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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – While five unsightly turnovers – three of them by Mark Sanchez -- have led most any discussion about the Denver Broncos' still-unfinished quarterback competition, the team’s offense quietly has moved the ball against opposing defensive starters in the first two preseason games. “I think we’ve played well,’’ Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said. “I think we’ve walked on the field two weeks in a row and went right down the field. That’s pretty good. That’s what you want to do. I believe in us and I believe in our team.’’  The Broncos’ quarterback derby has indeed camouflaged most everything else the team has done so far, but the team has gained 344 and 406 yards in the two outings. More important, the Broncos opened each game with a long touchdowns drive against the opponent’s starting defense.
In the 22-0 win in Chicago, the Broncos got the ball first and went 76 yards in 10 plays for a touchdown. And in the 31-24 loss to San Francisco last weekend, the Broncos went 86 yards on 10 plays for a touchdown. The Broncos' starters, or most of them anyway, exited the game shortly after those touchdown drives. As a result, on Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams the Broncos will get an extended look at an offense that has produced at times but also still has plenty of questions in tow. Kubiak said he could play most of the offense's starters into the third quarter. And after throwing the ball 89 times in order to get a look at their quarterbacks – that total led the league after two preseason games – there is a feeling the Broncos could show a little more of their expected run-pass balance against the Rams. “I’m excited about playing a whole half ... excited about it to see what we can do,’’ said wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. “... Our main focus right now is getting the run game going. All three quarterbacks can make every throw, and once we get the run game, the passing game will come along.’’ “We have to go out there and play better than we did last week,’’ Kubiak said. “We hurt ourselves as a team with a lot of negative football plays and those types of things. I want to settle down. We still have to look at a lot of people. We can’t lose sight of that. I have to go and get some questions answered.’’ The Broncos expect, and have essentially said, they will run the ball more in the post-Peyton Manning offense. And they will play out of some heavier sets, with two tight ends or two running backs in the formation. But as they’ve tried to decide between Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch and Sanchez, the Broncos have been a throw-first operation, turning the quarterbacks loose and averaging 44.5 passes per game. Those three quarterbacks have also committed five turnovers in the two games, including Siemian’s interception that was returned for a touchdown and Sanchez’s two lost fumbles against the 49ers. Sanchez has three turnovers in a little over two quarters' worth of playing time. Siemian will start against the Rams, and he has a lot riding on how the starting offense performs given that with a quality outing it’s expected he would be named the starter for the regular-season opener against Carolina. “I thought everything was good, other than the pick-six, so just cut the turnover and everything else will be fine,’’ said running back C.J. Anderson of Siemian’s effort against the 49ers. “I think that he makes good decisions with the football. He gets us in and out of the huddle. He’s calm and composed. If we can keep him on his feet and protect him, I’m pretty sure you guys have seen enough. He has an arm.’’ Siemian is expected to play at least a half, and while Kubiak has not yet said who would be the second quarterback into the game, Lynch makes the most sense given the Broncos want to see the rookie against players on defense who are likely to make a roster. Lynch has largely faced third-string defenses in the Broncos’ first two preseason games. But Kubiak has been quick to add he wants to see efficiency and production in the last work for most of the Broncos' regulars – most of the starters will not play in the preseason finale. And he said the Broncos have to make some decisions at positions like wide receiver, tight end, running back and along an offensive line that’s been hit by injuries in the preseason. “We have a lot of questions to answer, but that’s football,’’ Kubiak said. “It’s not any different right now than it’s been, I can tell you that.”
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