If you’re a Broncos fan, you’re sure to have an opinion on who should be the starter under center in 2011, assuming that there is a season. While the owners and player's union continue to play a game of footsies until a new collective bargaining agreement is signed (which apparently is getting closer to a reality), it’s time for another “expert” to throw in his two cents on the Broncos current quarterback situation.
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New coach John Fox has been quoted as saying, “I prefer a gamer to a good practice player...I want someone who will execute under pressure in a game.” This, of course, would lead one to believe that Fox is leaning towards Tim Tebow, who has been criticized as an average practice player but comes up huge when he’s needed most in games. Fox also told the Denver Post’s Woody Paige that unless an agreement isn’t settled before the start of the regular season, Kyle Orton would start because he can get away quick from under center, which is something Tebow continues to work on. There are countless other quotes from either Fox or Executive VP of football operations John Elway, and you could come away claiming that either Orton or Tebow could start over the other. Fox has even thrown Brady Quinn into the mix as a potential starter.
So, who do you believe? If you’re willing to look into those quotes too much, you’re likely to drive yourself crazy. So, here’s my take.
Orton is the perfect scapegoat to be thrown under the bus, and he has been time and time again. Tebow’s college success, combined with his character, charisma, and 11 TDs (5 throwing, 6 rushing) and only 3 INTs in 2010 has fans drooling over his potential. I don’t blame them – the guy is pure entertainment, and you never know if he’s going to bust a 50 yard run up the gut or toss a 50 yard strike. Orton on the other hand, is a stiff in the pocket, and you’ll be hard-pressed to see him display any kind of emotion. The choice seems obvious, right?
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Orton’s 3,653 yards ranked him 10th in the NFL last season, which is respectable when you consider he was out 3 games with injuries. His 87.5 quarterback rating and 20 touchdowns to 9 interceptions are even more impressive. The one knock I constantly hear is his lack of arm strength. I often wonder if people watch the same Orton I do, because that notion is ridiculous. The guy has some serious zip on his intermediate to deep out throws. People are then quick to point out that his third down and red zone conversion rates were downright dreadful. No argument there; but try throwing against an NFL defense when it’s almost guaranteed that you won’t run the ball because you have one of the NFL’s worst rushing offenses. Combine that with the fact the Broncos often played from behind all year because their defense got shredded, and that equates to a lot of passes thrown (498 to be exact).
I won’t bore you with Tebow’s mediocre mechanics since everyone and their Mom has talked about it, but his arm strength is a concern. Those deep outs that Orton makes look so easy often end up as incompletions for Tebow, just because defensive backs have the closing speed to catch up to his balls. That said, you don’t have to be perfect on those throws to be successful. Tebow proved that with numerous impressive scoring drives that he constructed. He often made great decisions in the pocket when under pressure by checking down to his running backs and tight ends, or outside of the pocket by running for first downs. Anyone else remember that great come-from-behind victory at home against the Texans? In case you forgot, Denver was down 17-0 at the half, but Tebow led four scoring drives in the second half, and capped it off with the game-winning touchdown run with 3 minutes left to complete a 308 yard passing performance and 24-23 victory.
Tebow obviously has the “it” factor, an aura that garners the attention of even the most seasoned NFL veterans. In a league that places a premium on quarterback play and sacking the quarterback, it’s easy to see why teams in the past 10 years have won the Super Bowl – they have had a combination of the two. And, those starting quarterbacks all had one thing in common: control of their team. Whether it’s Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, or Aaron Rodgers, all of them have the respect from their teammates that is unmatched around the league. You can have all the talent in the world, but if your teammates won’t go into battle with you, then you are destined for failure.
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I’m not saying Orton isn’t a leader, but he certainly doesn’t command respect and camaraderie like Tebow. His emotion alone can invigorate an entire stadium, and Orton rarely showcases his. But more importantly, the Broncos’ offense responded much better to Tebow than Orton.
From a roster standpoint, if Orton were traded to one of his likely destinations (Miami or Arizona), the Broncos could continue to rebuild their porous defense. Orton’s value probably couldn’t get much higher, so a solid draft pick (or picks) would help fill other important needs. Defensive tackle is still a glaring need, and a move to help shore up that spot would certainly do wonders for the Broncos. Having either Orton or Tebow ride the pine won’t be doing the team any good, especially when you have Quinn as a backup (no I’m not slurping Brady Quinn, but he could turn things around and be a solid 2nd stringer).
In a town that lives and breathes Broncos football, one thing is clear: a 4-12 record will have even the most die-hard Broncos fans raining boos down at Invesco Field. The team needed (and still does need) a spark, and there was no question that Tebow provided that. This much I know: the Broncos could win with Orton as the starter, provided that the offensive line improves, a running back(s) is found, and an invigorated pass rush is present (led by a healthy Elvis Dumervil and 2nd overall pick Von Miller). However, football is a business, and people pay to be entertained. Tim Tebow is an entertainer, one that could put an entire fan base on his back. Last time I checked, Denver won a couple of Super Bowls when it had a guy that could do that.
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