Tebow should not waste away in NYC

Tebow is wasting away with a horrible Jets team.

Tim Tebow says he wants to start or he wants to be traded or released from the Jets and who could blame him. In hindsight Tebow probably wishes he hadn’t went to New York. I’m sure Rex Ryan feels the same way. In all the years I’ve watched NFL games I’ve never seen a single worse performance in a game by a QB than Mark Sanchez in the Titans game.

He made some of the worst throws I’ve ever seen and you might go as far as saying it was the worst performance by any position player in any game in NFL history. Nothing can excuse the dreadful game he played. The irony is as bad as he played he still had a chance to redeem himself and win the game in 4th Q in the final minutes and then fumbled a snap, it wasn’t the best in the world for sure but one he should of handled it.

50 turnovers in 2 years aren’t going to promote job security. IMO his career in NYC is over and if the Jets don’t trade or outright release him at season’s end their making a big mistake. Frauds in the NFL can hide for only so long, The reason the Jets had a good team the last couple of years was because of a good D. When it crashed this season Sanchez was finally exposed.

That said Ryan made a huge mistake by not putting Tebow in the lineup at about Week 5 or 6 after it was apparent that Sanchez’s confidence was completely gone.

IMO Tebow today no matter what haters say about him is better start at QB even with all of his warts than Sanchez or say QB's like Blaine Gabbert, Jake Locker, Ryan Lindey, John Skeleton, Nick Foles, Chad Henne, Christian Ponder, Brandy Quinn, and Matt Cassel. I would argue he’s even a better start than guys like Carson Palmer or Ryan Tannehill.

You can bet your backside many of the teams listed here with these subpar starters at QB would have loved to have Tebow on their team and gladly given him a shot to start, learn and grow on their teams.

I’m convinced that Tebow’s story has yet to be written. Someone someday is going to give him a chance to be a starting QB in the NFL because he’s a winner, a warrior and a team guy through and through.

I’m happy to see the Broncos have what has turned into a great season but the Peyton Manning story has yet to really be written too. Peyton Manning MUST win a Super Bowl in Denver, it’s the only way I’m ever going to say it was the right move to sign him. The Tebow trade and the Manning signing are 2 separate stories but will always be connected and in my mind until Manning wins a Championship for the Broncos nothing is settled.

Good luck Tebow, I’d really like to see the day when you get an honest chance to show what you can do as a starter not just because you’re talented and could help a team win games but because you also earned the right to be one.

Broncos Stumble into the Playoffs

McGahee's 145 yards wasn't enough.

It’s sad that the Broncos didn’t close out the season by beating the Chiefs.  Still, despite backing into the playoffs with Tebow playing his worst football game so far THEY DID make it to the playoffs and by the way THEY DID earn it based on a better common record. Tebow was a big part of why they made the playoffs with the help of a much improved D. Despite losing their last 3 games they had a remarkable season with basically the same group of players (with the exception of Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil) that they had last year and doubled their win total.

I had my doubts about the game yesterday. IMO it was more about the Broncos D going in than Tebow but I still liked the Broncos chances to win the game because the Chiefs are crappy football team. I can’t explain the win they had over the Packers. Maybe it was just an off day for a coasting Packers team who had nothing to play for and a Chiefs team playing their collective butts off for a new HC so maybe they could retain jobs next season. I just didn’t believe that this win was a paradigm shift that was going to launch the Chiefs into a new millennium of winning football.

So this was why I thought the Broncos would win yesterday despite how horrible Tebow had played, how awful the D and Special Teams has played and how predictable the offensive game plans have been over the previous 2 weeks.

I said before the game with the Chiefs that if the Broncos could play better D, tackle, cover and get pressure on Orton they would win the game. They did that and more held the lousy Orton led offense to 7 points. I also said the Broncos had to be less predictable on offense and throw the ball on 1st and 2nd down. They did that too. The dinged up Willis McGahee deserves some kudos for being a warrior and banging out 145 yards yesterday but even that wasn’t enough.

So what happened?

Tebow had an absolutely horrible game; I believe the worst of his young career. He threw ball to short, he threw them to long, he held onto the ball too long, he should have made a quicker decisions to throw the ball away rather than take sacks.  He threw the ball into good coverage too many times and had an INT; he also had a critical fumble. He had time on several passing plays but either couldn’t find an open Receiver or just didn’t have the confidence enough in his arm to attempt to thread the needle and make tight throws. I noticed on several passing plays he didn’t have his feet in a good position to make throws, he was off balance and leaving his feet when he threw balls on the run.

Tebow’s game clearly showed that he has a very long way to go when it comes to the passing game in many areas.

So you can look at it several different ways. I choose to look at this season as a big improvement and something to build unlike many fans that week to week are on and off the Broncos bandwagon.

So what happens next season?

I think the Broncos have to give Tebow at least the chance at one more season. They’ll need to draft QB in the later rounds or pick up one of the free agents that'll be available. Brady Quinn isn’t going to get it done and should be traded or released. If Tebow still hasn’t improved by mid-season of next year then by all means there will have to be some consideration in having him removed but he certainly has played well enough this season to deserve that much.

The Broncos need DB’s, LB’s, RB’s, WR’s, DL’s and now maybe another Guard since Kuper got hurt. Taking a QB in the first round isn’t going to make the Broncos a playoff team next year so I’d wait until 2013 to consider drafting a QB early if Tebow fails to improve next year.

I’ll be rooting for the Broncos to pull off a big upset next week but I don’t believe they can pull it out beat against the Steelers. Their D will overwhelm Tebow and shut down the running game.  It’s a bonus that the Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall will be out of the game but Ben Roethlisberger

will still be in and he has the skills and experience at QB, with the help of his talented Receivers can beat a team even without a running game. Please…let me be wrong about this, I’d love to be wrong. GO BRONCOS!!

Denver Broncos Unworthy of New Analysis

I posted this on the Orange Mane (It’s a Broncos Fans Chat Board) this morning. Instead of writing a blog about the disaster last night I’ll just let my past statements before the game speak for itself.
Instead…I’m just going to do one long gloat about Orton. After that I’m done, Orton’s uninspired play last night spoke for itself. This was my first post on the OM for the 2011 season on 8-20-2011. The rest of the posts were comments made before last nights’ game.

8-20-11:  Hi Guys, it’s been a long time. I had to get on and rant a little. I’m just sick and tired of not having a solid QB on our beloved Broncos. We’re now in our 12th year of QB controversies with no end in sight. 1 playoff win since the last ring and other than 2006 we’ve been in a swirling vortex spinning in a downward spiral. My opinion on the latest QB controversy?

Orton sucked yesterday, he will tonight and will tomorrow. Yes, he has more “experience” than Tebow or Quinn but that is his only qualifier

I can't say Tebow at this point is a better option either nor Quinn.

I’m still cursing McD for signing Orton to 2 year deal. Had he signed him to a one year contract instead, Orton would be gone and setting on the bench of some perennial loser as a back up or maybe out the NFL altogether. If Orton is the best we can do we’re in for another long, painful and intensely boring season. There said it, I’m done.

I'm trying to be upbeat and positive but I just don't see a dramatic turn around this season on O. I think the only thing we can hope for is that the Broncos can finally play some better D than they did last year. I think that will happen but on O? Doubtful… Someone give me some good karma, I’m just not feeling it.

8-25-11:  (About one fan who said Moreno will rush for 1400 yards this season.) I admire your optimism but Moreno has yet to prove he’s even close to putting up those kinds of yards. I’m not sure the OL will be as good against better D’s. They're still very young and inexperienced. As for Orton’s red zone predictions, I’m not sure that I’d agree with that assessment either. He was terrible inside the 20 completing passes last year.

8-25-11: The only reason and I mean the only reason Orton is still in Denver is because he’s set to make $8.4 million and no team was moronic enough to trade for him. We can thank the genius McD for that move too. I’m positive had the money not been an issue Orton would have been down the road and it would have been a unanimous decision by Bowlen, Elway and Fox to (trade) do so.

The Broncos win a meaningless preseason game against the Bills one of the worst teams in all of football and suddenly Orton is a solid starter? COME ON!!!

I can’t wait to see these haters eat their words by mid-season when Tebow is starting and Orton is sitting on the bench sulking because the Broncos are 2-6.

8-21-11:  If my memory serves me right Orton played liked a Bum last year. People have short memories and live in the NOW I guess. It’s laughable that in one game the Mighty Quinn would vault over Tebow when this guy has nothing to indicate from past starting performances that he in any way will be a starting NFL QB, none.

So just chill out let the preseason play out the next 2 weeks. On opening day we could see a whole different scenario. Orton or Quinn could be on another team. I hope its Orton because once they count we can expect the same guy we saw last year to show up. Quinn? Please…

8-21-11:  I think it’s way too soon write off Tebow. All this talk reminds of Elway's rookie year. We all know Elway had way better mechanics and a throwing arm than Tebow does. But Elway early on was very mistake prone, forcing balls in, under throwing then over throwing the ball, not looking for other receivers, impatience in the pocket. Sound familiar?

The national sports media, the writers at the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News all dog piled on Elway early. They were unmerciful have you guys forgotten that? Many wanted to see him fail and flame out just as bad as Tebow.

I love how these geek draft-nicks think that next year’s draft will always produce another great QB. Quality talented players like Tebow are not available year to year and some just need more time to get their head in the game, that’s all this is. Remember how rough Favre was around the edges? Early in his career he’d throw 4 TD’s one game then 4 INT’s the next. The same could be said of Elway.

Tebow stays IMO and should learn the system. He’s a winner, a warrior and the thing I like best about him doesn’t quit on a play. Once he learns the game in the NFL he’ll be one of the best red zone threats the Broncos have ever had. It amazes how day to day people live and think like there’s not going to be a tomorrow. On Monday Tebow be back in practice and my guess getting playing time in the next 2 preseason games.

My prediction: By mid-season Tebow will be the starter for the Broncos.

8-20-11:  The truth is Orton had far more offensive weapons on his team 2 years ago than he does today. Moreno hasn’t impressed, the free agent RB’s have proven zip, no proven #2 or #3 WR as of yet and the same at the TE position. The OL is coming along and the running game just can’t nose dive any lower than last year so what have you got? Good Ol’ #8 out there to save the day? Looking for Lloyd on every pass down will fool somebody this year? Quinn? You really believe those 2 are going to transform the Broncos back to a winning franchise? Carry this team on their backs?

Tebow hating aside, the QB position is the least of the problems. The D gets better under Fox we agree but this O could be equal to or worse than last year very easily.

5-11 is ceiling. 3-13 the basement. 8-8 would be a very successful season for the Broncos; I wish I believed it could happen. If the Broncos can play some better D which they should this year they could go 8-8. I think too many have heaped large expectations on the young OL. I'm not convinced they'll be able to run or pass against better defensive teams.

He (Orton) stinks like a dead animal pit, like maggots on a gut wagon.

Old quote by Woody Paige: "Orton has lost eight of nine, 14 of 17 and 17 of his past 22 starts."

9-13-11:  New quote by Jeff Jacques: "Orton has lost nine of ten, 15 of 18 and 18 of his past 25 starts."