The Falcons don’t’ have much video to review of Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian, a first-year starter, but coach Dan Quinn said he believes they’ve seen enough of him to know what to expect.
“(It’s) not a bigger challenge than normal when you’ve gone through four games and the preseason,” Quinn said. “You know the experience and you’ve seen the routes. We are preparing for the scheme. (Siemian is) a very accurate player in terms of the discipline that he has. You’ve seen the connection on the deep balls already. We’ve got a lot of respect for him.”
Siemian suffered a left (non-throwing) shoulder injury against the Buccaneers on Sunday. He told reporters he could have re-entered the game if necessary. Coach Gary Kubiak said Siemian is day-to-day and could play against the Falcons without practicing this week.
Rookie Paxton Lynch replaced Siemian against the Buccaneers.
“Who plays? I don’t’ know,” Falcons defensive coordinator Richard Smith said. “We’ll prepare for both. Their system isn’t going to change.”
Smith, who coached Broncos linebackers from 2011-2014, said ex-QB coach and coordinator Kubiak does a “wonderful job” preparing quarterbacks. He said the Broncos have simplified their offense since Peyton Manning retired after last season.
Siemian’s only action during the 2015 season was to kneel the ball for one play. When experienced Broncos backup Brock Osweiler departed to sign with Houston, the team went with Siemian as the starter.
In three starts plus 20 snaps against the Bucs Siemian is 68 for 101 (67.3 percent) for 824 yards and six touchdowns with three interceptions. Pro Football Focus rates him as the No. 20 quarterback in the league.
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