The Denver Broncos opened up a competition for the team’s starting quarterback job by trading for veteran Teddy Bridgewater earlier this offseason. After Drew Lock failed to establish himself as clear No. 1 in 2020, the organization thought that bringing in another player with NFL experience might benefit the team as a whole.
That competition is now underway as the Broncos have entered training camp. Lock and Bridgewater have split time taking snaps with the first team early on, signaling that head coach Vic Fangio seems content to let the situation work itself out over time.
Although a starting job is on the line, Lock revealed that the Broncos competition has been more amicable than some expected. He went as far as t0 call the current battle with Bridgewater “motivating.”
“If anything, I’d say it’s motivating,” Lock said of the competition with Bridgewater on Wednesday at Broncos camp, via Troy Renck of Denver7 KMGH. “Everyone talks about staying focused, controlling what you can control. My idea is just come out with high energy every single day. Focus on me, make the plays when they come to me when I’m in there, and congratulate Teddy when he makes a good play. And we’ll talk about when I make a bad play or when he makes a bad play.
“It’s just about getting better every day, staying in my lane, and helping this team get better every single day because the main goal — besides this competition — is for us to start winning games here. I think we can do that with this team that we have. And it’s just a different feeling around this building right now. And it’s really fun to be a part of.”
#Broncos @DrewLock23 said QB competition is motivating #Denver7 pic.twitter.com/AZ0SPI22RE
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) July 28, 2021
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Based on those comments, Lock and Bridgewater appear to be taking a collaborative approach to the competition, which could bode well for both players. Neither one is likely to be a top-tier quarterback in the league next season, but if they can show improvement, the Broncos will be better off as a unit.
Lock regressed during his second NFL season after he impressed in five games during his rookie year. In 2020, he completed just 57.3 of his passes for 2,933 yards and 16 touchdowns. More concerning was his penchant for turning the ball over that resulted in 15 interceptions and eight fumbles, three of which were lost.
Bridgewater will likely be a steadier presence for the Broncos at quarterback with his 59 games of NFL experience and improved accuracy, but Lock still seems to have more upside, given that he’s only 24 years old. Denver has time to iron things out over the next month, but will want to make a definitive decision before the regular season gets underway in early September.
The post Drew Lock Uses 1 Word To Describe Quarterback Competition appeared first on The Spun.
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