The Tim Tebow Conundrum - Broncos should avoid the temptation

But the one thing I would say is that Denver is the best place for Tebow himself. A legit QB coach, a solid starting QB in place but no certain franchise quarterback (i.e. opportunity to move up) and a francise that would value his character and flexibility more than anyone else. There would be tons of pressure on him in Jacksonville (kind of like there was on Quinn in Cleveland).

There’s no question that Tebow should hope that the Broncos pick him. I just don’t think the Broncos want him enough to warrant a 2nd round pick when guys like Arrelious Benn will be there to fix both an immediate and a long term need. Honestly, Josh McDaniels thinks that he can win the Super Bowl this year, and picking Tim Tebow is not the route to go if you want to win the Super Bowl this year.

If we do pick him though, I’ll trust McD that it was the correct choice. But at this junction, I don’t think it’s likely.

we just have to many things we need to address and we shouldnt be taking a risk on a guy like this…..coming from a UF fan

I agree that we have needs that need fixed. If we had the all pieces in place, I wouldn’t mind Tebow in the mid 2nd round, but just not this draft.

If they feel Tebow is the broncos answer for the next 10 or more years then I am on board…Besides….Sayre persauded me. LOL

What it comes down to is whether it is better to build the team, then add the QB, or get a QB and try to build a team around him. It also leads into the question of why so many promising QBs who had great careers in college are a bust in the pros.

Most of the top QBs coming out in any given year go to a team at the bottom of the league, like Stafford last year, and struggle because they don’t have the pieces around them to be successful. For many, they are not used to struggling, and losing, and getting booed, because they were winners until they reached the pros. Most teams, like the Rams this year, seem to think that it is best to draft the hotshot QB, then try to build the team around them. The problem is, by the time they build a team they have ruined their QB. David Carr is a good example. He was highly thought of coming out of college, but at Houston he was destroyed. By the time Houston had become a decent team, he was ruined.

While I don’t put our team in the same position as Detroit or the Rams this year, we are obviously in a rebuilding phase. We have substantial weaknesses that must be addressed on both sides of the ball before we will be a serious competitor again REGARDLESS OF WHO IS TAKING THE SNAPS. Peyton Manning could not make us a great team right now, so why waste a high pick on a QB?

Right now, Orton is the best choice. He is smart, efficient, and protects the ball. Behind him, we have Quinn, who some still think has a chance to be good, and a project in Brandstater, who might be good in another year or two. What we need to do to improve as a team is continue to improve on defense, and fix our anemic running game by rebuilding our O-Line. If we make good choices in our draft and in free agency, in another year or two we could be pretty good again. Even by next year, we will know whether any of our current QBs is up to the job. If not, then, with a credible team already assembled, it will be time to look for our QB of the future.

McDaniels is clearly a fan of Tebow, but, I’m with the the mind he has big plans for Quinn. If he does select Tebow I think it’ll be some sort of QB wild card considering depth at the position.

In other words, the Broncos need to add players that can help right now, today. They need players that can step right in and be big-time contributors.

I must confess, I’m OK with The Tebow at #45, assuming two immediate needs have already been filled. Even at that, I share your concerns about the looming QB controversy that would undoubtedly ensue (sooner rather than later). I also agree that taking up Tebow’s training time to learn gimicks would be of dis-service to both him and to us. Solid article, John. Very much Rec’d and agreed.

That is why we can’t/won’t draft Tebow.

Again our top needs are

Center
ILB
G
WR

Plenty of safe picks out there. Hopefully we can trade back a couple of spots in round 1

seem to conveniently neglect the fact that his release is just as fast as anyone else’s now, and his footwork is insane, especially compared to anyone we currently have as a quarterback. I’m not a Pro-Tebow guy through and through, but I think the guy has the necessary skills to succeed in the NFL. Anyone who doesn’t think Tebow has the arm for it has never seen Montana or Brady play. Both of those guys were said to have “less than stellar” arm strength, and I think that worked out juuuust fine. Tebow’s going to be a system quarterback no doubt about it. I think one of the only systems that lend themselves to him being the quarterback is here in Denver. If ANYONE can make Tebow a bona fide NFL quarterback, it’s Josh McDaniels. That’s all I can say about it.

Getting on the field in a Wild Horses position is just what will get him the experience he needs. Slowly. Throwing him on the field like Oakland or Cleveland or Buffalo or Jacksonville would do would be exactly what he doesn’t need. Sitting on the bench in New England isn’t what he needs either.

I been on both sides with him, but I wouldn’t be upset if we drafted him this week…

I’ve said it yesterday and I’ll say it again. I don’t know how I feel about Tebow. I like him one day and I hate him the next. The more we talk about it, the more conflicted I feel. On one hand, he’s a great collegiate athlete and holds about every record in the NCAA. On the other hand, we have glaring needs at a million other positions and it would be muy loco to draft a guy in the second round who would likely be third on the depth chart for the forseeable future. On one hand, he’s a great leader. On the other hand, he’s a polarizing figure that causes controversy (not negative controversy…. just controversy, which is why there have been 45 posts devoted to the guy on this site, alone).

Frankly, I don’t know. There are plenty of picks that I’d be happy with in the second round. I’m not going to sit here and say that we shouldn’t take Tebow, but I’m not going to be driving the bandwagon, either.

On Saturday, can we just put this discussion to bed? I know it’s a lot to ask for and I probably won’t get everyone’s attention, but I just have this gut feeling that we are going to get 15+ posts on saturday evening about Tebow. If we don’t take him, we’ll get a bunch of “BOOOOO” posts with “WOOOO” comments. If we do take him, we’ll get a bunch of “WOOOO” posts with a bunch of “Booooooo” comments.

Tebow could be a great player or he could turn out to be a not so great player. John, you are posting blogs with a great deal of bias. I have a a lot of respect for this site because most of the posted blogs are well thought out. You lost creditability when you brought up Chris Simms. Chris was not the player in college that Tebow was. If you are going to make an argument to not draft Tebow, then show some numbers! I feel that your blogs lack depth (i.e., when you stated that Tebow could not help “right now”. Do you have a crystal ball John?). If you want to write blogs like this, go to the DenverBroncos.com site please.

we’ve already been over all the reasons Tebow might not make it in the NFL …you circumvent all of them nicely with an all purpose out that’s been touched on by many of us but never set out so well as you have…

Who flippin cares about what Tebow wants. Why are his desires above the teams? Is Tebow above the team?

If Tebow could solve our short yardage and goal to go plays with his hammer running style and ability to throw in those situations, draft the guy and make him run those plays.

If we take Tebow, developing him to be a legit QB in 2011 should be #3,342 on our list of what is important in 2010. Having him revive our short yardage game should be in the Top 3.

As I often do in these hot-button posts -

Things I didn’t say -

1. Tim Tebow cannot be a NFL QB
2. Tim Tebow sucks
3. Tim Tebow will fail

What I did say-

1. I don’t like gimmick football – YOU WILL NOT BEAT THE UPPER-ECHELON TEAMS IN THE NFL WITH GIMMICKS
2. Using Tebow in some-kind of gimmick fashion will hurt his long-term growth as a QB
3. The Broncos have bigger needs – all over the field.
4. I think Tebow needs a softer place to land

All things said Tebow knows how to win with the skills he ha, and he’ll bring a really great attitude with him. Is he a good fit for the Broncos, no I don’t believe so. He relies heavily on his ability to just take off when he feels he needs to. That style may work for a few teams, but it isn’t part of McDaniel’s offense.

I appreciate what Tebow brings to the table, and while I have doubts about his ability to be an impact NFL QB, I think his work ethic and smarts will allow him to get there some day.

However, along with all the things you’ve mentioned about him, the biggest reason I would dislike the pick, is because of the moves the front office has already made. For me, at this point, it has nothing to do with Tebow. If we picked up Tebow or any other QB, it would be the first sign to me that McDaniels and Xanders are mading bad decisions, and may not know what they are doing, contrary to what my thoughts of them have been thus far.

I know that may sound like a rushed judgement, and overly harsh, but let me explain. We acquired a QB via trade to be our starter (Orton), we drafted a developmental quarterback in last years draft, and we made another trade to bring one in this year, moving a player along with a draft pick to acquire Quinn. If McDaniels and Xanders have invested that much effort and resources into getting 3 quarterbacks on the roster, and they don’t feel comfortable with any of them, well, why the hell did they make those moves? I could understand bringing in another young quarterback in this year’s draft if we hadn’t made the move for Quinn, but not after that deal. I don’t know why they have even looked at Tebow, and I assume the only reason they have is as an immediate h-back/tight end hybrid, goal line, and Wildcat style player, with the potential to develop into a QB down the line.

Even if that’s the case, why? If your plan is to bring in Tebow to not be a QB, just get a player like Armanti Edwards in later rounds who can probably do the job just as well. There’s no value in drafting a converted QB to play another position in the 1st or 2nd rounds.

He come out of almost the same system.

But I have to say, you can’t say that playing in the Wild Horses would hinder Tebow’s development. I mean come on, the guy is a football player, through and through. He obviously WANTS to be a QB, and he has all of the tools to do so, but in all honesty, the guy would play linebacker if you asked him to.

I know you think Tebow has the skills to be an NFL QB, but where do you see our QB situation in three years? Do we re-sign Orton? Are we satisfied with mediocrity at the position, just a guy who will not make mistakes? Will Brady Quinn revert to his Notre Dame form and become a franchise quarterback like some thought he could be? Will he stay healthy? Is Tom Brandstater the long term solution?

No matter which way you paint the picture, the Broncos need stability and a future at the quarterback position. I hope Brandstater can be a diamond in the rough. I hope Quinn can stay healthy and win us some games. But the moves we’ve mades since McD got here indicate to me that we are looking for a long term solution at the QB solution, and Orton is not it.

The Broncos obviously like Tebow. Heck, I have not seen or heard about any other player that they have devoted so much time and attention to. They saw him and interviewed him at the Combine. They attended Florida’s pro day. They had Tebow in for a visit. McD and Xanders had Tebow in for a private workout. They clearly are interested, and I think it’s beyond due diligence at this point.

The Broncos have other needs on the team, but we saw last year that they don’t give a hoot if a guy can come in and make a significant contribution right away, they want tough, smart winners with versatility. As you pointed out, Tebow is all of those things. His intangibles are off the charts. McDaniels seems fairly confident that his new throwing motion will be effective.

The Broncos also don’t have a face to their franchise. They are not a marketable team right now, as is evidenced by their ONE prime time game this year. What reason does this nation have to watch the Denver Broncos? You throw Tim Tebow in a Broncos jersey, and people are going to be all eyes and ears. The Broncos’ popularity would skyrocket with Tebow on the team, regardless of whether anyone liked him or not.

The Broncos also have fantastic coaching at the quarterback position to develop Tebow in McDaniels and Mike McCoy. They don’t have a “game changer” if you will at the quarterback position. Some teams don’t need that, as history of the game indicates, but MOST teams do. Tebow is a guy you can count on to make a big play, whether it’s evading pressure and making one with his feet, or simply keeping the play alive and creating alternative opportunities.

Tebow is a guy that all 32 teams would love to have, and I know you would support him as a Bronco if he became one.

I want a guy who is going to bleed blue and orange with our first pick. I want a winner, a game changer, someone who is cerebral, someone who is dedicated, someone who lives and breathes Bronco football. In a day and age where so many young players are caught up in the hype and hubub of the NFL, as well as lost in their own pool of money, Tebow strikes me as an emotional leader who would play football even if he wasn’t getting paid.

Tebow is durable, he is the best bang for your buck, and he gives this fanbase hope for the future at the QB position.

I think in a draft this deep we can take a chance on Tebow, especially if we trade back and add more picks.

so I can wake up and its DRAFT DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I SUPPORT TEBOW AS A BRONCO IF THE FOLLOWING TRADES OCCUR:

Denver trades back in the first round and gets a second rounder for it as well.

with 3 second rounders (high second rounders), and a later first round pick, I would be fine with Tebow, but only in the second.

Keep Orton Quinn and Brandstater

Do you really want your Franchise QB of the future getting blown up by Ray Lewis, or Troy Polamalu, or on some bubble-screen or option play? Is that a joke???

That’s why I HATE the Wild Horses. If I am a DC, and I see a starting QB split wide, I’m elated.

1. I now can play 11-on-10 because I am not going to cover the QB.
2. If they do throw the ball to the QB I am going to blow him up because he’s now a ball carrier and all the QB-Skirt rules don’t apply.

Double your pleasure!

that we are throwing all this Tebow speculation out there so that we can draft Colt McCoy? We did work him out in the past couple days.

I felt the same way last year about Mark Sanchez. I felt that taking Sanchez was a waste of assets, that Orton would do just fine for the Broncos, and that we were a playoff team without him anyway.

I don’t think we can miss that opportunity two years in a row.

Yes, he is a redzone threat, which is something we direly need. Preferably in the 2nd round, but I’m not opposed to the late 1st.

What about Orton’s impending big fat contract?

I’m in this “either way” frame of mind on Tebow. I don’t mind. But I’m trying to work out the motivation and flow on effects FROM a Tebow pick by the Broncos if it happened. I made a post recently about it but there are some motivating factors to draft Orton’s near term successor… and his new contract is likely a big one.

I have no idea how much McX will let a future contract influence their call on this but if, for them, it’s important then it could easily result in them calling Tebow’s name late on Thursday night…

Just saying.

…because while I’m largely open minded about spending a second rounder on the guy, I’ll be disappointed if he’s the only pick tomorrow night, or, worse, Denver shoots its second round juice to move back into the first to get him. Love the thought of the best case scenario; hate the very predictable QB controversy that will dog the franchise starting 12 seconds after he’s drafted.

I’m with John on the gimmick crap. Draft him only if you see him as a legit QB, not as cutesy little slash toy. I’ve seen nothing from him that indicates he’s a Kordell Stewart II— he’s not the athlete, doesn’t have the speed, and certainly doesn’t have the arm. Scrambling up the middle for 15 yards in a college spread is a whole lot different ball of wax than doing it against even the worst NFL defense.

Considering Swiss cheese nature of both our offensive and defensive lines, the gaping hole at WR, the aging secondary we CANNOT afford to blow a pick on a project QB. Not when we’re looking at picking up a premier center (Pouncey), linebacker (McClain), NT (D Williams), CB (Haden)…

IF and that’s a BIG if we really want to draft a QB early why not take a chance with Claussen? He has sound mechanics and a big arm and he has played a in similar system in College.

Then again why did we trade for Brady Quinn? We still have Brandstater (Who showed promise this last preseason) Orton was serviceable, Sims was rightly kicked out the door. Does it look like Orton might be part of a surprise draft day trade?

Some very valid points made, some of which I agree with. But I believe in Tebow. I think when someone is that talented and that driven to suceed, and are told by most pundits that they won’t suceed, they find a way to prove people wrong. I wouldn’t bet against Tebow.

This is a very high risk/high reward pick. Is it worth it? I don’t know. No one does, and all these people that pretend to are full of shit. I say roll the dice. It won’t be the difference of the Broncos going to the Superbowl or not either way next year.

Thats my bet for Pitt

Brandstater is a better QB than Tebow right now in the NFL. Why would we start over again with another rookie? I think McD’s comments about Tebow was smoke.

The Broncos did fly to LA to have a private workout with Mark Sanchez last year right before the Draft….

That said, everything I am getting is the interest in Tebow is real…

I really believe McD would have drafted Sanchez if he somehow fell to 12, maybe he see’s a different light this year and won’t make the same mistake. This is all conjecture I assure you, but what if it were true? Hmm…If he doesn’t want McClain, Dan Williams or Dez Bryant with the #11 pick ir is possible that McX might pull the trigger that will cause a firestorm of interest from the fan-base and the media. We would be the talk of the draft and if it somehow worked in our favor 3 or 4 years down the road then they will be writing songs about us…Just think of it as a learnig process that we don’t have any control over and all we can really do is scratch our heads and wonder….Like usual!

He is the kind of guy we need in at QB I say within the year if not in his year two he would start being a cornerstone of our franchise, have a feeling its going to happen fellas, embrace the Tebow

2nd round draft choices don’t always hit. We have two here, so using one on Tebow is a good roll of the dice that doesn’t have to pay off right away. It’s like playing with house money in my opinion. Worst case is he’s developed and becomes a solid backup in 2-3 years. If Bubby Brister can be a backup, Tim Tebow can be a better backup. Best case is….well, best case is he starts for 10 years and 4 lombardis.

2000 #45 – Kenoy Kennedy
2001 #51 – Paul Toviessi
2002 #51 – Clinton Portis
2003 #51 – Terry Pierce
2004 #41 – Tatum Bell, #54 – Darius Watts
2005 #56 – Darrent Williams
2006 #61 – Tony Can’t Wait For the Season To Be Over Scheffler
2007 #56 – Tim Crowder
2008 #42 – Eddie Royal
2009 #37 – Alphonso Smith, #48 Darcel McBath, #64 Richard Quinn

Our last 10 years of 2nd round draft picks. A couple home runs in there, a couple busts and solid players/contributors in between. I know it can almost be looked at as a crap shoot, so in my opinion, if we’ve got an extra 2nd round pick, why not take the chance on a guy who has the intangables that don’t come along that often.

Yeah, it’s not fun to think we could pass on another Eddie Royal with our extra 2nd round pick, but our pick could easily be a tim crowder too.

I don’t think our coaching staff cares what the media or fans would scream for to start him. I don’t give a crap about what media bighead said out of his butt this week because he had to get an article out on deadline…. or what joe six-pack thinks about starting a third string QB…. or fair weather fans that boo a preseason performance. I’ll pass listening to those people and take the risk.

I love to watch great football and if he can come into this league and entertain and win like he has done in College Football then the NFL is a better place for it.
If he does this in Denver well that would be incredible.
Do i think he is worth us investing a 1st round pick on? Maybe but only if we have already picked up someone before him.
If we get any opportunity to take him in the 2nd oh yes the upside his worth it.
My fear with this guy is that when you are portrayed as being holier than thou any discretion is a huge fall and because of this his personal life will be targetted it his reaction to this that I belive will be his biggest test.

I do believe that McDaniels and Tebow could work enough on him becoming a real QB while at the same time finding him a place in the offense this year. Tebow’s work ethic strikes me as enough to be able to handle both.

That said, I’m ambivalent to taking him. If we do, great, if not, well, that’s fine too.

I could care less either way.

First, I’m a fan of Tebow’s raw talent, and an even bigger fan of his strong character. In an age of “Big Bens”, “Mike Vicks”, and (to a little lesser extent) “Brandon Marshalls and Javon Walkers”, it amazes me that one or two folks might find fault with Tebow’s squeeky clean image. If Coach thinks Tebow makes the team better down the road, then I’m all for him.

On the other hand, I’ll be equaly thrilled to get someone who plugs in a clear position of need (such as the trenches, LB, or DB). Also, I’d be terribly dissapointed to get a QB to run “gimmick plays” (as John correctly points out).

In the end, I couldn’t vote yes or no. My answer is more along the lines of “Unless the player has some major red flags, I think the picks we get this year will be used wisely”. Too me, Tebow just isn’t a red flag player, but I don’t think he might be the best option either. In the end, I doubt we are even looking at him.

If I were drafting (and thank God for the Broncos that I’m not as I’m not qualified), I would take a pass on Tebow. I favor trading down, racking up picks, and going with “best player available” and “best value” until our team gets 2 to 3 years to get in McD’s mold. At that point, we could start targeting star quality players.

There is a tension between developing him as a long-term quarterback and using him to run confusing offensive sets. I would be OK with the latter, but, really — at what cost? A special-skills guy in the second round is OK. Vladimir Ducasse or Cam Thomas or a big guy who plays in the trenches…. that’s better.

By the way, I don’t know if you were trying to stir the pot with that title, but I for one am amused.

a little higher than i thought it would be

But whoever gets him will grossly overpay pick wise do to the over the top hype around him.

…and I think management realizes this. I would be more concerned that they were planning on taking Tebow if they hadn’t traded for Brady Quinn. I think he keeps them from making any decisions at the QB decision for at least one more year.

Now, if they want to trade the farm for Jake Locker next year, as a Husky fan, I’m all for that! :)

The thing that always makes me pause about Tim Tebow is the religious aspect. Not that I have anything against it, but players in the NFL seem to. There has been a lot written about the division in the locker room between Kurt Warner and his teammates. Kurt Warner and Tim Tebow are a lot alike in that regard. I remember a lot of problems coming up when Kurt Warner went to NY. I’m sure it’s different from team to team – I don’t recall hearing any issues in AZ – but that’s something that can really cause problems.

Where Tim Tebow is supposedly going to be picked, I think the Broncos could find better value at a position of higher need. QB isn’t a need for this team that needs to be addressed in the 1st or 2nd round. And in my opinion, Tebow isn’t in that “only comes around once in a decade” discussion.

Jake Locker on the other hand….okay, my bias is cropping back up. Better stop typing.

let’s keep our cool when this actually happens

just sayin’

but Tebow’s agent is convinced he knows where Tebow is going to land. Kind of odd, it’s not like Cutler (for example) had any clue that he would be coming to the Broncos.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/commentary/news/story?page=howard/100422

We trade down and our first pick is…TIM TEBOW! I think the temptation is too strong for McD, he sees the QB he will win his first Super Bowl with in 2 years. Too hard to pass up. Orton is the classy veteran to assist his development, Quinn is the solid back-up. All I can say is I have a funny feeling…