ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The trip home to Missouri has been extended far longer than he expected when the season ended, but Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock said Tuesday being hunkered down at his parents' house actually has helped keep him ready for his first full season as a starter.
Lock has been named the starting quarterback and many of the Broncos' offseason moves, such as drafting wide receivers with the first two picks for the first time in franchise history, have been made to surround the QB with more speed and potential explosiveness. Lock's plan had been to hold throwing sessions with the receivers and running backs in the Denver area well before the team began its offseason program.
But the coronavirus brought stay-at-home orders, travel restrictions and social distancing that scrapped the Denver plan. Lock continues in the virtual offseason program and has been able to get in his usual throwing and training sessions in 1-on-1 situations, after a frank, no-nonsense discussion with his trainer and long-time friend, Austin Pace.
"That was the nice thing about being in Lee's Summit [Missouri]," Lock said. "I've been with these people forever now, I've been with them since my freshman year of high school, [so] when this all shut down I gave them a call and I said, 'if we can keep in the private gym, throw in my backyard, go on the field as long as that lasts here in Missouri, throw in a private, local spot.' ... I'm still doing my throwing regimen, my lifting regimen.
"I told [Pace] there would be no hard feelings if you feel the need to go see someone, just tell me, and then we won't work for two weeks. I think it was business for him and business on my end, and we kept that promise, that if you got around other people, just tell me and we'll wait two weeks.''
Lock started the final five games last season and the Broncos went in 4-1, with the only loss being in December in Arrowhead to the eventual Super Bowl-champion Kansas City Chiefs. Lock had 1,020 passing yards in those five games, 64.1 completion percentage, seven touchdowns and three interceptions.
The Broncos have made Lock's development a priority in the offseason as he learns offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur's playbook. The team opened its virtual offseason program a week ago and coach Vic Fangio had promised to "push the limit'' on how much the coaches would expect the players to learn.
"They're definitely a little different,'' Lock said. "You definitely have to get more vocal [in meetings]. Not so much getting up on the board or being face-to-face with your receivers or running backs, you've got to be a little more vocal in those meetings. It's not awkward, but it's definitely different to chime in the meetings and have all the eyes looking at you on the screen.''
Lock said he believes it has been "10 times'' as quick for him to learn the new offense this time around than it was last season when he arrived as a second-round pick. Lock spent the first half of last season on injured reserve after suffering a right thumb injury in the preseason.