SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Saturday night’s preseason opener for the Denver Broncos started with a 50-yard bomb down the left sideline at the expense of a defense of which great things are expected, it included three punts of underwhelming stature from the only punter selected in the draft who had been launching bombs routinely during training camp and it included 11 penalties for 87 yards.
And yet the 30-9 final score indicated there were things to please Sean Payton and his staff as they returned to Denver after four days in Silicon Valley.
Mostly they involved the depth of the Broncos’ roster, which is objectively stronger than it has been in a decade.
The quality of the 40th, 45th and 50th players on the roster is well above average, and the performances of players such as Sai’Vion Jones, Kris Abrams-Draine, Jonah Elliss, Pat Bryant, the cadre of four reserve running backs — all of whom had flashes of brilliance — and a defense that generate four takeaways from a 49ers offense that did nothing after its Mac Jones-led second team sprinted to a touchdown at the expense of a first-team line defense featuring the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and two second-team All-Pros.
San Francisco’s NFL side is many things. Deep does not appear to be among them as they cope with a salary-cap crunch that put the team into transition; it chose not to try to make 10 pounds of contract fit into a five-pound bag and parted ways with Deebo Samuel and — relevantly for the Broncos — Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga.
But the Broncos are deep.
And they might be deep at the most important position. Their decision to re-sign Jarrett Stidham in March rather than explore the free-agent market for a backup to Bo Nix was rooted in choosing experience over a re-start, and harmony in the quarterback room over trying to build chemistry anew.
The choice seems to be a prudent one.
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BRONCOS MAY HAVE A BETTER SHOT IF THEY LOSE THEIR QB THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS
Time in the system typically benefits Payton’s backups. One good example is that of Teddy Bridgewater, who struggled in an end-of-season cameo in 2018, his first season in Payton’s scheme, but flourished when stepping in for Drew Brees the following season, faring so well that he earned a $40 million guarantee from Carolina the following offseason.
It’s Year Three for Stidham, who recalibrated his expectations after battling for the starting job last summer and falling short in the three-way battle with Nix and Zach Wilson. He returned on a two-year contract extension with a clear role as the understudy — but with better grasp on the scheme.
The result in training camp has been quick decisions, accuracy and crisp direction of the No. 2 offense.
“There’s not as much thinking pre-snap and that sort of thing,” Stidham said. “It’s more knowing what we’re doing now. Let’s attack the defense in certain things. It’s knowing what we can do on offense to help ourselves make good plays and score some points.”
Some aspects of Saturday’s performance — the first-team defense’s struggles early, for example — belied the overall arc of training-camp work.
Conversely, Stidham’s effort reflected it. Whether he’s had pass-catchers like Courtland Sutton or Evan Engram or undrafted rookies at his disposal, he’s been effective.
“If you’re watching practice, he’s playing a lot. If you’re really watching practice, you’re seeing him with some of these ones because the receivers are in and out,” Payton said.
“… Stiddy’s a rhythm player. He’s had countless snaps, in the OTAs and minicamp. I understand the question, but there’s so much that goes into their preparation, their drops, their mechanics, and the rhythm of each play. His experience is very evident when you watch him.”
But Stidham’s work was more than being in rhythm.. His 36-yard touchdown touchdown toss to Trent Sherfield near the end of the first half wasn’t just a dynamic, toe-tap catch — it was a precisely-placed pass, as good as you can get.
But it’s typical of Stidham’s work. And that might be the best thing the Broncos can take from Saturday night. If injury strikes Nix, Stidham’s improvement will give the Broncos a fighting chance.