Bo can’t throw.
That is quite the takeaway from the Broncos’ Big Easy win over the New Orleans Saints. Returning home Friday brought surprising hand-wringing on talk radio and social media about Nix’s accuracy. His misses were unsettling, but no reason to break glass in case of emergency. Not yet anyway.
Each game is not a referendum on Nix’s career.
And the latest performance should not be an indictment after a week when the team did not practice. In the hours leading up to a Thursday night game, walkthroughs replace workouts.
“When you have two days to learn, you get the important notes to the test and do what you do well,” right tackle Mike McGlinchey said. “We did that better than we have the last six or seven weeks. We did our basics well.”
Based on my email, Broncos Country seems irritated that I believe both things. Nix is a legitimate weapon in the run game, not unlike Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels, and there remains time to address the underlying factors as to why some of his passes act like unguided missiles (footwork, processing, lack of playmakers around him).
Let’s establish the facts. Nix completed 16 of 26 passes for 164 yards. He started poorly, misfiring on three consecutive attempts to stall the first drive at the 41-yard line. This included his Nuke LaLoosh moment when he overthrew a wide-open Lucas Krull and underthrew a wide-open Marvin Mims Jr. on the same play. His mechanics were a mess as he failed to square his shoulders and drive the ball. There is no excuse for a throw like that, but there is a reason. It was his first possession of his first primetime game. Does that not allow for grace?
Fans, followers and viewers treated him as if they had seen the ghost of Tim Tebow. There are similarities — I wrote about them after the Jets win – between the two, most notably their strong faith and confidence. Throwing is not one of them. During Tebow’s 11 starts in 2011, he connected on 46.7% of his passes and eclipsed 50% only three times.
Nix is not that. Pump the brakes.
He boasts a 61.2 completion rate and has fallen under 50% once when he could not get a grip versus the rain-soaked Jets.
Yes, completions and accuracy are not the same thing, his numbers inflated by throws behind or near the line of scrimmage. But, is it necessary to conclude he cannot improve? That his helmet has hit the ceiling?
The Broncos won 33-10 on the road with a quarterback who did not turn the ball over — it’s not his fault Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu couldn’t catch — and was not sacked for the third time this season. And yet he awoke to fists shaking at the clouds on how the Broncos are doomed.
Few people have been more cynical and critical of the Broncos quarterbacks since 2015 than me. The plan seems to have been ABCEFU. Nix is the 14th starter since Peyton Manning retired and represents the first top pick a coach actually wanted (Even without his health issues, I am convinced Gary Kubiak would have quit rather than play Paxton Lynch).
Sean Payton picked Nix, pinned the second chapter of his career on the decision. He has praised his work ethic, passion and competitiveness, and don’t question Nix’s confidence unless you want Payton to melt your face with an icy glare.
He believes in Nix. It does not mean he is right. But can we wait until next Thanksgiving before concluding he is not the guy?
Payton, remember, has never developed a rookie quarterback. He has to prove he can evolve, but he boasts a 12-12 overall record and the Broncos have won three straight road games for the first time since 2015.
It is possible, even as Payton’s arrogance rubs folks the wrong way, he knows what he is doing?
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And what do the Broncos know about this process? Tebow is the franchise’s only drafted quarterback to win a playoff game. Truth is, we were all spoiled by John Elway, Manning and sprinkles of Jake Plummer and Craig Morton. It has created lofty expectations and fostered impatience.
Nix was the sixth quarterback taken in the draft. History is not kind to that player. It also serves as a reminder that he did not arrive as a finished product. This was always going to be a process. There are moments when Nix looks like the future and others where he practically begs Payton to give Zach Wilson snaps.
Nix’s draft status means he should develop into a top-15 quarterback by his fourth season. This cannot happen if his best skill is running. But to say that he can’t pass after seven starts?
Miss me on that.
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