“I think the decision, it was tough, but I think I made the right one.”
I know. You’re mad. Words ain’t gonna change nuthin’. Besides, you’re not buying it. You don’t believe the decision was really that tough. Feelings had already been hurt and, hey, let’s face it, there was a lot of money on the table.
Well, you’ve just been tricked. Or, rather, Cricked. Those were the words of Texan turned Bronco, Jared Crick, No. 93 in your program – your Broncos program – explaining his choice leave Houston in favor of Denver.
Think this is a red letter game in Houston?
Maybe it should be. Crick did more for the Texans than Brock Osweiler ever did for the Broncos.
Crick was drafted in 2012. Brock was, too. Crick played in 69 games, starting 38. During his first three years in the league, Brock enjoyed garbage time in 13 games. Last season, he played in eight games, starting seven with zero in the playoffs. Crick was a key part in the NFL’s third-best defense last season (behind Denver and Seattle). Brock was the part-time quarterback of the 16th best offense in football.
This season, Houston’s offense checks in at 25th overall; lasts year the Texans finished 19th. Their defense? Without Crick (and, well, J.J. Watt), Houston has the eighth best D in the league. Not bad, but not as good as when they had Crick. Folks in Houston called Crick the “Robin” to the “Batman” that is Watt.
That 19th ranked Houston offense of 2015, by the way, was quarterbacked by the oh-so-formidable quartet of Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett. T.J. Yates and Brandon Weeden. Combined, those fine fellows made roughly $9 million. Brock, who’s captaining that 25th-ranked offense in 2016, got $12 million when he stepped off the plane in Houston and an average salary of $18 million per year.
So, to recap. Houston loses Crick and gains Brock, and is worse on every front.
And we’re pissed?
Here’s what we lost Denver: A quarterback who completed about 60 percent of his passes, threw roughly two touchdowns for every interception, tossed it around for 250-ish each week, and had an average QBR of 49.13.
Not terrible. Not great. Nothing to get excited about either way.
But actually, I just fooled you again. I was referring to the loss of Kyle Orton. Those are his numbers.
Brock’s numbers? Comparable in some places, worse in others: 61.8 completion percentage; 10 TDs, six picks; 245.9 passing yards per game; 48.78 QBR.
Remember how upset everyone was when Orton was cut from the Broncos midseason in 2011? And then when he resurfaced in Kansas City how the rivalry was taken to another level?
Nope. Me neither.
You see where this is going, don’t you? You understand the basic premise, right?
The point is that when Brock Osweiler chose the Texans, Denver lost nothing. In fact, the Broncos probably came out ahead.
Von Miller? Brandon Marshall? Emmanuel Sanders? All or some, gone if Brock decided not to go. Trevor Siemian, who’s been statistically better than Osweiler this season, and (or) Paxton Lynch, who most believe to have tremendous upside? Those guys would be holding a clipboard and playing elsewhere.
Repeating as Super Bowl champs was anything but a given with Osweiler. It was a given that the Broncos would beat the Raiders at home last season, especially with home field advantage on the line, and we all remember how that worked out. Sure, Brock won some big games. But let’s be honest: Denver’s defense won big games, mostly.
You can hate Brock Osweiler if you want. He left smugly. He didn’t return calls. His girlfriend had that whole drunken, late night pizza incident. He monograms his own golf ballls. And he missed the White House and the ring party. Why? Because of practice, Allen, practice!
Who does that?
Tonight’s game is special, make no mistake. After two bad losses, this one should mean everything in Denver. But it’s not a special game because Brock Osweiler is a special player. Truth be told, he was, and still is, pretty damn average.
And that’s why the Broncos will win tonight.
