2010 Broncos Team Preview: The Quarterbacks

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 It was nice to see Brady Quinn show some improvement over his nervous debut last week. He has the prototypical QB frame and zip on his ball, if he can just stay calm and keep his incredibly tight spiral on an accurate path. We all remember Orton’s ankle and thumb issues of last season; and not having a viable backup quarterback single-handedly cost us a victory on the road at Washington. Although not ready to be the guy, Quinn is the type of quarterback you won’t be ashamed to throw onto the field in the event of another mishap with Kyle Orton, and is a crucial addition to the Denver roster.

As for Orton, has looked like a monumental fantasy football sleeper. Orton isn’t even being drafted in most standard 10 team leagues. This is a huge mistake. Orton has had over a full year to learn and digest Josh McDaniels’ complex offensive system, and let’s not forget he’s got a good head on his shoulders, having graduated from Purdue. Orton possesses the one vital skill you want to see in your starting quarterback; the ability to lead his team into hostile environments and not wilt under the pressure. When I look at Orton, I see a quarterback that has 4,000 yard and near 30 TD potential: numbers even elusive to the amazing John Elway. I’m not disrespecting Elway with the comparison, Orton just plays in an offense in which 26 year old, first time starter, Matt Cassel produced 3,700 yards and 21 TD’s. Most importantly, Orton isn’t going to kill you with many multiple interception games, like previous starter Jay Cutler had become famous for. Don’t spend a top pick on a QB this year. Shore up your RB and WR depth and wait for Orton to fall into your lap.

Though he hasn’t gotten off to the best of starts in the NFL injury-wise, getting nicked up has not been a concern for 245-pound phenom Tim Tebow. Tebow has been a symbol of grit and toughness throughout his stellar football career. Tebow is Mike Alstott, not afraid to hit a hole or a defender, but with an arm that Champ Bailey has called ‘great’.. He is Ray Lewis, with just as big of a heart, but two inches taller. He once finished a high school game, a victory over an in-state rival, with a broken leg. 

Tebow showed much promise prior to his injury last week, albeit against 3^rd and 4^th stringers, but he has the luxury of having time to develop and mature into the starting NFL caliber QB that he will one day be. What most fans fail to recognize that Tebow left Nease High School in Florida with the state career TD pass record of 95; and left the Florida Gators as a 3-year starter with 15 career INTs in nearly 1,000 pass attempts. 

It is my educated belief that Tebow will see the field more than any non-starting rookie QB in NFL history. For the first few years of his career, Tebow was drafted primarily as a weapon, not a quarterback. Being a youth football coach myself, it’s tough to truly explain the endless possibilities that Tebow will bring to the field. When you have a guy with good speed and awareness, a great attitude, who can accurately sling the ball around the field, you have a nearly unstoppable force that can’t be game-planned against. The Broncos short yardage offense will be vastly improved from the near bottom of the league stats it posted last year. Once defenses creep up to stuff the Wild Horses running game, McDaniels will surprise them with a pass. Look for Tebow to get involved on 10-15 snaps per game by midseason, and bring back the Mile High Salute an endzone near you.

Despite his immediate contributions to Broncos’ offense, lockerroom, and jersey sales revenue, don’t overreact and draft Tim Tebow in your fantasy league this year.