Denver Broncos quarterback Zach Wilson (4) and quarterback Jarrett Stidham (8) during organized team activities at Centura Health Training Center. Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton has said that while the offense will be adjusted to fit whoever wins the quarterback (QB) competition, one thing must remain consistent: the cadence for taking the snap.
Focus on Cadence Consistency
Payton explained after Friday’s practice that maintaining the same rhythm across all three quarterbacks—Jarrett Stidham, Bo Nix, and Zach Wilson—is crucial. “We’re trying to create that same beat with three different players, we’re making a big point of it,” Payton said.. “It becomes difficult for the offensive line if the one beat is a little slower or the one beat is a little faster. It’s not a rhythmic cadence and yet there’s a flow to it, so, how do we make it sound the same.”
To achieve this, the Broncos have started using a speaker during practices. This setup allows one quarterback to call the cadence, while all three go through their dropbacks simultaneously. The speaker then replays the cadence so each quarterback can check if they match the others’ rhythm.
Drawing from Brees’ Experience
Payton drew from his experience coaching Drew Brees in New Orleans, noting that even when a backup quarterback stepped in, the goal was to replicate Brees’ cadence. “Whoever is playing quarterback, you know, let’s try to resemble how it sounds with Brees,” he said.
Since Payton has not yet named a starter for the Broncos, and with Stidham being the only one with limited starting experience at the end of the 2023 season, the team is making it a priority for all three quarterbacks to sound as similar as possible. This consistency helps the offensive line and the entire offense maintain a steady flow during games.
“We’re trying to create that same beat with three different players, we’re making a big point of it,” Payton said. “It becomes difficult for the offensive line if the one beat is a little slower or the one beat is a little faster. It’s not a rhythmic cadence and yet there’s a flow to it so how do we make it sound the same. It’s easy when your clear-cut starter is the X … so that becomes a point of emphasis.
This report used information from ESPN.
