To infinity and…5-11? That’s not what most Broncos fans were expecting from their team, and Buzz Lightyear QB Drew Lock. A lot of fans were very optimistic about Denver as Lock ended the season 4-1 as the starter, the team had a lot of young pieces in Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, Noah Fant, and Justin Simmons. Denver was seen as a dark horse playoff team by many due to their great defense, and up and coming offense. The 2020 season was supposed to be a stepping stone for this young roster. It was far from it.
The start of the season was horrible. Von Miller went down in training camp. Lock got injured in the second game of the season. Sutton tore his ACL in that same game. The Broncos had to start four different QBs by Week 13, and the fourth QB was the infamous no QB game where WR Kendall Hinton had to take snaps under center. It was just a microcosm of the season for Denver. Injuries held this team back, but even on the field they played uninspired football.
Even when Lock came back, he was far from spectacular. He had a four INT game against the Las Vegas Raiders, and went through a stretch where he had 3 TDs and 7 picks in three games. While he picked it up at the end of the season, as he finished up the final four games with 7 TDs, and 2 picks, there are more questions than answers for Lock at the QB spot. It remains to be seen if newly hired GM George Paton trades up in the draft to get Justin Fields, or Trey Lance. Bottom line, it’s a make or break season for Lock.
Lock has no excuses this season. He’s going to be in his second year in OC Pat Shurmur’s system. He’s going to have time to get acclimated as he’ll have a full off season. He’s getting his number one receiver back in Sutton. The defense is even more formidable, and he can lean on them to get a stop if need be. The offense still has a lot of weapons outside of Sutton as well in Jeudy, Fant, Melvin Gordon, and KJ Hamler. This is a make or break season for Lock. He has one more opportunity to show that he can be Denver’s franchise QB. He doesn’t have John Elway in his corner anymore.
If Paton doesn’t like what he sees, Lock will be out of a job by next season. Time is ticking Lock. My last Bronco article said that time wasn’t on his side, and now he needs to produce results. This time, I say this: I believe in you Drew. You have shown flashes. Now it’s time to put it together. Your career is on the line. So dance your way to the end zone, instead of dancing your way to the street.
Photo Credit: Steve Senne
