Don’t Expect Peyton Manning to Regress in 2015

After the less-than-stellar end to Peyton Manning’s 2014 season, it’s not totally unreasonable to assume the downward trend will continue into the 2015 campaign. Add in that Manning turned 39 this past offseason, an age for most guys where even slowpitch softball becomes a strenuous activity, and the downward spiral becomes a foregone conclusion.

Not so fast.

In 2015, and contrary to the hopes of the other 31 teams in the NFL, expect Manning to put up yet another excellent season.

It’s a given that part of Manning’s disappointing end to last season can be attributed to a torn right quad. The lower-body mechanics of throwing a football, both with velocity and precision, requires a weight transfer from the back leg (which Manning’s quad injury affected) to the front leg.

Essentially, the injury robbed him of his lower half and inhibited his ability to drive the ball as well as complete intermediate to deep level throws. The numbers reflected this as almost of a third of Manning’s 15 interceptions came in the games following the injury.

Clearly, it doesn’t take a quarterbacks coach with a PhD from “Gruden’s QB Camp” to figure out why Manning’s numbers took a significant dive as a result of the injury.

But that’s the gimme argument. The heart of the matter lies in that Manning will be playing in an offense which is conducive to keeping him fresh.

When Gary Kubiak was hired as the new head coach of the Denver Broncos, he brought with him a scheme very similar to the one he ran during his time both as head coach of the Houston Texans and as offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens. The new offense will be run heavy and very physical. This, in turn, should open up plenty of passing lanes for the quarterback through bootlegs and play-action passes.

The roles will be switched in Denver. Instead of Manning shouldering the load like he has done for the majority of his career, it will now be the running backs doing the heavy lifting. Less weight on the back of Manning means the wear and tear of a full slate of games won’t be felt until much later in the season, thus giving the team a better chance for postseason success.

When the five-time MVP is called upon to drop back, though, he will have a better looks and won’t be forced to throw passes into traffic as much. Manning’s overall passing ability is already at an all-universe level and the plethora of open looks he should see under Kubiak’s scheme will easily allow him to continue to rack up touchdowns at his trademark otherworldly pace.

The new scheme was a revelation for the Baltimore offense and led to something resembling a football renaissance in Houston once all the right pieces had been put into place. Plus, if the scheme was able to turn now-back-up quarterback Matt Schaub into an offensive surgeon, just think of what it could for the much more skilled Manning.

Time and time again, Manning has proved to be the ageless wonder despite the smorgasbord of obstacles Father Time has put in his way.

Why start betting against him now?

Mike Carlson is a Denver Broncos Beat Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @deejayactual, add him to your network on Google, or “Like” him on Facebook.