INDIANAPOLIS -- First-year Broncos head coach Vance Joseph was the first coach/GM to speak Wednesday morning at the opening of the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine.
He was also the first NFL type to address one of the league's biggest stories this week – New England backup quarterback and potential trade commodity Jimmy Garoppolo.
Before landing the top job in Denver, Joseph was the defensive coordinator for the Dolphins last season. As such he got a first-hand look at Garoppolo during Miami's Week 2 trip to Foxborough. That was the game that the young quarterback shredded the Dolphins defense in the first half, completing 18 of 26 throws for 232 yards and three touchdowns for a 130.8 rating before leaving with a shoulder injury cut short his starting stint as Tom Brady's suspension replacement.
Joseph's Dolphins defense entered that game coming off a solid performance against Seattle and the coach thought his talented front was ready to take it to Garoppolo in the third-year quarterback's second-career starter.
Not so much.
"I thought Jimmy was really special," Joseph said. "He was really poised and confident.
"I was shocked how good he was against us."
Interestingly, Joseph's high praise came shortly after ESPN reported, citing sources, that the Patriots are not expected to trade Garoppolo. That flies in the face of much speculation that New England could get QB-needy teams like the Browns, 49ers and Bears into a bidding war for the budding passer.
Stay tuned, as Garoppolo's status, abilities and future should be a popular topic throughout Wednesday's press conferences and the entire Combine week in Indy.
