Fansided

Peyton Manning losing arm strength, according to scouts

By John Buhler

Sep 13, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) passes the ball in the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos won 19-13. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 13, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) passes the ball in the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos won 19-13. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

According to several NFL scouts, Denver Broncos QB Peyton Manning’s stock is falling in their eyes because of diminishing arm strength.

NFL.com’s Albert Breer touched on Peyton Manning’s arm strength in his article on Friday for NFL.com. Breer found it odd that Manning isn’t viewed as a top-five NFL passer in a recent panel. Manning sits sixth behind Aaron Rodgers, Andrew Luck, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, and Tony Romo.

Scouts are wondering if Manning is a good fit in new Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak’s offense, which calls for plenty of bootlegs and deep vertical routes. An AFC scout sees Peyton’s arm as having limitations at 39 years old and that “he lacks the mobility to take the majority of his snaps from underneath the center.”

During the John Fox era in Denver, we saw Manning routinely in shotgun formation, essentially playing in a spread offense.  Now under Kubiak, Manning will have to hand the ball off more under center as the new Denver head coach likes to use the run to set up the pass.

More from Denver Broncos

In Week 1 versus the Baltimore Ravens at home, Manning looked pedestrian and was unable to deliver a touchdown strike. Oddly enough, the only two touchdowns in the game came on pick-sixes, one from Manning and one from Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.

Though Manning is arguably the most cerebral quarterback of our time, perhaps Father Time is finally getting the last laugh? Manning will master Kubiak’s offense in time, but it seems like he will have to play more in the system for the Broncos to have success.

Manning’s diminishing arm strength does not mean that he won’t guide the Denver Broncos to the playoffs in 2015, but it could mean the end for his dominance in the fantasy football world. Though Manning and the Broncos will do whatever it takes to get another shot at a Super Bowl in 2015, Peyton’s biggest offseason loss isn’t his tight end Julius Thomas … it is the velocity on his throws.

More from Denver Broncos

Home/Denver Broncos