ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Ten games into Trevor Siemian’s first season as an NFL starter, Denver Broncos coach Gary Kubiak likes plenty of what he’s seen.

After all, the 24-year-old quarterback has helped the team to a 7-3 run heading into the bye week.

But Kubiak, as he often does, took the opportunity Monday to raise the bar for Siemian for the stretch run to whatever this season becomes for the Broncos.

“I want Trevor to play big. I don’t want Trevor to play OK or good, I want Trevor to play big for this football team,’’ Kubiak said as the Broncos officially opened their bye week with some on-field work. “And if he can do that and get the ball in the right spots and protect the ball with the formula we had going yesterday, I think some really good things can happen for this team. I’ve got big expectations for him and he knows that.’’

Trevor Siemian has been steady at the Broncos' helm, but he need to cut down on his turnovers; he has four interceptions in the last three games. Chuck Cook/USA TODAY Sports

Siemian has completed 60.1 percent of his passes in his nine games -- he missed the Broncos’ loss to the Atlanta Falcons with a left shoulder injury -- to go with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions. In essence, Kubiak wants to see better decisions across the board that lead to more touchdowns and fewer interceptions. The hope also is Siemian’s left shoulder injury improves with the time off.

After Sunday’s win in New Orleans -- Siemian finished with 258 yards passing, two touchdowns and two interceptions -- the quarterback said he knows he has some things “to clean up.’’ He’s thrown four interceptions in his last three games.

“You’re going to screw it up sometimes, no doubt,’’ Siemian said after the dramatic 25-23 victory over the Saints. “I’ve had my fair share of those, but the group really responded well.’’

A major concern is how much punishment Siemian has taken. He was completing just over 67 percent of his passes before he suffered his shoulder injury before halftime of the Broncos’ Week 4 win in Tampa. He has not been as accurate since, as the injury has affected him. Kubiak said Monday Siemian had an injection in the shoulder either after Sunday’s game or Monday morning.

“He’s obviously got a very sore shoulder,’’ Kubiak said. “The rest will do him some good.’’

Siemian has been sacked 19 times and taken plenty more hits along the way. He was sacked six times and took 11 more hits Sunday, some of those his fault, some because of inconsistent play up front.

Kubiak said one issue is Siemian tends to get too deep in the backfield when lined up in the shotgun, which affects the line’s ability to protect the edges of the formation because of the angles the pass-rushers have to the quarterback. It also makes it difficult for linemen to push rushers past the quarterback if Siemian is too deep in the backfield.

“It’s something we’ve got to work on,’’ Kubiak said. “Sometimes he’s drifting and getting hit when he shouldn’t. … It’s something we’ve been addressing. … He gets on the road, it gets loud, he gets in the gun, he gets away from the center a little too far. Now all of a sudden you’re hitting 11 yards (deep). Well, we’re not going to be able to protect you. That’s just something we’ve got to improve with him.’’

Kubiak said there’s a balance because the Broncos like the composure Siemian shows in the pocket even when the game is tight, and his willingness to stand in to make a play.

“The reason he does make a lot of plays is because he will sit in there and get hit right in the mouth and make a play,’’ Kubiak said. “That is a great characteristic of a quarterback because you have to do that sometimes.’’

Kubiak added he’s had no thought of replacing Siemian in the lineup -- “not at all’’ -- but wants to push Siemian to be ready for the final six games of the regular season and what the team hopes is a deep playoff run.

“Got to get better, want to see him lead better and better with this football team, want to see his play become more consistent,’’ Kubiak said. “One thing he had done earlier this season, he protected the ball better than he’s protected it the last three weeks, so that’s a concern.

“He’s got to continue to play big for this team, not OK, we need him to play big.’’