No. Trap game is much too simplistic an analysis. Too far beyond cliche to consider it even close to close enough. This is a referendum on a quarterback. Well, two quarterback's actually, but a referendum nonetheless.
After 4 games, what I won't do is entertain any more questions about my coach. Whether Vance Joseph intends to try another fake punt is inconsequential. He is only likely to try one if our quarterback keeps failing in the red zone leaving him desperate enough to think he needs to for sake of extra tries for his offense.
Honest eyes can't question the sheer intensity with which the Broncos play, but you also can't question who is held responsible or credited for the red zone and third down production. For two games Siemian was great on third down and in the red zone.
And now?
Not so much.
Less turnovers might offer a clue, but the Broncos have a few other questions yet to answer as a collective- especially on offense.
Intensity of effort is not one of them.
On both sides of the ball, they've come prepared to win every game and never allowed any opponent to simply dictate by force.
Against the Cowboys, rumors had it they (Dallas) all quit on the field, not just Ezekiel Elliott. Win or lose, no such rumors have taken residence in Denver, and that is a direct reflection of the head coach who's temperament determines such things.
This season, for better or worse, has been about Trevor Siemian and Trevor Siemian alone. He came into the season with a resume to refer to, and he is no longer the post surgery shortened season, redshirt freshman who is QB for the varsity. He is now a redshirted sophomore with the above-mentioned list on his record.
Thanks to the Book of Trevor ((not Eli), teams are certain of how they want to beat the Broncos and it's called make Siemian do it. In three games thus far Siemian has done his part, which is understandably smaller thanks to an All-Pro defense.
I believe he can do it, but the jury is still out. Until now, he has looked nothing like his draft slot but every bit of his age, something that worked against him when Dak Prescott was balling out as a rookie. Dak has helped other young QB's by coming down to earth a bit, but the expectations on the shoulders of Siemian are an all time Great defense type of HUGE.
Siemian's head is still swimming with expectations, constant blitzes, loaded boxes, DT and Emmanuel, making his offensive coordinator happy all while getting Chris Gallegos off his ass a bit.
WHO IS CHRIS GALLEGOS?
Chris Gallegos is a friend and former highschool classmate of mine, and a passionate lover of the Broncos who leads the "we've got the wrong QB" brigade in Denver. The word brigade denotes that Chris is not alone in his sentiment even though he alone expresses it in a way I would not want momma Siemian to hear, especially given the success her son has achieved as a 7th round unexpected starter and captain... for two seasons, and under two different head coaches.
In reality Chris is right. None of that overcoming crap will amount to anything if Siemian is not the right guy to maximize Von Miler's promising future, and if Broncos fans are just setting themselves up to be the last to know it. I'm not saying Siemian has proven himself. I'm not even saying that Denver will win this game, but I am saying we will have a real answer about Trevor once it is over.
Respecting the resume of the incoming opponent doesn't change the film they have on us and Siemian. In fact, if you want a reason to be worried it's the fact that they have film on us but our film on them is useless. They are not staffed to play the way they planned at the start of the year, and they are not benefitted by fighting to be something different just because it appears they have to. Essentially, Denver won't be able to prepare for the team NY has evolved into because the on film evolution has yet to begin.
The Giants entered the season believing they could play like the Broncos played during the first two seasons of Eli's brother. Odell Beckham went down a week ago, so the reason to ditch the old plan hasn't yet been clarified in New York. That method did not produce any 0-5's for Peyton, but it did make a fairly good defense get described as poor at times simply because of the poor defensive stats produced from high octane offensive play and low TOP (time of possession).
The Giants defense is good with a few carryovers from their championship teams. Their coach may be trying a double edge sword of an offensive approach, one that overworks your defense even if you produce points, which they have not. Nothing evidences a capable defense, however, better than a team sputtering to score but has still been in nearly every game they've played this year.
This is no more a question of defenses than it is of coaches, even as New York's coach could be feeling the 0-5 heat some. This is about two quarterbacks. Not just Siemian, but Manning who will be in the Hall of Fame, and can remind you of why on any given Sunday.
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| Was Siemian just joking when he said Brandon Stokely is the former player he would love to play with the most? Is he a REAL slot receiver away from something special on offense? |
For better or for worse, this game is a referendum on Siemian, and Denver fans should never worry about finally learning what we have in Siemian regardless of the final score.
What Denver should worry about is an MFNHOFQB any time they face one. Phillip Rivers is an MFNHOFQB (next week's opponent) and so is Eli. Either the Giants will find a spine behind their MFNHOFQB and give Broncos country a tough game, maybe even a loss, or Siemian will take full advantage of his relative experience and two weeks of preparation, and show Chris Gallegos why he too could become an MFNHOFQB himself someday.
Best I can tell, the circumstances leave very little room for anything else to occur.
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