ENGLEWOOD – Once again, the Broncos finished their offseason program undefeated.
Not unscathed. There were some injuries to key players. And maybe they didn’t always perform well.
But even if one day it’s the offense and the next day it’s the defense, someone on the Broncos was victorious following each of their 10-organized team activity (OTA) or three minicamp practices that were held over the past four weeks.
The Broncos do look better. They should be better than their 5-11 record from a year ago. But whether they’re 7-9 better or 11-5 better, only the future knows.
All we can do is analyze what just happened. Here is the good and the bad from the Broncos’ offseason that concluded Thursday afternoon.
Good
1. Case Keenum
It wasn’t quite the feeling Peyton Manning gave the team in 2012. But the presence of Keenum -- a proven starting quarterback capable of winning a second-round playoff game -- seemed to give the Broncos a boost of energy and confidence.
Keenum doesn’t have wondrous arm strength.
And he’s not easy to spot when you’re standing field level behind 30 guys on a sideline while trying to watch the offense scrimmage the defense.
But Keenum does move and throw on the run well and he has nice short and medium-range accuracy.
It’s the kind of accuracy where the tight end, running back and receiver catch the ball in stride and pick up a few extra yards.
More importantly, after consecutive offseason quarterback battles, Keenum lent the team assurance the quarterback position is solid. No team really believes it has a chance to play much in January if it doesn’t believe in its quarterback.
PHOTOS | Case Keenum Through the Years
2. Vance Joseph
Head coaches have growing pains, too. Joseph had all the leadership qualities when he got his first head coaching gig with the Broncos last season.
But the NFL head coach position is a whole different monster. There is handling yourself with the media in a way the fandom is assured.
There is coaching your coaches. There is paying attention to details in the weight room, training room, equipment room, video room and lunch room.
There is motivating your players.
Joseph is clearly more comfortable now than he was a year ago. He is wiser to the point he had the perfect answer when asked if he is a better head coach in year two.
“We’ll see in the fall if I got better,’’ Joseph said. “It all comes down to wins and losses.’’
3. Rookie reps
A year ago, even first-round left tackle Garett Bolles didn’t get first-team reps until the final week of minicamp.
This offseason, first-team reps went to seven rookies starting in OTAs: Outside linebacker Bradley Chubb, receivers Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton, running backs Royce Freeman, David Williams and Phillip Lindsay, and inside linebacker Josey Jewell.
The most pleasant surprise was Lindsay. Broncos’ offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave has devised a package of speed plays for the former Colorado Buffalo star who went undrafted after he was not invited to participate in the NFL Combine.
4. Marquette King
I thought Britton Colquitt and Riley Dixon were good punters. They are good punters. But King’s punts soaring towards the clouds are a sight to behold.
5. Isaiah McKenzie
I know what you’re thinking: Didn’t you write this guy up last offseason? Yes, I did. But he was given a more prominent slot receiver role this offseason. And he’s looked good. A tough cover, with good hands.
And if the third deck gets to him again this year? The good thing is when you muff a pass as a receiver, it’s only incomplete, not a fumble.
Bad
1. Injuries
The left wrist injury to Shane Ray, and Jordan Taylor’s time-consuming recovery from double-hip surgeries are worrisome.
It can’t be good that Ray, a first-round pass rusher, is getting another surgery on the wrist that was so badly damaged last year.
And it looks like Taylor – who was coming on as No. 4 receiver and dependable punt returner last season – won’t be football ready until a couple weeks into the season.
The Broncos also lost linebacker Deiontrez Mount for the season with a torn Achilles. It's unclear whether Mount was going to win a spot on the Broncos' 53-man roster. But he did finish the final 7 games of 2017 there.
2. Offensive line injuries
Joseph kept saying the injuries that prevented starting left guard Ron Leary and right tackle Jared Veldheer from participating in offseason practices were not overly concerning because they will both be ready by the start of training camp.
Still, both vets could have used the reps.
Leary played right guard last season and is going back to his old left guard position.
Veldheer is a Bronco for the first time.
They will be in catch-up mode in camp.
3. Running back uncertainty
The Broncos have the youngest running back group in the league. Which is exciting in one sense; frightening in another.
If there’s one thing we should have all learned about rookies over the years is they're not to be trusted until they first show it on Sundays.
There’s a decent chance Freeman will eventually become the starting running back with Devontae Booker again serving the 1B role.
Or it could be Booker, Freeman and De’Angelo Henderson, in that order.
It’s difficult to believe the Broncos will keep five running backs on their 53-man roster. But OTAs and minicamp suggested they might.
4. Adam Gotsis uncertainty
On March 21, the Fulton County district attorney’s office announced it expected results of its investigation into a possible rape charge against Broncos defensive end Adam Gotsis to come within 90 days.
Monday will be 89 days and there’s been no update. A rape complaint against Gotsis was filed nearly five years after the incident allegedly occurred while he was getting ready to play his sophomore season for Georgia Tech.
Gotsis played left defensive end for the No. 1 Denver defense throughout OTAs and minicamp.
