made similar points when he said he hoped the Broncos could take the momentum they built in the first preseason game with them. However, the veteran player said he avoided thinking about the competition and the decision to come.

“I just stay me,” said Bridgewater. “Every day I just come out and try to help this team be a better team and help the other 10 guys in the huddle be the best version of themselves they can be. Like I said a couple of weeks ago , a decision will be made. ” hit and we will go forward. Whatever decision is made, it will be what we think is the best decision for this team. Right now I can only focus on getting better as a player every day and being a better teammate and a better father. “

Lock admitted that he sometimes thinks about the competition and said it was “human” to think about the process and “over-analyze” the scenario. However, as the fight progressed, Lock said he’d done better by letting go of concerns and focusing on the process. This means he didn’t spend his energy counting on a daily basis who won or lost the day’s workout.

“No, you can’t count,” said Lock. “It was something I said, ‘I’m not going to do that. I’m not going to put in more than what needs to be in there.’ I have to dig into the film and study the scripts and installations and everything that goes into each day, and that’s where I mostly focused – not necessarily on who played better today or how many touchdowns they got. That’s the easy one Way to check it out, but I think there’s a lot more to this whole process. “

During the trial, Lock said he had become “a better soccer player” than a year ago and said he believed he had shown growth. And while he said he would let the coaches decide if he showed enough to earn the starting job, he said he was confident he could go into 2021 if he led the offense.

Regardless of whether Lock or Bridgewater wins the competition, both admit that the scenario has changed them for the better. Lock said he had an increased “sense of gratitude” for playing the position, and Bridgewater noted that the competition “did” [him] much better.”

“It’s one of those deals where you are now one of the older guys in the room and you have a lot of knowledge that you’ve gained over the years by being in the room with different guys,” said Bridgewater. “For me, it’s one of those deals where I can get it back into Drew and Brett [Rypien] and help them improve their games while improving my game too. “

On Saturday, Bridgewater and Lock will try to improve their games one more time as they provide some of the little information unearthed – and the team gets one step closer to a final decision.