The Broncos 2nd day in full pads showed both QBs do a little more in the passing game. In the final drill, Quarterback Drew Lock was driving the 1st team down the field from the opposite 25-yard line in a 2-minute drill. Everything was going well, including a couple of nice passes to Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy, when it all went up in smoke. on 3rd and 4 from the 14, Lock scrambled right, thought about running the ball then saw Jeudy late, tried to fit the ball in between safeties Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson, and the Pro Bowler from a year ago made Lock pay as he got his hands under ball right at the goal line.
On the next drive, Teddy Bridgewater was able to march the ball down the field as well. But, as he thought he had a favorable matchup on the left side of the field from just outside the red zone, a fade route, likely intended for the back shoulder or a deep out to wide receiver Brandon Mack was easily intercepted by cornerback Rojesterman Farris.
Head Coach Vic Fangio was visibly frustrated after practice when asked about the quarterback play Wednesday, "It was up and down, he said. "Obviously, we’d like to not end those drives there to go win the game with interceptions, but that’s why we practice. We obviously need a lot of work, and we’ll continue to get a lot of work.”
Both QBs had plenty of good throws, and Lock looked particularly sharp a good portion of the day. Also, Bridgewater connected early in practice on a go route with Noah Fant for an easy score down the left side.
Certainly, both signal callers understand that interceptions are a part of the game, but Lock was understandably disappointed, after leading his team that close to the end zone, and he certainly wishes he could have that throw back. "First off, take care of the ball, Lock said. Don’t make that decision down there. [I] was halfway between running and halfway between throwing. Just make a better decision. [WR] Jerry [Jeudy] ran a good route. Either put it over the top of him, or really chuck it into the dirt and go to the next play. Don’t go half-and-half there."
Bridgewater, who's in his 8th training camp never wants to turn the ball over, and has a pretty good track record of protecting the football, but said, if you are gonna give it away, it's better to do it this time of year as he's trying to get on the same page with his new receivers, "Yeah, that was a little miscommunication," Bridgewater said We’ll work on that. I’m glad we’re making that mistake now and not in the game. We’ll get together, we’ll watch the tape later today. Defense came with the pressure. We had to get the ball out. I think we just weren’t on the same page so something we can fix easily, and it’s nothing that we’re going to panic about.”
The Broncos are off Thursday, back on the practice field, Friday.