Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix made some comments this week about offensive coordinator Davis Webb that shouldn’t be glossed over. 

Nix described the play-calling process with Webb and how it differs from what he experienced under head coach Sean Payton the last two seasons. There was nothing negative about the way either coach calls plays, but with Payton, the calls were a little more direct and to the point. With Webb, there’s more personality involved. Nix even noted that there are some jokes thrown in sometimes and that the two just kind of get each other.

“I think Sean did a really good job my first couple years not distracting me with different things, and not being extra and just giving me the play,” said Nix. “He would give me a few reminders if I needed them, but really it was just the play, and he kept me in it and it was very beneficial for me as a young kid getting in the league.”

“I think with Davis, he understands where I’m at on my level,” continued Nix. “And he can also push me, give me a little bit more, and also be a little extra at times. He’s always going to be the guy that sends me a joke in every once in a while and sort of keeps it lighthearted. Just as serious as this game is, it can also be fun at the same time.”

Bo Nix is still in the early stages of his NFL career

I think people tend to forget that even though Nix is 26 years old, this is still going to be just his third year in the NFL. As good as he’s been, he’s still in the early stages of his pro career.

In the NIL era and the transfer portal era, with players getting paid millions of dollars in college, the word “development” gets forgotten about. But it remains a critical part of the process, and no amount of money in college changes that. I think development, in fact, is probably worse at the college level than it’s ever been. The win-now-or-get-fired mentality has created an environment where players are learning systems more so than learning how to become better football players (that’s especially true along the offensive line and at quarterback). 

The relationship between Webb and Nix isn’t solely a product of two similar personalities who get along and understand each other. I think it’s also because Nix is so much more comfortable as a quarterback in the NFL. He’s done it for a couple of years now. He’s been through some ups and downs. He understands that not every play is going to work out the way you draw it up. You’re going to lose some games you probably should have won, and you’re going to win some games that maybe you should’ve lost. 

It’s about staying even-keeled and staying true to the process no matter the result. 

I think Broncos fans are seeing a quarterback who understands that more than ever, and it’s going to allow him to play even more free and loose when he’s out there – and he’s going to have more control of the game because of it.