The Denver Post’s sports columnist Mark Kiszla is answering your questions in a live chat beginning at noon.
Elway seems serious in his belief could actually be the QB of the Broncos. We’ve all seen Lynch play, and as bad as it’s been, it appears he’s actually regressed in his first two NFL seasons. What have you seen in practice or anywhere else that would give you any reason to believe this guy is actually a keeper?
Kiz: I applauded when drafted Paxton Lynch. So blame me (I’m OK with it). I had almost immediate concerns after Lynch reported to the Broncos as a rookie, and it was my observation he had almost zero clue how much it took to be a pro quarterback. This does not make him a bad person. It seemed obvious to me that and Elway clashed about the development of Lynch throughout 2016. I saw both sides of the argument. Kubiak didn’t think he could put an adolescent in charge of the offense for the defending champs. And I also believe that the Broncos never tailored their offense to the strengths Lynch did bring to the table. We could go round and round in circles discussing this, but the bottom line is: Lynch is still here because Elway is the boss round these parts. And most folks in apountry trust in Elway more than just about any other person in life.
One more QB question and I’ll get off of it. Is Chad Kelly any good? Because John is boss and he says Paxton is No. 2 right now, but the reality is if gets hurt who do we trot out? Lynch? (I have a cryptic look on my face, can’t put an emoji here to depict that.)
Kiz: This would not officially be a chat unless the name of Chad Kelly was mentioned. Could Kelly beat out Lynch for the back-up QB job? Certainly. Mr. Elway said as much himself at the conclusion of the draft proceedings at Dove Valley HQ.
Hello Mr. Kiszla, I’ve been reading the Denver Post for 60 years and I’m a big fan of your work. Why do you think the Broncos selected Bradley Chubb over Quenton Nelson, since Nelson is the best guard to come out of the draft in 30 years and it would have filled a need. Is Chubb really that good to pass on Nelson?
Kiz: God bless you. And thanks for reading. Humble thanks. I have been duly impressed with guard Quenton Nelson for a long time, and was an advocate of the Broncos drafting him at No. 5, despite the fact that NFL general managers do not generally view guard as one of the more essential positions on the field. But the edge rusher is highly valued throughout the league, and Bradley Chubb was too good to pass up for John Elway. In fact, as Elway suggested on opening night of the draft, the Broncos were apparently prepared to deal the fifth pick to Buffalo had Chubb not fallen in Denver’s lap. I think Pro Bowlers win championships, and Chubb certainly has that potential. Trading back would have indicated to me that Elway believes this team is not ready to compete seriously for a deep playoff run in 2018.
Talking to you from a sidewalk bar in sunny Seville, Spain!!! I’m loving this Rockies team. Itap different from any team in the past. Great pitching, road wins, lots of home run power. Really like the cast, especially Ottavino, Rusin, Bettis, Nazty, Nolan. Tell me, if DJ continues on a tear this year, will he force the Rox to reconsider their obvious disinterest in a new contract?
:We started this chat with cheesy pop goodness. So let me add: Oh, I’ve never been to Spain. But I kinda like the Beatles. Did I quote those lyrics correctly? And to be clear, I have been to Spain, thanks to The Denver Post.. The paper sent me to Barcelona on assignment, to cover a Broncos preseason game, way back in the day. But you’re in Seville, and it’s a Rockies town today (because you’re there, waving the colors of your favorite baseball team.) I predicted the Rockies would win — gulp — 92 games this season. And for much of April, it made me appear to be a bigger knucklehead than usual. But your point on this team tearing it up on the road is not only well taken, it’s the best sign that Colorado is a legit playoff contender. DJ LaMahieu is a righteous good dude and will be essential to any chance that the Rox have of winning 90-plus times in 2018. But would team success cause to sign DJ to a longterm deal? Outlook not so bright.
Hey Mark, did you see that hockey player lick the guy’s face? What’s up with that? Is that allowed?
Kiz: Finally! This is not only a burning question, but one that captures the spirit of the thing I attempt to do with this chat. Aren’t hockey players supposed to drop the gloves rather than give dog kisses? I have a dog named Fred. He does sometimes lick my face. I’m OK with it, though I can certainly understand why some observers might find it unsavory. But if a hockey player licked my face? I might bite his tongue. Or drop the gloves. Because that’s part of the code, isn’t it? (Only kid the ones I love … and I love playoff hockey, which is the best playoff sport in North America, even with LeBron James making up some new Houdini act every night for the Cavs.)
Talking to you from sunny Heilbronn, Germany. It seems that college linemen take a year or two (or more) to develop into serviceable pros — so it is important to keep lots of young depth and great coaches. Like a farm team in baseball. This eats up a lot of practice squad space. When you miss a couple years (, ) it’s tough to fill in the gap. This might explain the new split coaching duties in Denver, explain the fact that they are OK with McGovern replacing Garcia now..what do you think?
Kiz: I was in Germany just last summer, and appreciated the way beers consumed were tallied in a tavern, with the bar staff making ticks on my mug coaster to keep score. It can certainly take time for college linemen to develop tricks of the NFL trade, and think that your keen observation highlights one of the underrated challenges of developing a winning team. The rub? It’s easier to for an NFL general manager to keep around a developing linebacker or wide receiver than a hog molly, because the faster guys are easier to use on special teams. If Connor McGovern is able to step up in his third year after being drafted, it certainly would support your theory.
Chubb fell to us at No. 5, but who did John Elway really covet? (There was a rumor the Broncos tried to trade into the No. 2 spot.)
:John Elway denied he talked to the Giants on draft day about trading up to No 2, if I remember correctly. But, as I wrote in Sunday editions of the The Post several days prior to the draft, I do believe Elway coveted USC’s Sam Darnold as a franchise quarterback. Could I be wrong? Certainly. But I haven’t heard anything to this date that would make me feel otherwise.
Love playoff hockey too. Not fair that the ‘lanche aren’t in it and the Las Vegas Golden Knights are. What kind of name is that “Golden Knights” in Vegas…yuck. Better name would be the “Rat Pack”. My question — is the penalty for hooking modified when you play in Vegas?
Kiz: Not fair? Easy there. As somebody far wiser than me (and that somebody is not hard to find) pointed out just today, was there anybody crying foul when the Golden Knights’ roster was assembled? I don’t recall it. And what’s more, if memory serves, I was standing in a hockey dressing room in South Florida on a June night in 1996, long after midnight, as Mike Keene sat atop a locker and smoked a cigar, in celebration of the Avs winning the Stanley Cup at the conclusion of their first year playing in Colorado. It was awesome. But fair to everyone else in the hockey world? Prolly not, although not my problem.
I think the two biggest bargains in the draft were Jewell and Hamilton. Your thoughts?
Kiz: Please forgive the pause in answering your fine question. I am working very hard on spelling DaeSean Hamilton without looking it up. I am not a good speller. But I do believe Hamilton has a shot of catching a number of passes from Case Keenum in 2018. And that would qualify Hamilton as a draft steal, to be certain.
What we wouldn’t give to have back at 1B.
:I admit to thinking it was time for the Rockies to move on from Mark Reynolds at the conclusion of 2017. But I hear you clucking. I kinda miss Reynolds now, as well. Speaking of which …
Mark, did you see *first baseman* Ian Desmond hit two homers yesterday? That’s right… First baseman…. Two homers…. Maybe he read your column?
Kiz: Not so certain Mr. Desmond read my column in Friday’s editions of The Post, as he has probably had to go hit and was too busy to give my words a quick scan. But, knowing the dynamics of a major-league clubhouse, where grown men sometimes are known to act like middle-schoolers, there might be some slim chance that a Colorado teammate let Desmond know that some ink-stained wretch back in Denver was on his case. This much I know is true: I have never helped any player draw a walk, much less hit two dingers, in a major-league game. But thanks for mentioning it, and if Mr. Desmond would like to give thanks by donating $135,802 (or roughly the equivalent of what he gets paid for each of 162 regular-season games) to my favorite charity, I wouldn’t say no.
Find the full chat transcript below:
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