On a scale between Peyton and a puppet, Trevor Siemian lands somewhere closer to a redshirt freshman quarterback than a Hall of Fame play caller when he steps to the line of scrimmage.
His predecessor, Peyton Manning, could scat through his cadences like a jazz musician while under center, moving defenses around with improvised inflection. Siemian, in his first season quarterbacking the defending Super Bowl champions, on the other hand, pretty much does what he is told. Here’s the play, make it happen.
But as Siemian grows into his role running the Broncos’ offense, Denver’s coaches are giving the 24-year-old more free will with the play calls. He won’t audible from a lengthy list of Xs and Os like Manning did, but Siemian is gaining control.
“I’m getting more comfortable every week,” Siemian said last week. “You can’t really replace those game reps. Being out here (at practice) is great and you try to simulate everything as best as you can, but there’s no substitute for playing.”
Siemian’s strides through the playbook are subtle. In the first quarter last Monday against Houston, the Broncos lined up in an offset-I formation, with fullback Andy Janovich shading to the right in front of running back C.J. Anderson. Under center, Siemian changed the play. He sent Janovich in motion, switching him to the left side. And Houston’s linebackers followed cue, taking a half-step in that direction. Siemian’s handoff to Anderson gained 12 yards the opposite way.
“We’re letting him go at the line of scrimmage and giving him some either-or type football plays,” Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said. “Trevor did a great job of getting our team in some great runs. He had a lot to do with us running the ball well.”
The Broncos, in essence, told Siemian, “You go handle it.” And he did.
His audibles remain rudimentary — Siemian has A or B choices, where Manning could seemingly recall a play from 1954 if he had to — but the Broncos need their quarterback to extend his influence. Cycling through play calls in the moment, with the play clock ticking, first requires a quarterback to scan the defense and diagnose its intent.
That duty for Denver this season belonged to three players: Siemian, Anderson and center Matt Paradis. Anderson’s perch deep in the backfield was like the crow’s nest on a pirate ship. He could see the full field. But on that 12-yard gain last week, Anderson tore the meniscus in his right knee and will miss at least eight weeks, if not the rest of the season.
That scouting duty now falls to rookie running back Devontae Booker. He is confident Siemian will take the lead.
“I can’t hear what’s in Trevor’s helmet. But at the line, I know we’re making play adjustments, call audibles,” Booker said. “I’ve seen it more and more.”
Siemian can’t yet match the quarterback he replaced. But Manning worked at a level few quarterbacks ever approach. In their final regular-season game last season, with the Broncos needing a victory for a No. 1 seed in the AFC, they trailed San Diego at halftime. Manning took over in the third quarter. On one play Manning glanced at the Chargers’ linebackers and sent tight end Owen Daniels in motion from right to left.
Like a Jedi master, Manning waved four Chargers players a half-step to their right, then handed the ball to Ronnie Hillman, who ran the other direction for a 23-yard touchdown that proved to be the game-winner.
Siemian’s education, and his expanded role, sprouted while he gained Kubiak’s trust. Siemian last threw an interception in Week 2 against the Indianapolis Colts. He’s gone 137 pass attempts since then without a turnover. His risk is limited, so the Broncos have given him more responsibility.
“I’m giving us some different looks,” Siemian said. “But I’m being coached the same and doing the same that’s asked of me.”
