Nov. 19--In a moment of reflection Wednesday, Brock Osweiler stood in a hallway at the Broncos practice facility and thought back on his growth as an NFL quarterback.
While much has been made this week about Osweiler's lengthy apprenticeship under Peyton Manning, the eager quarterback also acknowledges the influence Adam Gase had on his development.
As a rookie in 2012, Osweiler had Gase as his quarterbacks coach. The next two seasons, the energetic assistant sharpened his teeth as a coordinator, the same role he now holds with the Bears.
"Coach Gase really taught me how to prepare," Osweiler said. "Coach Gase is brilliant with how he puts together a game plan. And as a quarterback, there's a lot of studying that goes in during the week so you can execute that plan. He pushed me to understand that."
From extra film study to heightened interaction in meetings, Osweiler learned to dial in every week in a way that, he says, "will stay with me through the rest of my career."
Coincidentally, he is putting that knowledge to use this week, preparing to face the Bears after a sudden promotion. On his 25th birthday Sunday at Soldier Field, Osweiler will make his first NFL start.
It's a major storyline in Colorado, obviously, but it also is resonating league-wide. Officially, Manning was put on the shelf Monday, under orders from coach Gary Kubiak to devote all his attention to getting healthy again as he fights through shoulder discomfort, sore ribs and a tear in the plantar fascia of his left foot.
For now, Kubiak insists, this is a one-week fill-in role. But there's a sense, given Manning's physical woes, and his clunky transition into the Broncos' new offense, that Osweiler's stint as a starter could extend well past this weekend.
Still, the young quarterback has made certain not to invest much energy thinking of this as an audition.
"Any time you put the weight of the world on yourself saying, 'I have to perform,' or, 'I have to get a completion, I have to throw a touchdown,' nine times out of ten, I think you're going to fail.
"I'm really keeping my focus small."
In some ways, Osweiler gets the keys to the Broncos' offense in a near ideal situation. For starters, the Broncos have the league's stingiest defense, a unit allowing just 277.3 yards and 18.7 points per game. On top of that, the 7-2 Broncos retain a three-game lead in the AFC West, in comfortable control of their playoff hopes.
Oh, and it certainly has been beneficial for Osweiler to have spent his first three-plus seasons growing alongside Manning, gaining a deeper understanding for how to diagnose and dissect coverages and an up close look at how to make maniacal preparation routine.
"If I wasn't locked in every single day sitting behind him, I'd be crazy," Osweiler said.
At present, the Broncos' believe in their new starter, encouraged by the energy Osweiler brought to the huddle Sunday against the Chiefs and again to Wednesday's practice.
"His arm is going to be fine. His confidence is there," receiver Demaryius Thomas said. "He's going to make plays throwing the ball. And if he has to use his feet, he'll do that. My confidence is high."
Around the league, the curiosity factor is even higher.
At Wednesday's practice, Kubiak took note of Osweiler's comfort, fully believing there is no need to simplify the quarterback's responsibilities.
"Now you find out," Kubiak said. "Now the fire starts."
Added Osweiler: "I've prepared for this moment, obviously, for a very long time. ... I've never wasted a single day."
dwiederer@tribpub.com
