All pre-season they’d been saying Peyton Manning couldn’t throw to the right. The question had been posed – how would the 36-year-old quarterback handle it if a defensive scheme shuts down the left hand side of the field?
Even Manning wasn’t sure of the answer.
Throughout pre-season he’d admitted he just didn’t know how his body would handle the recovery from surgery to fuse bones in his neck together.
Yet last Sunday in his final pre-season hit out against the San Francisco 49ers, Manning found the answer to the question everyone was asking.
It started seven minutes into the first quarter with the Broncos on three and six.
Manning throws to Brandon Stokley who’s run a curl route on the right hand side.
His 8-yard pass is a bit off forcing Stokley to bail him out. It was a shaky start.
Two plays later it’s third down again and, as if he has a point to prove, Manning goes right again.
Denver’s superstar quarterback is hit as he throws, but a perfectly waited 38-yard pass falls between two San Francisco defenders and into the lap of running back Lance Ball.
It was a statement – if defences try to clog up his stronger left side, Manning will have a field day on the right.
The 49ers game was Manning’s best performance of the pre-season and one that gave us the biggest insight into whether the former NFL MVP will be a success in Denver.
The answer? Yes, he will.
One of the best football minds of his generation, Manning will be able to work through his physical limitations to pick apart opposition defences.
“Peyton is like a coach on the field,” explained Broncos head coach John Fox.
“He paints a great picture. He’s going to direct traffic as well as maybe anybody in the league.”
The real issue is how much a flawed Broncos side will limit his ability.
A defence that flattered itself last season, a lack of depth at running back and receivers who will look like pro-bowl players mostly because of the passes coming their way is hardly an explosive mix.
Nonetheless, in Denver Manning will remind everyone why earlier this year so many NFL clubs were scrambling for the signing of a 36-year-old who hadn’t taken a snap in over 12 months.
Whether Manning’s Broncos team-mates will justify his faith in them is another question all together.
Davidde Corran
Roar Guru
Yes, this is the "problem" with assessing Manning right now without a regular season snap. We wont know for sure until the experiment has run its course, but so far it's been a positive start.
Eric George
Roar Rookie
Fair call on the Bengals, my mistake. While the Belichick did certainly rely on a stout defence about a decade ago, since 07 the team's been all about Tom Brady and the offense's ability to put up huge numbers. Last year the Pats allowed the second highest amount of yards per game in the league. Football Outsders ranked them 28th and 29th in the league in their "defence-adjusted value above average" and "weighted defence" stats respectively. The Pats were decent against the run purely because Wilfork is so effective at taking away the inside lanes. But their pass-defense was atrocious. They couldn't generate any pass-rush without blitzing, and the secondary was like a sieve, assuming you cut a hole out of the middle of the sieve. Whenever you have to play wide recievers at corner you know you're in trouble. This may change this year as the Pats seemed to have picked up two good defensive rookies in Jones and Hightower who should help bring the heat on quarterbacks. But it's probably more likely this makes the Pats simply an average defense (which should be enough to make them a damn scary team) rather than a particularly scary one.
jdubya
Guest
Patriots Defence was one of the worst in the league last year. They only beat one team with a winning record all sseason and that was in the playoffs.
Worlds biggest
Guest
Eric, I didn't say the Bengals D is formidable but improving. The Patriots always have a strong D, that is the Belichek blue print. Plus we know Peyton's track record against the Patriots.
Nathan Beuman
Roar Guru
I hope for Manning's sake thats Denvers offensive line don't set him up to get flattened on a weekly basis. Peyton isn't the running threat that Tebow was last season, so if he gets put under pressure from the defence, he's either going to have to throw it away and risk an interception or just get flattened. How many hits does he have left in him? He is a future HOF'er and I really hope he gets through the season without any major complications. Would hate to see a legend of the sport have to retire because he is so banged up he just can't do his job anymore.
Bazzio
Roar Guru
I've seen games in which Manning was monster-sacked five or seven times in a quarter leading to left ankle injury (that supports his weight on follow-through), only to throw the most impeccably precise passes to tight-marked receivers for TD. . . . . on the RIGHT side. He doesn't retreat to pass right as much as he does to the left, but pushes his left foot across the pass line before passing to get body twist & thrust. He's a brilliant game manager & player, who controls time and speed on every play. Patriots pre-season has been very precise & very methodical. They're good for another Bowl East
Eric George
Roar Rookie
The problem with this article is you are basing it on a handful of throws in a pre-season match when no defensive co-ordinators want to indicate what crazy blitz packages they've been designing to steamroll Peyton. Week 1's home match against the Steelers should be more telling, but perhaps the best indication we'll see will be in week 15 in a chilly Baltimore.
Eric George
Roar Rookie
You're touting the Bengals and Patriots defensive units as formidable? Luckily for Peyton the best defence in the AFC West sits on his side of the field.
Worlds biggest
Guest
Agree regarding the O-line, the Broncs better get this area right, that should have been priority number 1 once Manning signed. Harris and Clady are bookends. I'm surprised they didn't sign Mannings old mate Jeff Saturday. The one benefit of playing in the AFC West is none of the other teams have a great defence. They all have talented individuals but none of them are great units. However once the playoffs come around and assuming the Broncos are there they will face some formidable units in Texans, Ravens, Steelers, Patriots and improving ones such as Bengals and Bills ( tipped them for Wildcard ).
Adam Vaughan
Roar Pro
His biggest problem is the offensive line he has protecting him. Manning isn't Tebow and able to run around when the blocks break down. But then again, with the replacement officials about to embark on the regular season, they could hold all day and not get flagged by the starry eyed officials.
Peter Poon
Guest
Being a bit harsh on the Bronco's I think. Played some good football with Tebow last year (caught a number of there games on ONE HD here) with especially the defense. I see no reason why that D can't play at that level or better, with a QB that will keep them off the field longer, and give them longer fields to play with. The receivers/offense are another issue, but I am sure Manning can organise them to improve throughout the year. I think theyll win the AFC West, only because I really hate San Diego.