It is indeed Tebow Time... well at least for the time being. The Broncos' backup quarterback replaced an ineffective Kyle Orton after halftime and rallied Denver to within a failed two-point conversion of tying the game against the visiting Chargers. Denver ultimately wound up falling to San Diego 29-24 and is now 1-4 on the year.
The game was a tale of two halves. The Broncos, behind a Cassius Vaughn 55-yard pick-six, built a 10-6 lead before Philip Rivers and the Chargers answered with a 17-point second quarter to head into the locker room at halftime up 23-10. Denver starter Kyle Orton was largely ineffective, completing 6-of-13 passes for only 34 yards with 1 interception for a rating of 21.0. Denver coach John Fox benched Orton and inserted the aforementioned Tebow to start the second half, but the offense still sputtered, punting on its next three possessions. Tebow scored on a 12-yard touchdown run, and the subsequent two-point conversion made the score 26-18. A fumble on San Diego's next possession gave the ball back to Denver, and Knowshon Moreno took a screen pass 28-yards for a touchdown to make it 26-24 San Diego. The ensuing two-point conversion attempt was no good, and San Diego remained ahead by two. With the crowd jazzed up and bringing down the Rocky Mountain Thunder, Rivers calmly drove the Chargers down the field, converting a big third down pass and aided by a questionable personal foul call on Denver linebacker D.J. Williams. A Nick Novak field goal with 24 seconds left made it 29-24 Chargers, but Tebow managed to complete passes of 20 and 31 yards to give Denver one last chance at the San Diego 29-yard-line with one second left. After scrambling around and buying time, Tebow's desperation heave into the end zone fell incomplete, giving the Chargers the victory.
So Now What?
Indeed that is the question surrounding the Broncos. Ever since former coach Josh McDaniels traded up to draft the Florida star, Denver fans have clamored for Tebow to get the starting job. Coach Fox held an open competition for the starting quarterback job back in training camp, and Kyle Orton was the clear winner. In fact, Tebow struggled so much that it appeared for awhile that Brady Quinn had surpassed him for the #2 job. That didn't quiet the calls for Tebow, however. The furor has only increased as Orton has struggled so far this season, posting a quarterback rating of 75.7 and a league-high 7 interceptions. There was speculation that if the Broncos entered their upcoming bye week with a record of 1-4 that they would have no choice but to turn to Tebow.
Fox has been adamant that Orton was his guy, even going so far as saying that Tebow wasn't a fit for the offense. Even when the offense struggled, Fox never wavered in his support of Orton.
Until now.
The biggest knock on Tebow is his passing, and his performance today will do nothing to quiet critics in that regard. Tebow finished 4-of-10 for 79 yards with 1 touchdown, and that was a short screen pass that Moreno took 28 yards to the end zone. Tebow had a couple of nice throws that didn't connect, but for the most part, his misses were awful. He short-hopped several open receivers.
On the other hand, there is no denying that Tebow is a leader and can will a team to perform at a higher level. The Broncos are a different team when he's in the game. He's a gamer and brings a surge of energy when he plays. It may not look pretty, but he'll scratch and claw until the clock reads all zeroes. Plus, his running ability is really an asset. Tebow finished with 38 yards on 6 carries and a touchdown. People often say that running quarterbacks cannot succeed in the NFL because of the pounding they will take, but there has never been a running quarterback like Tim Tebow. Most running quarterbacks coming out of college are smaller, faster guys who are often converted to wide receiver. Tebow is 6'3", 240 lbs. Draft gurus said he should be converted to a tight end. If they felt he could handle the rigors of playing tight end and could withstand blocking defensive linemen and linebackers, then why do they think he would not be able to handle running the ball a few times a game?
The Broncos have a tough decision to make. By all accounts, Orton has the support of the locker room, especially the veterans. They want to win, and Orton is the most qualified quarterback on the roster. However, he is a free agent at season's end and is not the long-term solution for Denver. It is unlikely he will be back. The fan base is vociferously clamoring for Tebow. Stick with Orton, and the team risks alienating its fans. Go with Tebow, and John Fox might lose the locker room.
Ultimately, the Broncos need to figure out what they have in Tim Tebow. Coming off a 4-12 season, Denver is in rebuilding mode and has multiple holes to fill. At 1-4, the Broncos are already in last place in the AFC West. The current players won't like it, but the team needs to look to the future and make decisions based on what will improve the franchise for the long-term. With so many pressing needs, it is imperative that the Broncos' front office determine whether or not they need to use what will likely by a high draft pick on a quarterback. If Tebow shows promise, then the team can go in another direction and address deficiencies at positions like defensive tackle or cornerback. If Tebow is a bust, well then the Broncos can go ahead and draft a quarterback such as Stanford's Andrew Luck, USC's Matt Barkley, or Oklahoma's Landry Jones. If Fox decides to stick with Kyle Orton, then the Broncos won't know if Tebow can handle being a starting quarterback. If not, then they will be in for another lost season. Quarterback is the most crucial position in the NFL, and it is vital that Denver discover who is going to be its franchise quarterback, whether it's Tebow or someone else.
What they have is someone who puts everything he has into his job and gives his all for his teammates - offense and defense.
ReplyDeleteIt may not always be pretty, but he gives 100%. I'm not saying Orton didn't, but sometimes it's just so hard to tell. I think the team, and the city, need to know that someone out there is giving it all!
It's an unfair comparison, but I remember when Elway was playing, and the Broncos got a turnover around mid-field. Regardless of if it was the smart play or not, Elway wanted to go for the quick score and you could see the fire in his eyes stepping back up to the line. I didn't get that feel from Orton...it could be the play-calling, but it was more a feeling of, "Ok, now we have the ball...let's see what happens. We'll just be careful and work this a bit."
It might be Tebow's youth but you I can almost picture him being restrained on the sideline with coaches saying, "Easy, Tim...take it easy..you'll be out there in just a minute...just calm down." :-)
I'm sure Orton gave all he could, but he doesn't have the same fiery, enthusiastic personality that Tebow does. He's more of an unflappable, stoic guy. Manning and Brady aren't fiery guys, either.
ReplyDeleteOrton was a victim of circumstance. Fans resented him because he wasn't Cutler or Tebow. It wasn't his fault, but he became the face of that turmoil and the subsequent struggles of the franchise. No matter what he did, the fans were never going to accept him.
I agree about the play-calling after a turnover. Reeves and Shanahan always went for the dagger after getting a turnover. Now, it's like, "Let's hit 'em with a bubble screen!" It's like the football version of Drumline's "Flight of the Bumblebee" and yes, I just dropped an Orlando Jones Drumline reference.
Haha yes, I can totally picture that scene on the sideline. Tebow wears his emotions and enthusiasm on his sleeves, and it's infectious. He brings a spark with his grit, determination, and iron will. His intangibles are off the charts. Still, that won't be enough for him to be successful. It's definitely a good place to start, but he has to improve his accuracy and timing in order to ultimately be the answer at quarterback.