Thread: Orton Still at Head of Broncos QB Depth Chart

Thought you'd get a kick out of this Ric.


NFL scout compares Tebow to Barkley ... the golfer

• 
• By Albert Breer NFL.com
• NFL Network Reporter
• Published: Aug. 12, 2011 at 04:40 p.m.
• Updated: Aug. 12, 2011 at 04:53 p.m.
• Liked: #{recommendations_count} | Comments: #{comments_count}

• 
• By Albert Breer NFL.com

More Columns >

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Let's get this out of the way first: I have nothing against Tim Tebow. He's a nice kid, has impeccable football character, and is one of the greatest college players of this generation.I also don't quite understand why his supporters act as if criticizing his play is the rough equivalent to accusing him of going on a five-state killing spree.

On Thursday night, as I worked the sidelines for NFL Network, I sent out a simple tweet, following Tebow's first series, coming on the Broncos' second possession: "No way to sugarcoat it -- Tim Tebow looked totally lost on that series." The reaction was swift, hard-hitting and didn't end for another four or five hours.

Unlock HQ Video HQ video delivered by Akamai


And that's OK. But if you fall into the group pledging blind loyalty to the Broncos' second-year celebrity quarterback, you may want to stop reading now. Because if you talk to the football people who were paid to watch Thursday night's game with a discerning eye, the picture is pretty different than what his final numbers (6-of-7, 91 yards) may have painted.

One scout, charged with studying the Cowboys-Broncos game, texted that Tebow "looked like a Number 3." He went on to compare Tebow to Charles Barkley. Not Barkley the basketball player. Barkley the golfer. The scout explained, "[Noted golf teacher] Hank Haney couldn't help Chuck's swing. Hell, Johnny U couldn't help Tebow's throwing motion." Ouch.

Obviously, Tebow's performance wasn't all bad. But the stats do deceive.
"Hank Haney couldn't help Chuck's swing. Hell, Johnny U couldn't help Tebow's throwing motion."

--Unnamed NFL scout

"He did have a lot of open guys on his big completions against the 2s and 3s," said another scout who studied his performance against the Cowboys. "You can't deny his ability to make plays with his athleticism and football grit. Essentially he is a stronger version of Vince Young. Young's success as a starter was tied more to a strong running game that allowed him to make throws against more 8-man boxes.

"Tebow needs to be surrounded by strong running game and bigger receivers that can make contested catches, because of his lack of accuracy and anticipation, to have chance of any consistent success in my opinion. His best fit is on a team with a wildcat (coach) that takes advantage of his unique skill set. His SEC success leads me to believe the guy can compete on an NFL level, but more in a (specialized) role than as a starting QB."

He drove the team 66 yards for a field goal on his second possession. On another occasion, he had a touchdown run nullified, though he had an unsightly pick waved off by a flag, as well. In doing all this, he proved, again, he could make plays on his feet, could push the ball downfield (the 43-yarder to Matt Willis showing that) and is dangerous in the open field.

But the shortcomings were there, too. On one third-and-11 throw, he locked on Willis, staring him intensely. He was slow to set up and get rid of the ball -- part and parcel to that long release -- and was too quick to tuck and run. Our own Michael Lombardi recently wrote the leaders in the Denver organization don't view Tebow as the future. To put it bluntly, it's not hard to see why.


Now, that's not saying Tebow can't be successful. His game isn't a clinic on quarterbacking fundamentals, but it may not have to be. Ben Roethlisberger hardly makes it look pretty, but he finds a way. Maybe Tebow will to. History, though, says you shouldn't count on it. The consensus I got from scouts is that Brady Quinn actually had a better night, end-to-end, than Tebow did.

One thing's for sure -- if Tebow does fail, it won't be for lack of effort or determination. The fact remains he has a long way to go to get there, and there's no guarantee he'll make it. Remember, Tommie Frazier, Charlie Ward and Scott Frost were championship college quarterbacks too.

Originally Posted by Riczaj01

I didn't get to see the game, or listen to radio. His stat's looked okay, but I'm guessing against the 2nd and 3rd stringers for Dallas. How did the "experts" think he looked.

Looked like KO was pretty predestrian. Although neither scored so all the stats compiling in the world(isn't that the tebow express's problem w/KO) doesn't get you in the endzone.

As usual Tebow made his bones on broken plays and scrambles so his "productivity" didn't match his statistical production. It's pretty much like "Kiz" wrote in the Denver Post. You need to let Tebow be Tebow. Unless they're sold on him and willing to spend two years turning him into a pocket passer (and he still won't be that good at it) they should just let him do what he does best and that's improvise.

Orton was his typical "practice like Brady", "play like Griese" self against the Dallas starters. You're right, he was pretty pedestrian and still struggles in the red zone which is something that Tebow actually does well. Quinn had the best productivity of the bunch and looked pretty good running the show. (will wonders never cease)

Tebow may have struggled in the red zone Thursday night but last year that was his strong point and Orton's weak point. Tebow's ability to scramble and make something happen with his legs makes him far more dangerous in the last 20 yards then it does in the first 80. There was even talk of using him as a red zone QB this year but I can't see Fox doing that.

Tebow has gone back to his old pass delivery. I guess a leopard never loses its spots, does it?

It'll be pretty hard to unseat Orton after this outing. Kyle shines is this win over the Bills.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Kyle Orton impressive in Broncos' preseason win over Bills

By Mike Klis
The Denver Post
Posted: 08/20/2011 04:41:17 PM MDT
Updated: 08/21/2011 01:02:37 PM MDT

If anybody has the Miami Dolphins' address, send it to the Broncos. They need to send a thank-you note for a trade they didn't make.

With apologies to Tim Tebow and Brady Quinn​ — the two quarterbacks who are more popular and have more endorsement deals — the other guy is the reason the Broncos have hope for a significant turnaround this season.The other guy is the same ol' guy. Kyle Orton​.

In a splendid performance Saturday night, Orton led his first-team offense on two long first-half touchdown drives, and the Broncos dominated the Buffalo Bills 24-10 in a preseason game at the freshly renamed Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
"Well, I don't have any endorsements, so it's not hard to have
Denver Broncos Buffalo Bills August 20, 2011 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Denver Post / John Leyba (THE DENVER POST | JOHN LEYBA)

more than me," Orton said. "That's all right. I've got the respect of my teammates, and that's all I'm looking for."

Orton not only completed 10-of-13 passes while posting a 135.1 passer rating, he was better than that. One of his incompletions was a drop, and one of his completions, a 22-yard strike to Brandon Lloyd on third-and-14, didn't count because rookie offensive tackle Orlando Franklin was penalized.

Orton's night also included clutch third-down completions and efficient passing in and around the red zone, two areas where improvement was needed if he is to move from top-15 NFL quarterback to the top 10.

Adding run balance, Orton said, will help his passing in situations where it matters most.
"Last year we had third-and-3 and we were getting the toughest looks to pass into in the league," Orton said. "Run the ball on third down and run the ball in the red zone — you add that to the offense we had last year and we can have a top-five offense."
Orton led the Broncos (1-1) on a long drive against the Bills (0-2) that reached first-and-goal at the 1. Denver's offense finished by having running back Willis McGahee slam his way in.

On his next drive, Orton operated with remarkable precision. He connected with tight end Daniel Fells for 21 yards, Lloyd for 8 and Lloyd again for 15. Every pass looked easy. The drive ended with Orton dumping a pass in the flat to a surprisingly wide-open McGahee, who sprinted to his second touchdown.

McGahee has a chance to become the Broncos' best finisher since Clinton Portis in 2003. And Orton has a chance to post his fifth consecutive career year in his fifth season as an NFL starter. Not bad for a guy who is arguably the third-most popular quarterback on his team and was nearly traded to the Dolphins on July 26 before the deal fell through.

"Every year I have better talent around me," Orton said. "I'm not going to lie, that's the most important part about
Buffalo's Johnny White finds out the hard way that Denver's defense meant business in Saturday's preseason game. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post )

playing quarterback, is having good players around you." While almost all the quarterback conversation Saturday focused on how Quinn had replaced Tebow as the No. 2 quarterback for the preseason game against the Bills, it was Orton who reminded fans, critics and impartial observers that he is the Broncos' undisputed No. 1 QB. Quinn played well in his audition for the No. 2 job, a move up the depth chart he didn't learn for sure until Friday night.

"I tried not to look too much into it," Quinn said. "All you focus on is the reps you get, whenever you're in there getting them. You start reading into other stuff and the next thing you know the carpet gets pulled out from under you." He threw a perfect 24-yard
Post Poll - Broncos Backup II
A Denver Post poll on Friday asked who should be the Broncos' No. 2 QB. After more than 6,200 votes were cast, Tim Tebow (52.9 percent) beat out Brady Quinn (47.1). After Saturday's preseason performance against Buffalo, NOW who do you think should be Denver's No. 2? Tim Tebow He's got the most potential. Brady Quinn He's a better NFL-style QB. Undecided I have to see more before I choose.

slant to Britt Davis for a touchdown, then completed a 22-yard pass to Eric Decker that set up a field goal, and nearly finished off an impressive two-minute drive that reached the Buffalo 3-yard-line with seven seconds remaining in the first half. A tipped pass was intercepted.

By the time Tebow got his chance with less than 11 minutes remaining in the game, the Broncos seemed to have all the quarterbacks a team needs. It appears Orton is all they need. To be sure, the Broncos, who are coming off a 4-12 season, still have issues.
It just doesn't seem like quarterback is one of them.

Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com