Insider: Broncos Throwing New QBs Coach Into a 'Raging Inferno'

Davis Webb has his work cut out for him according to Peter King.

Many relationships and dynamics will have to come together in a hurry for the Denver Broncos when training camp arrives in late July. At the top of the list will be how head coach Sean Payton bonds with quarterback Russell Wilson, especially as the Broncos' power duo attempts to iron out a cohesive offensive strategy.

Much will come to depend on how successfully Payton delegates responsibilities to his hand-picked assistant coaches. At only 28 years old, former NFL backup quarterback Davis Webb is important because he’s now swapping a clipboard for a headset. 

Taking on the vast responsibility of becoming the Broncos QBs coach in his 20s has some tongues wagging in the NFL community. Given just how much is riding on putting Wilson back together, Webb’s appointment to such a coaching role will be pivotal. 

Similarly, offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi is assuming command for the first time in Denver, but at least he’s got many more years of boots-on-the-ground coaching experience. During the early going, Lombardi has rather quickly deduced that Webb has the exact kind of work ethic that defines all good coaches.

“[He is a] really hard worker and he takes it seriously. He’s young and he’s just starting out as a coach," Lombardi said of Davis during mandatory minicamp. "With his background, the coaches he’s been with, and the experience of being a quarterback where you’re really responsible for knowing what everyone’s doing, I think he has a really good base. He’s good at building relationships with the guys that he coaches, so I certainly see a bright future for him in the coaching profession.”

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Having worked in such close proximity to Buffalo Bills superstar Josh Allen, it's probably no stretch to assume that Webb will be well aware of the dual threat Wilson can similarly pose. When it comes to handling Wilson, getting him back to a position where he feels comfortable once again will be the top priority. 

That being said, Lombardi has previously suggested that they were working on rebooting certain facets of Wilson's muscle memory during the offseason. Webb will is no doubt tasked with effectuating that reboot. 

Webb has gone straight from the frying pan of playing quarterback in the NFL to the fire of coaching a high-profile veteran. Back in late February, NBC Sports' Peter King said Webb was being thrown into a "raging inferno" in Year 1.

“I think the most interesting real football item of the past week was Davis Webb retiring from football to become Sean Payton’s quarterback coach in Denver,” King wrote in late February. “That’s a whoa. Payton will not only be coaching Russell Wilson this year in a crucial year for them both—he’ll be putting a first-year position coach in charge of coaching Wilson. Not that Webb won’t be a good coach. But throwing him into a raging inferno in year one is an interesting move by Payton, to say the least. Webb goes from starting for the Giants in their regular-season finale to coaching Wilson six weeks later.”

Selling Wilson on a new vision is likely to depend greatly on Webb’s ability to communicate with a former Super Bowl winner who is six years his elder with quiet authority.

It's possible that Webb's relative coaching inexperience could be a detriment if the chemistry just isn't there, but clearly, Payton has identified Webb as being a rising coaching star worth hitching his wagon to. And it seems Wilson bought in to Webb as his coach early. 

“Coach Webb... to play the game, it’s so hard to play quarterback in the National Football League in general," Wilson said back in May. "And for him, he’s been in different offenses, he’s understood how to play the quarterback position. He’s an incredible teacher, too. A great communicator. So I’m really looking forward to being with Coach Webb and what he’s able to communicate and do for us. He’s great out here. He’s been on the field. He’s strapped on the pads and scored touchdowns in the National Football League, so he’s got a great presence.” 

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