Mile High Report
Good morning, Broncos Country!
The Broncos did a lot of things well during Saturday’s preseason win over the Cardinals, so well in fact, that even head coach Sean Payton had to admit there “is going to be a lot of things on tape we like.”
“I thought we did a lot of things well,” he said. “I thought our energy, kind of how we started the game, really in all three phases, there’s going to be a lot of good things on tape we like.”
Not the least of which was the performance of the young receivers. Backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham was dealing, and the running backs collectively put together a very solid 167-yard game.
But the receivers were on fire as the Broncos’ passing game topped 400 yards and gave 14 pass-catchers a chance to make a play.
Two guys — rookie Pat Bryant and second-year wideout Troy Franklin — made more plays than most, combining for four catches each and 137 yards.
Franklin, the former teammate to quarterback Bo Nix who struggled a bit last year to make much of an impact when he was on the field, has seemed to find some footing this season so far.
And twice that was in the end zone.
“I think I’m just more comfortable, got a little bit more freedom to go out there and just play. And also just knowing the offense as a whole,” Franklin said after the game. “I feel great. You know, we all can go. So it’s pretty cool.”
It is pretty cool. In fact, so many positions showcased so much depth on Saturday night that it will be a problem on cut day.
A good problem.
“I think there’re going to be a number of tough decisions, but I’d rather be in that position than the position we were in two years ago at this time,” Payton said. “I think that the talent level has gradually gotten better. These guys, they’re all competing, and we say this to them, and it’s serious. We’re rooting for all of them. We’re rooting for their best.”
Bryant noted that the energy from all the receivers made it that much more possible to have a big game.
“At the end of the day, it’s football. Just go out there, have fun. That’s what they preach to us all the time,” Bryant added. “Running several guys like that, seeing them make plays, makes you just want to go out there and make plays as well.”
Stidham, who was 16 of 23 for 240 yards and two touchdown passes, couldn’t praise his two young receivers enough.
“It is hard to put into words because [Franklin] has grown so much since last year. You can tell he is playing with so much confidence right now,” he said. “I think he is going to help our offense in a really big way. I know the guys in our room are really excited about that and looking forward to it.”
And about the...
