Drew Lock thrilled with Broncos’ offensive upgrades but won’t make Chiefs comparison
The COVID-19 pandemic has kept NFL players from their team facilities, so Broncos quarterback Drew Lock is back living with his parents in Lee’s Summit.
Lock will enter his second season as the Broncos starter, and having played in Denver’s final five games has given him a leg up on where he was a year ago.
“I think this being my second year is benefiting me in a lot of ways I didn’t necessarily expect, as far as learning a new offense,” Lock told the Broncos’ website. “There’s similar carry-over from the last one to where you can pocket that. You don’t necessarily have to study that as much because you’ve kind of already got that mind-set down and know what they’re talking about as far as older stuff. But even the newer stuff I’m getting taught, it’s easier for me to learn because I’ve found the way that fits me best, as far as learning a new offense goes. Picking this one up has happened a little (faster) — I’d say, 10 times as quick as I did the first time.”
Lock said he’s been memorizing the Broncos’ playbook at home with the help of his father, Andy.
“As far as Andy reading them out loud to me, he’s doing a good job,” Lock told the Broncos’ website. “I had to teach him some rhythm on how to call plays, because it was pretty choppy at first. I think we’ve got it down to an art now.”
Dear ol’ dad snapped this photo during the NFL Draft:
After the Broncos selected Alabama receiver Jerry Jeudy and Penn State wideout KJ Hamler, Lock and his father were pumped up.
“I was ecstatic, we were both just screaming ‘no way,’ clapping, jumping up and down. It was exciting,” Lock said in an interview with James Palmer of the NFL Network.
The cherry on top was when the Broncos drafted former teammate, Mizzou tight end Albert Okwuegbunam. Denver also signed former Chargers running back Melvin Gordon, so Lock will have a new set of teammates who should upgrade the offense.
Palmer asked if the Broncos now have firepower to keep up with the Chiefs, and Lock wisely demurred.
“I’m not going to make that scenario out there and let everyone run with that. I definitely think we added some great weapons,” Lock said. “The thing about Kansas City is they have a lot of reps and a lot of games under their belt, and we’re a pretty young team.
“We have three rookies that are probably going to have to come in and make a big difference for us on the offensive side of the ball, and those guys just went all the way and won the Super Bowl. So we’ve got a lot of work to be the Kansas City Chiefs but with the weapons in place, there is a potential to do that.”
Here is Lock’s interview on the NFL Network, including more on being reunited with Okwuegbunam:
This story was originally published May 7, 2020 at 9:50 AM.
