Denver Broncos: 5 Questions We Need Answered in Camp

Can Keenum replicate his work in Minnesota?

It seems that Denver fans are somewhat unaware of the stats Case Keenum produced last year in Minnesota.  At 29, Keenum had a comparable year to Manning’s 2005 season (when Peyton was also 29). We took a detailed look at Keenum’s path to Denver here.

There is legitimate debate whether Minnesota made the right choice between retaining Keenum or bringing in Kirk Cousins.  The Vikings chose the latter, landing CK in the Mile High.  The Broncos don’t need to be a top-5 offense to have success this season.  Like their 2015 iteration or the Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks or Tampa Bay Buccaneers before them, Denver’s success will largely be determined by defense.

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Foremost, the Denver offense needs to control the ball.  Denver has finished in the bottom-third of the league over the last three seasons in three-and-out possessions. They have equally depressing red-zone numbers. Quick and empty possessions put pressure on the defense. While they still perform at an elite level, it is too much to ask for them to pitch virtual shutouts week-over-week.

The immediate impact of Keenum’s arrival is the stability he provides at the position.  There’s an advantage, internal and external to having a starting QB set before camp. A quick note of sympathy for Denver radio station and quasi-sports reporters 104.3 “The Fan”.  They thrive on Bronco controversy and they’ve lost a huge pillar of their platform with no QB controversy to “report” on.

Case doesn’t need to be a world-beater.  If he can improve the Broncos offense to middle-of-the-pack, Denver will easily surpass those eight wins.