MHR Roundtable - How Does Tebow Affect the Denver Broncos?

Who is the highest paid backup quarterback in the league?

Would that level of salary be enough to satisfy Orton in 2011 or 2012 if he’s displaced by Tebow if it gives him security and some upfront money. Would a long term contract as a backup satisfy Orton, if he gets paid well to carry a clipboard and be ready just like Gary Kubiak did for John Elway for many years?

Would it make sense for the Broncos to overpay him slightly as a backup with some guaranteed money as someone who could step in and be an exceptional backup quarterback as a spread offense featuring Tebow might entail some additional injury risk to the QB?

…option. I don’t see the speed and athleticism for him to run as much or as successfully in NFL (never mind the pounding he’d take), so I’m skeptical that Denver is thinking of fully adopting the ‘Florida Spread’. There is going to have to be at least a middle ground between how he played in college and how he can realistically play in the NFL, IMO. And that’s going to take work and development.

I love his intangibles and work ethic. But as somebody so aptly said on a MHR thread no so long ago, if it was just about intangibles, then Sully Sullenberger would be a good QB candidate. Intangibles only get you so far at this level. Yet if I were going to bet on a guy being able to learn and adapt, it’d certainly be Tebow.

So I’ll roll with ‘open-minded’ and wait to vote on Good v. Bad down the road.

I enjoyed the respect given to both men and their character. Personally, I think Orton will start and play this year with Tebow a possibility in late game situations.

I wish Kyle the best of luck with a new team next year & a great payday.

I love our situation right now and have no worries about the locker room

I believe that Orton can keep his starting role for 2010. I believe that Tebow will work his but off and be up to speed quicker than many anticipate. Both these men are of the highest caliber an enjoy the competition that will and is brewing between them. Whatever gives our team the best chance to win is what I am supporting. Tebow was a great addition to that chance.

Now that we have drafted him I am 100% behind him and after researching him more I love his character and will.

I think that Tebow has the heart and drive to be a great QB – kind of like how Rod Smith worked and willed himself to be a Great WR.

I have a feeling that Tebow could be our starter, and if not, he will be back up. if Orton goes down, or we have a slow start, the Tebow era begins.
Quinn could be gone….or we hold onto all the QB’s until the end of the season and Quinn becomes a perennial back up with us (as far as mobility, Quinn overshadows Orton and Brandy) as he offers more in the system that McD is going to run.
DONT BE SURPRISED IF TIM TEBOW IS OUR STARTER. IF HE OUTWORKS THE OTHER GUYS HES IN.
And a note…..if the system is changing, as McD has intonated, then dont ALL 4 QB’s almost start at the same knowledge base. Experience maybe different, but I think what we saw last year on offense might be a lot different from what we start to see this year!

Maybe, we don’t and won’t know how it all come to be. I know one thing, the stars align themselves to mean something if you believe in that. Tim Tebow is destined to greatness and his team will follow him through the fire when needs be. I am not worried about and welcome it, it’s about time the blessings start coming Denvers way…As for Kyle Orton, he will be fine where ever he is at and he has a good head on his shoulders. The Denver Broncos haven’t been in this kind of situation in a long time, if they have and that’s have 3-4 potential starting quarterbacks. That’s not a bad thing and it can only give us value down the road as Kirk suggested. I liked all of the responses and opinions and isn’t it a wonderful life when you have a QB conundrum?

If Tim starts early. But a Trial By Fire approach is one that I don’t favor. I would rather see Tebow “earn” the job than Orton lose it. The QB position on our team looks to be in better shape than the situation.

The trump card will be legs. One has ‘em, one doesn’t. KO was my qb last year, and still is my choice for 2010. I think he’s an excellent qb. But the offensive scheme will be different, and KO will run whatever scheme there is efficiently until….he runs, and gets hurt. I hate to say it, but he has a history, and more running will tilt the scale against him staying healthy. At which time we know who will come in, and then it will be TT’s team.

Now, how ‘bout this…we have two schemes. One for KO, one for TT. After halftime adjustments, we spring something entirely different on the defense. Kinda like a fastball and a change-up or curve. I know, probably not, but would it be so hard to practice and train for? McD’s got his sights on revolutionizing the offense, imo, and has his men to do it. And I don’t see any locker room divas. I have no idea what 2011 will bring, that’s way too far off, but I see loads of surprises in 2010. And just for the record, I was against the TT pick, I think we gave up too much for him, but I’m all in for his success.

Orton is our starter and will be our starter unless he fails for some reason. I don’t think that will happen as he is in the second year of McDaniels system. I agee that 2010 could be Orton’s chance to audition for a starting spot with another team in 2011, yet being a Bronco next year isn’t out of the realm of possibility. Of course we really don’t know if we will have a season next year. I have never been a fan of a QB that runs a lot coming out of colleges, however that has changed with the signing of Tebow….mobility is a nice thing to have.

His personal views (strong faith, high character) are issues that coaches love, but some fans love to hate (we love to tear down “beautiful” people). In the end (as always) if there are any locker issues, it will be because someone’s role is diminished on the team, and that individual isn’t putting the team first. I consider Tebow and Orton to be team players, so I don’t forsee a problem.

I totally agree with what HT says right here. Both guys are going it give it their all and won’t have to worry about either of them. The part where people love to tear down “beautiful people” is something I see too often. I mean it seems like some people in the media will be waiting for Tebow to make a mistake so they can say “I told you so”.

But unless he is absolutly PERFECT the fans will boo him off the field. With a “popular” player waiting in the wings, the mild mannered Orton won’t last long, even if he plays well, the fans will call for Tebow, whether it’s the right move or not.

Orton hasn’t reached his peak yet as far as I can see. This is going to stimulate him to continue to grow as a QB in every way. When he reaches his peak performance, then it’s up to someone else to supplant him by being even better. Tebow may have a better ceiling to his game, but guess what? He’s going to have to prove it.

When the Broncos drafted TT I adopted a “wait and see” attitude, but after doing some research and contemplating his “issues” I am becoming more of a fan.

I think Orton is the QB for 2010 and he deserves it. He is a solid game manager and doesn’t give games away. He isn’t flashy but he gets the job done and does so with character and toughness. That being said, if Tebow is worth his salt (and I think he is) part of being a good leader is being a good follower. Tebow will hold the clipboard for a year and learn the intricacies of the NFL and more specifically the Denver offense. He has two great men to mentor him, McD and Orton (three if you consider John Elway), and the tenacity to work hard to get where he needs to be knowledge and skill wise. Also, he will shut his mouth and play his part backing up the starter until he gets his chance.

No one is going to tell McD how to run his team. The mainstream media is continually saying he has to play Tebow. Not gonna happen until the young man is ready. Since the day McD showed up he has been removing dissenters and replacing them with people who buy into his philosophy. He is building a team that will bring his vision to the field and Tebow will be an element of that. Orton is not a long term element. He has the skills and knowledge to help Tebow become the pro he needs to be and the Broncos will move on from there.

Tebow has a huge learning curve to overcome, but if his past and character are indicative, he can do it.

The Broncos future is becoming brighter and I’m looking forward to seeing it.

tim tebow is much too talented to be anything less than successful. moreover, he has a desire to compete unlike any competitor i have ever seen. and ive seen many. i can’t help but compare his competitiveness to michael jordan. tebow doesn’t just play his tail off in games. he punishes people. i am not even a broncos fan, and wasn’t going to renew my nfl ticket subscription because my team isn’t very exciting to watch these days (bills), but i will renew it because i want to see this kid prove the naysayers wrong. he’s a phenomenal player. and in time, everyone will see.

Excellent stuff, as usual.

TJ: I agree with your comments completely. The spread offense is coming. Boston made it work (quite the understatement considering how many records they broke) with Tom Brady, and he can’t even run. Bay Bay is our Randy Moss-esqe field-stretcher, Royal will be our Welker, and Decker will be the big possession WR in the mold of Brandon Marshall – oversimplified comparisons and optimistic thinking, but those are the roles I see. There is no reason to believe Coach McDaniels will make Tebow, who is arguably the best college QB of all time, change and adapt to fit in with the offensive game plan; he’ll change the game plan and make the NFL adapt.

Brian: I fear two QB’s. There must be one captain of the ship sooner rather than later. Being a leader is great for the team, but being THE leader is an elite status reserved for only one. No matter how great of character and team players these two men are, without a clear captain of the offense, players will inevitably break ranks and choose to follow one QB more than the other. No matter how Saintly these men are, this is a recipe for (near) future problems with team chemestry and game tempo.

Tim: Agreed. I feel bad that Orton must go, but he must. I expect Josh McDaniels to give Kyle Orton much say in where he’s traded at the end of the year. There’s 10-15 teams that could be interested after another good year. Perhaps Chicago =)

Kirk: I think Orton’s future is already defined. I do, however, think it’s an easy fix to keep him happy. A little straight talk. “Look Kyle, we love you and we love what you’ve done for us – and what you’re about to do. But Tim Tebow was the greatest college QB in history. We had a chance to take him, and we did. Go out there and have a great year for us, like we know you will, and you’ll earn a fat payday from the team you request/consent to be traded to. This is a business, Kyle, but we won’t throw you under the bus. We will take care of you.”

P.S. The biggest question I have, is when will Brady Quinn be let go. We may need him to back up KO’s ankles today, but him taking up coaching time and reps in practice has to change as soon as possible.

I don’t think McD actively went after KO in the free agent market last year. Basically, KO was just the best possible option in the Cutler trade. Maybe McD has always felt he is limited with KO and that has impacted play calling? I have no idea. Personally, I like KO. I like non-flashy QBs who don’t make mistakes at the worst possible times. But my opinion means absolutely nothing to the Denver Broncos. It is all about winning, plain and simple. The best QB is going to be the starter and “feelings” should have nothing to do with it. I just hope McD’s “feelings” about Tebow don’t impact his decision making, and I don’t think they will.

checkout the opining about Tebow and Bronco QB’s over at the Windy City Gridiron. It’s not positive.

Now that I’ve been made to feel like a part of the family, here’s an outsider’s perspective on what your new QB faces for an uphill battle:

Bradford, McCoy, Clausen and even your boy Tebow are ALL “projects”. While each have “pros”…. they also have “cons”. With that said, there is one commonality each one will face transitioning to NFL secondaries. That is this: PASSING LANES!

The most revealing problem a rookie QB faces are complicated zone coverage schemes at the NFL level. It’s a brutal leap. When one factors the speed NFL players posess over their college counterparts, it’s reasonable to accept it’s likely a full step faster. When a young QB looks at a receiver nestled into an open lane, their brains automatically respond to the width of the passing lane based upon their COLLEGE experience. UNFORTUNATELY…. it’s now the NFL and the lanes close faster. That’s exactly why so much has been made about Tebow’s delivery.

Look at it this way….. If one step equals about 6 to 7 feet, that should mean the passing lane would shrink by close to that much given the speed increase. That’s pretty easy to grasp. The difficulty comes when they must train their brains to recognize a “passing lane” as the gap between TWO defenders….. not just ONE. That means BOTH of them will make a break to close the lane which doubles the closing distance. Meaning, the lane could easily shrink by 7 to 10 feet over that of college. Folks, football is described as a game of “inches” but now we’re talking several FEET.

I’ve heard candid NFL QBs (many now retired) say there was no harder hurdle to overcome than learning what you could and couldn’t do in terms of NFL passing lanes. I even heard one (I wish I could remember who) say that “some” of the experience he gathered in college was actually a LIABILITY when it translated into his NFL development. He said he had a false confidence when it came to his ability to stick it into a tight hole. I recall him saying it worked quite a bit …… But one pick wipes away a whole $hitload of narrow completions.

Tebow’s initial success (whenever he gets his shot) translates into this….. He needs to learn how NOT to LOSE football games first…. then learn to WIN football games as opportunities arise. A good role model? Enter Mark Sanchez! Here is a guy who can’t really take any credit for “winning” NYJ games ALA Elway or Brady. But he can say he didn’t single-handedly lose one either. Just to remind you, the Jets went to the AFC championship last year Bronco fans!

this is a turnaround. i remember 2/3 of mhr didn’t like the tebow pick, or really didn’t like it, especially in the first round. now it’s nearly unaminous for it. what changed? maybe 2/3 of this site believes mcd is just smarter than they are, and he also got to see him up close and talk shop. the game tape is impressive, the pro-style qb question will remain until further notice. but i do feel the league should be pooping in its pants at what may horribly go right, here. this was definitely a better-planned draft for the broncos. we targeted our top 2 picks, addressed some needs very nicely on the all-important o-line, and added some players late that they liked on my favorite side of the ball. oh, and got a slow white guy/possession receiver. i love those guys.

i liked the qb pick, he was the 2nd-4th rated qb in the draft, with special skills, intangibles, and drive. and numbers. why not take a shot, mcd will find something to do with this kid, at minimum, to earn his keep. and the upside is just dreamy. one of the 4 qb’s may now have to go before the season opener, in jacksonville. i expect tebow wants to play in that one, and i think he will. the whole qb situation(mcd said scheme-change) got a lot more interesting, didn’t it? i’m more concerned with the o-line right now, with some injuries/rookies/backups, than the qb play for this coming season. and somehow, that feels good

But I wouldn’t be surprised if Orton plays 80% of the plays this year with Tebow coming in for short yardage situations….

Training camp should be a blast!

All have good points, but I see this as win-win-win for the team. First of all, while I couldn’t believe we’d pick TT – and wanted to see Orton and/or Quinn succeed (I love the idea of redemption) – I have to think Tebow was a good value at 25. Second, we really have no legitimate #2 QB. We all had high hopes for Simms last year; but he didn’t get it done on the field. Heck, with Clady impaired or out, that #2 might be even more important this year.

Now we have potential for real competition that will bring the best out in the four we have. Remember all the post-season optimism about KO dramatically improving in year #2? I’m not willing to throw that away, and I still expect KO to lead the team to a solid year. As for not sitting TT; all I can say is Phyllis and Aaron Rodgers were also pricey investments that sat. They seem to be doing OK. Meanwhile, I have confidence that the character of both Orton and Tebow will keep this situation positive for the team; and McD won’t allow some MSM or fan-induced QB "controversy". I can’t speak to Quinn or Tom B, but they were chosen by McDaniels, and I expect them to toe the line too.

I do feel a bit sorry for KO, but I don’t think he’ll wallow in it (unlike some other QBs we know). Oh, he might prefer to have a home here long-term, and in fact he still might. Tebow may only develop into a #2, or not at all. KO may have his break out year. I hope so – it’s good for him and us. Then either he stays with us, because no one can knock him off, or he gets paid in another city that needs him (and the team likely gets something in return).

My only concern with Tebow is that he sounds a bit like Vick in the style he brings to the field; and emphasizing the spread sounds a little like another try at the Run & Shoot. I was in Atlanta for both Vick and June Jones. They both made a ho-hum team into something relatively exciting and competitive, but not a team that would win Super Bowls. That said, I trust McD and his vision, and I have confidence in Tebow’s ability to learn and adapt. I can’t wait!

Great post and nice to read opinions from the staff at MHR . Nichols, Lynch, Johnson, Sayre, ejruiz, Kirk, Shrout, mdierk, Bolander, and Bena thanks for delivering the voice of the Bronco nation. The best, most imformative and interaction fan site in the country.

Now, Tim Tebow’s future as a Bronco I would say is off to a great start hmmm with 47 members of the media attending to sneak a peek during rookie mini camp. Fans are slowly learning what many of us already know about Tebow. I don’t anticipate too many major changes to Tebows techniques, interesting to read the comments of Floyd Little’s, who loves the Tebow pick and even suggested not change anything about him. Tebow handle the media after practice with ease. It’s great to see so many Bronco fans embracing Tebow and slowly becoming fans.

For the first time IMO we finally drafted a QB that can take Denver to the big party and win another SB. Tebow gives us the best chance to win the SB since Elway, just give him time to learn the system. After watching Tebow for most of 4-years he’s proven he can win and has the magic which creates fan excitement nationwide, a following that has grown over night in Bronco Country. He will have no problem with the locker room either because he will earn their respect over time.. The players will no doubt endorse Tebow because he’s a “football” player. A natural born leader who works hard to set the example to earn their respect. How long will it take know one really knows it took Elway his 4th and 5th SB’s to win the Lombardi Throphy. Can’t wait till TC.

With the talent at the posiiton, I’m confident that the man that earns the starting job will give a solid performance. I expect savvy and experience to trump athleticism for the short term.

I disliked the pick, not the man, on draft day. Now, I’m excited to watch it play out. The Lombardi trophy is the ultimate goal, but entertainment is necessary to hold my attention during that quest. I don’t think I’ll be disappointed.