DENVER BRONCOS QUOTES (12/18/17)
HEAD COACH VANCE JOSEPH
On transactions
“[QB] Trevor Siemian went to IR with a left shoulder. In his roster spot we signed J.J. Dielman. He was a University of Utah center/guard that was drafted by Cincinnati and put on their practice squad, so we grabbed him from Cincy as a new Bronco. We also signed a new practice squad guy, [WR] River Cracraft. He was here for a week about Week 6 or 7 and pulled a hamstring, so he’s back with us now.”
On whether the team has decided on a starting quarterback for this week
“We have not yet. It’s Monday for us, so we got back in the office this morning and just waiting to have the meetings with the offensive staff to figure out what’s best for us.”
On when he expects to name a starting quarterback for the week
“I’m not sure. We’re going to discuss it with the staff and see where we are with both guys. [QB] Paxton [Lynch] hasn’t practiced in three weeks and we have to see where he’s at physically. He came in on Saturday and Sunday and threw the ball and rehabbed. We’ll see, but there are a lot of things that go into that decision [of] who plays this week for us.”
On there will be an emphasis on playing younger players the next two weeks
“I won’t change my tone on that. You can do both. We want to win football games, that’s the first order of business. We can do both by seeing some of the young guys play. We have [seen that[ with [G/C Connor] McGovern getting some reps there, [S Dymonte] Thomas playing at safety last week, [S] Jamal Carter playing at safety and watching [WR] Cody Latimer get better and better each week and making plays for us. We are doing both, but winning is our first priority here. Whoever we dress, they will help us win also. I wouldn’t say it’s a youth movement, I would say it’s trying to win a football game first.”
On QB Brock Osweiler’s performance against the Colts and how that influences who will start at quarterback this week
“Brock played well. It would be hard to say he didn’t play well. It’s proof in the film there, but we have a lot of things going on as far as the quarterback deal. We want to see Paxton play some, so that’s the truth. We have to see where he is as a player moving into the offseason—that’s important for our football team moving forward. We have to discuss it. Again, we want to make sure he is totally healthy so he can play and play well if he does play. Again, Brock did play well. That’s going to be a discussion that we have to have with our staff today to figure out what’s best for all parties involved.”
On what he would like to see from Lynch
“I will say this, players get better with playing in games. I’ve seen the guy play in practice and he’s had a start against the Raiders with three quarters. With game experience, some guys get better and you want to see him in games. It’s different in practice. It’s a controlled environment. We want to see him play in games, but again, if he’s healthy enough to play we will do that maybe. If not, we’re going to wait and see.”
On reports that Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis is looking to move on
“I have not talked to Marvin since last week. I’ll say this about Marvin, Marvin’s a great coach. He’s been there for 15 years and I know personally that Marvin still wants to coach football. I’m not sure if it’s just rumors or how true it is, but I know Marvin’s done a great job for that organization, being there 15 years and that team going from not being relevant to relevant over Marvin’s time there. But I know Marvin wants to coach football, so I’m not sure how true those rumors are.”
On whether Lynch’s throwing regimen this weekend was similar to what he did in Indianapolis pregame
“Very similar, yes.”
On RB C.J. Anderson and WR Demaryius Thomas each attempting to reach 1,000 yards this season
“I think the personal milestones for players are important. C.J. Anderson has not, first of all, stayed healthy for a full season. I’ve been proud of C.J. of how he came into camp in great shape and he’s actually been healthy for an entire season. Him getting 1,000 yards is important. It’s important for our football team and important for C.J.. We haven’t a 1,000-yard rusher here in how many years? You would know better than me. Our offensive line is playing well. He’s running the ball hard and he’s stayed healthy. The same with ‘D.T.’ (Demaryius Thomas)—those things are important because it makes our football team better. The better those guys play, the more we win. They are important, but winning is our first priority there. If they play good, guess what? It helps us win. I’m all for it.”
On how heavily the locker room’s opinions is weighed into the quarterback decision
“That’s definitely has to be considered. We’ve won two games and our locker room wants to win. So again, our first priority is to win a football. We all know that—the players and coaches included. That’s very important.”
On the various roles WR Jordan Taylor has performed this season
“He’s done a lot for us. He was a guy that didn’t dress the first four or five weeks for us, but as a punt returner, he’s been very efficient. Again, that’s an important position because that sways field position. He’s done a great job with decision making back there. As a PP [personal protector] for a game and a half, he made a big tackle for us. As a receiver, he’s been efficient for us. He’s a guy you can count on. That’s NFL football. You want guys that, when you put them out there, that job will get done. That’s been Jordan Taylor’s story for us this year.”
On whether Lynch needs to be healthy enough to practice before he could be named the starter
“That’s a good question. Again, we want to make sure he’s healthy enough to play—if he’s able to play for us.”
On whether Lynch has been officially cleared to practice
“Yes. He will practice on Wednesday.”
On QB Trevor Siemian
“He’s battled all year. He’s had two shoulder injuries this year. He’s played through all of it. Obviously, with it being a three to four-week injury, with two weeks to go, it didn’t make sense to keep him on the roster. He’s a warrior. He’s a tough guy. He’s had a tough year with injuries. He’s battled and kept fighting for us. It’s impressive.”
On what he thinks Siemian’s future is with the Broncos
“That’s a question that we all have to answer after the season, a number of us. I’m not sure. H’s a good, young quarterback and smart and tough. We’ll see where that lies.”
On how he thinks the team has dealt with the quarterback changes
“I’m assuming it’s tough. It’s tough not knowing—I think three or four times this year—who is going to be the guy to play. That’s tough. It’s been tough for our football team playing three different guys. I get it with those guys. It’s my job to play the best guy for us to win football games. That’s where we are.”
Onhow he thinks the quarterbacks themselves has dealt with the changes at quarterback
“They’ve been fine with it. Trevor, Paxton and [QB] Brock [Osweiler] are all buddies, so they get it. They’re all team guys, so it has not been a problem in the QB room as far as who’s going to play this week. They’ve been very supportive of each other. That’s been good to see.”
On his opinion on the catch rule in yesterday’s Steelers-Patriots game
“I watched a lot of football yesterday. The Pittsburgh catch, that’s the rule. You have to complete the catch and the ball was moving in my opinion.”
On whether he’s ever seen a referee use an index card to measure a first down
“No, I’ve never seen that.”
On how the team has responded to the number of injuries this season
“We’ve been OK with it. We’ve had a lot of young guys step up and play well. I’ve been proud of McGovern with how he’s played the last two weeks. I’ve been proud of [T Donald] Stephenson and how he’s played—[WR] Cody Latimer. We’ve had a lot of young guys step up and play well for us through injury.”
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