Tebow Leads the Broncos in Rushing Average Through First 3 Pre-season Games

Tim Tebow (6.71 avg, 7 rushes, 47 yards, 19 long)
Knowshon Moreno (4.9 avg, 20 rushes, 98 yards, 14 long)
Jeremiah Johnson (4.5 avg, 12 rushes, 54 yards, 13 long)
Lance Ball (3.43 avg, 21 rushes, 72 yards, 12 long)
Brandon Minor (2.92 avg, 12 rushes, 35 yards, 11 long)

9 months ago DavidinLA 18 comments 0 recs |

Comments

Willis McGahee came in 6th in rushing average: (2.82 avg, 17 rushes, 48 yards, 12 long)

by DavidinLA on Sep 1, 2011 12:41 PM MDT reply actions

Tim Tebow may not be the starting quarterback for awhile, but the coaches certainly must have taken note that his rushes are leading the team. With numbers like these Tebow should still make plenty of appearances during the season in his special packages.

by DavidinLA on Sep 1, 2011 12:43 PM MDT reply actions

I like it

But this doesn’t/shouldn’t have an impact for special packages. It’s easier for Tebow to find open space to run when the opposition is defending the pass. There’s a difference I think between his designed run plays and his scrambling ability.

Follow me on Twitter: @SayreBedinger

by Sayre Bedinger on Sep 1, 2011 1:13 PM MDT reply actions

Rushing average can be a very misleading stat

So far this preseason, I’ve been most impressed with McGahee’s runs which shows the problem with just looking at running average. He’s typically been brought in during the short yardage situations we’ve had so many problems with in the recent past. It seems even when he’s hit in the backfield, he’s able to bend, twist and power his way to positive yardage. Those 2.82 yards per carry are much more impressive to me than Tebow’s. And I’m not trying to take anything away from Tebow. I really do want him to see a lot of playing time this year. But I want him to play as a quarterback and not just a wildhorse gimmick QB.

None of us go out and play for stats. You just do whatever you can to help the team out. -- Eddie Royal

by Poster_Formerly_Known_As_Royal_Fan on Sep 1, 2011 1:24 PM MDT reply actions

Tebow has also ...

thrown more incomplete passes than the next four rushers and has thrown more interceptions which is my way of saying that having the best rushing average in three preseason games means exactly nothing.

by Hank44 on Sep 1, 2011 1:27 PM MDT reply actions

The focus of the Fan Shot is purposely focused on rushing. Tebow’s results stack up nicely with the running backs. I understand that Tebow’s rushing from the quarterback position is very different than that of a true running back. However, his results in rushing have a very material impact on the team. As long as defenses have to respect his ability to throw, which will happen as long as his packages having him throwing close to half of the time (for the sake of argument, say his completion percentage is below average), his rushing yards will elongate the Broncos drives and short yardage/red-zone success.

My personal opinion is that if Tebow starts 0 games, but has 5 – 10 touchdowns (combined rushing and throwing), that he will be a major contributor to the team.

by DavidinLA on Sep 1, 2011 1:43 PM MDT up reply actions