The comfort level of quarterback Bo Nix was a talking point as the Denver Broncos concluded their offseason program last week. Denver coach Sean Payton was asked about it, and Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi commented on it.
“Less pause, less hesitation with the play call in the huddle,” Payton said when asked for an example of Nix’s comfort level. “Less pause, less hesitation in the pocket. He’s playing fast. And, again, protecting the ball. He’s hard to sack. He was hard to sack in college. So you’re seeing him play faster with more confidence.”
Nix joined Denver as the 12th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The former Pinson Valley High School and Auburn QB started every game for the Broncos, including Denver’s first playoff appearance since the 2015 season, as a rookie.
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After a season of operating the offense and another offseason immersed in instruction, Nix can play “free and natural,” Lombardi said.
“He had a completion on a play-action concept that last year he probably wasn’t real comfortable with the footwork,” Lombardi said on the field after Wednesday’s practice. “And he came back and said, ‘Man, it’s so great I don’t have to think about the footwork,’ so you can just feel the comfort level. He’s not thinking as much. …
“He can just kind of play free and natural, and you can certainly sense that out here.”
The Broncos have not announced their training camp schedule, but the players will be off for at least the next five weeks. That’s from formal work. Nix has plans to gather Broncos receivers during the summer break for throwing sessions.
“It always helps, especially a young quarterback, to kind of be in charge of those sessions,” Lombardi said. ”It helps him grow as a leader. The more those guys can throw, the more they can learn each other’s body language, and the quarterbacks can learn to throw to the different receivers because each guy’s a little bit different.
“And I think it helps with bonding a lot. Those guys get out there, they get a couple hours work in the morning, then they go play golf and do whatever they do. It certainly helps with team bonding and chemistry and cohesion.”
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at@AMarkG1.