Good morning, Broncos Country!
Just a few short days until the Broncos get to compare their progress toward the 2026 season against guys in a different jersey, and no one is looking forward to it more than Bo Nix.
Advertisement
“I’m excited,” the third-year quarterback said after practice yesterday. “I think preseason’s always a great time to get back out there and get your feet wet a little bit and see defenses in a live situation before the first game.”
But even Nix is unsure how much, or if at all, he’ll get his feet wet on Friday.
“No idea,” Nix added.
It seems likely he’ll at least run a few plays as Davis Webb will be getting live reps calling plays in a game as well. And getting the QB and his OC in sync during a preseason game seems like a good idea now that Webb will take over play-calling duties from the sideline (with a little “mentoring” from Payton along the way).
Advertisement
Either way, Payton is de-emphasizing the new role for Webb and focusing on figuring out the team.
“I think it’ll feel and look about the same,” Payton said of preparing with Webb. “We’ll go through where coaches are. The big thing is let’s not ever lose track of finding the right 53.”
As Payton noted, there’s not much value in trying to judge a player who is confused by his assignment before the ball is even snapped.
“As we get into the developmental players or the younger players, making sure we’re giving them defenses, offenses, reps of things they know well so we can evaluate their ability,” Payton said. “The first thing that can stunt that is complication, confusion or they don’t know what to do.”
But for Nix, there is understandably still some excitement about this new “era” with Webb.
Advertisement
“I’m really excited. I know he’s going to do a great job,” Nix said. “He does a really good job preparing. He’s going to work harder than anybody else in the building at his craft, and he’s going to do his job to the best of his ability.”
And Nix understands there will be a learning curve for both of them in this new dynamic.
“It’s definitely not going to be easy for him to do it for the first time, but that’s why he has the 11 on the field, and Coach to help support him,” Nix said. “We’re going to go with the ebbs and flows of the season. We’re going to learn from the bad and continue to grow from the good.
After two years of mostly getting feedback from Webb on the sideline after the offense came off the field, now he’ll have Webb’s voice giving directions in the huddle.
Advertisement
“I’m excited to have him in my ear,” Nix added.
Of course, Webb isn’t the only Broncos coordinator helping prepare Nix. The quarterback pointed out that feedback from defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is also invaluable. And now that he’s getting better at reading defenses, Joseph’s insight is more important.
“We’re seeing every defensive structure imaginable,” Nix said of practice reps. “Safeties going everywhere, blitzes from everywhere, fronts from everywhere. That just helps you as a quarterback get your eyes up and slow the game down once you get into a game setting,” Nix said. “For me, it’s been irreplaceable to be able to go against ‘VJ.'”
He can walk over afterward and ask Joseph exactly what the defense was trying to accomplish – and he does.
Advertisement
“I can ask him questions and sort of figure out the ‘Why’ behind things,” Nix said. “I also think it’s helped me just as a quarterback in our system being able to see things and find different answers within our system.”
Read the full article here