Head Coach John Fox
On the outcome of the game
“I was very proud of them. I thought they accomplished a lot. I thought they came a long ways from a 1-4 start with a football team that had no offseason, no OTAs — really I was as proud of them as any team I’ve ever coached. The New England Patriots had a little bit to do with that. They are a good football team, obviously we played them twice in a month and we’re a work in progress and we’re obviously not up to par to compete with them at this point. Not taking anything away from them – obviously they’re well-coached, they had two weeks to prepare, they were fresh. I think Brady was about as sharp as I’ve seen him. He’s a terrific quarterback anyways, but I thought he had a great night. The fact that we lost a couple safeties didn’t help.”
On bringing pressure
We reached a point there where we didn’t have enough people to match up on their multiple wideout stuff so it limited us to some point as far as playing man coverage. But that’s neither here nor there. I think they were definitely the better team tonight.
On QB Tim Tebow
“Kind of like our football team. I was really proud of where he started and where he brought this team. We are a work in progress. We’ve got a lot of work to do. That hasn’t changed for some time and as I mentioned earlier — with the two matchups we had against the New England Patriots I think it’s evident we have work to do.”
On the offense
“Every year has it’s own personality and we’re officially starting our offseason now and we’ll do whatever it takes to get better. So whether that’s scheme, personnel, all the same things the teams the teams that didn’t make the playoffs are already ahead starting on.”
On the season as a whole
“As I told all the men in that locker room – coaches, players, trainers, equipment men is that I was very proud of them and they worked very hard and I appreciated all their efforts.”
Quarterback Tim Tebow
On changes from Patriots defense
“They had a great scheme. They came out and they played well and they executed well. You’ve got to give them a lot of credit.
I just want to thank my lord and savior Jesus Christ and thank my teammates for the effort they put forth not only tonight but the entire season. I also want to thank the Broncos fans for all their support this season and it definitely meant a lot.”
On the media attention he faces
“I haven’t worried to much about that. I think the cool part is the relationship with my teammates. The run was a lot of fun. A lot of ups and downs but we really try to block everything in the outside off and just enjoy the relationships with teammates and coaches and work and try to get better and I feel like we did that all year. We just didn’t put forth a good enough performance tonight . You’ve got to give them a lot of credit, that’s a really good team.”
On the season
“It had a lot of ups and downs. Overall it’s been a very special opportunity for me – something I’m very thankful for and very thankful I have the opportunity to build so many great relationships with teammates and coaches and to be able to overcome a lot of different forms of adversity with my teammates and to win some special games. There’s a lot of things that we’re proud of, it’s hard to see them all right now though.”
On the loss
“It still was a good day because before the game I got to spend time with Zach McCloud and make him smile. Overall when you get to do that it’s still a positive day and a good day. Sometimes it’s just hard to see but it depends what lens you’re looking through. I choose to look through those lenses and I got to make a kid’s day and anytime you do that it’s more important than winning a game, so I’m proud of that.”
On continuing to play hard
“Any time you’re getting beaten like that you just continue to fight. It doesn’t change who you are, how you play, how you go out there – you should be the same at all times. That’s what I wanted to show and it didn’t matter if it was the first play or the last play or if we were down by 42, I was going to be the same player and I was going to still give everything I have because that’s all I have to give. Every time I step on the field I’m going to give my whole heart regardless of the score.”
On his offseason goals
“Just work and improve — fundamentals, understanding defenses, my reads, footwork, everything. This will be a big offseason for me and I’m looking forward to it. Every single game including this one was an opportunity. Even coach McCoy and coach Gase on the sidelines at the end of the game, they were like ‘Just take it all in, learn from it and understand all these things that are going on so when we have an opportunity to get back here we can handle it differently.’ I try to learn from every experience good or bad.”
Cornerback Champ Bailey
On the season as a whole
“There was some good and some bad. Obviously we’re going home right now. Any time you have to wait another year to get a chance at the Super Bowl is disappointing. It is what it is. We just have to go home this offseason and check ourselves and hopefully get better.”
On whether the team is better than they were last year
“Absolutely, but that doesn’t make you good enough.”
On the Denver defense
“We can do some good things, but we have a lot of work to do. If we want to be elite, you have to play like it when you play teams like this. Especially when it’s win or go home.”
On Brady’s performance
“It doesn’t shock me. The thing is, you have to find a way to match that or exceed that. We didn’t do that.”
On the game plan
“We did (have a good game plan). We just didn’t execute it. You can’t put anything on the coaches. It’s all us. We’re out there. I know there are some calls they probably want to have back, but at the end of the day, it’s all us.”
Running back Willis McGahee
On the season as a whole
“We made it to the playoffs – nobody thought we were going to get this far. You always thought you could still win the game when you’re in the playoffs. This is one of those games…
On the frustration in ending the season this way
“It’s frustrating. It’s one of those games that you don’t want it to end like this. Unfortunately it did and you can’t do anything about it right now.”
On whether the year is a success in his mind
“I think we had a crazy season. It was a good season. You still don’t want to come into the playoffs and end the game like this. I think we could’ve done better. Those guys had a good game plan and they executed well.”
On his personal season
“I had a great year with the Broncos. We haven’t been in the playoffs since ’05. We got back in it, so at the end of the day, I think it was a plus. But, we didn’t win at the end.
“It was cool. I had fun. Everything happens for a reason. I’m just happy to be a part of it. Hopefully we can get back on track next year.”
Running back Lance Ball
On the way the season ended
“We showed a lot of spirit out there. It (is too bad) that we lost, but hold your heads up high, it was a great season.”
On the Broncos season
“It was a long road. It was up and down. We had to face a lot of adversity this year. Guys hung in there and we were able to have a successful season.”
Tight end Daniel Fells
On what he’ll remember most about the season
“I’ll remember the 1-4 start and then 8-8 and making the playoffs. I’ve been around for six years and this is my first year going to the playoffs. I’ll definitely look back and reflect on that.”
On whether the team made a big stride during the season
“Yes. Looking at it from where we started to where we ended – we did take some strides. But, we’re all competitors and we knew what we had here. We expected a lot more out of us. That’s why there’s frustration still.”
Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas
On what he’ll remember most about this season
“Everyone doubting us, saying we were going to win two or three games. We won eight games and made the playoffs. When we were down 1-4, we still had doubters. We just came out, worked every day and just got better as we went.”
On if the Broncos are back
“I feel like they are. We just have some small things to work on. Once we work on them, we’ll get better and better as the years go on.”
On the direction of the team
“I like (the way it’s headed). We came in this year, nobody gave us a chance. They were saying we were going to win two games, three games. We came out and was 8-8, won the first round of the playoffs and ended up losing tonight. I feel like we can build on this year and keep going from there.”
lol but he woulda brought more than goodwin brought
ya well you’ll get no argument there. goodwin will be gone next year for sure
I love the Night life I love my Bud Light,I’m pretty good at drinkin’ beer!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh hand me one more boys that’s what I’m here for…clisp..Ahhhh!
Did u hear about the the packers, they got discount doubled checked. lol.
Drink,be merry and enjoy the ride GodDamnit,and quit arguing and bickering…we went farther than people thought we would…we are the 2nd youngest team in the NFL…give us a shot and give us some time!!!!
We will get better with a good draft and a full off season..guantareed!!!
Sunday’s aren’t usually my buzz night,but tonight is an exception….MY BRONCO COUNTRY BRETHERN…BE GOOD TO EACH OTHER….AND WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR..THEN WE WILL TURN SOME FREAKING HEADS…WHEN WE FINISH 11-5!!!!!!!
IF WE GET HELP ON DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!
socal, they discount double CHOKED haha.
Just watched Sportscenter and they report NOT ONE BRONCO PLAYER feels definite Tebow will be 2012 starter……now if the guys that play with him every Sunday arent committed…..y r the fans so?
yea i knew they were going to be knocked out there first game. the ones who caught me off guard are the 49ers. did not think they were that good. i think they beat the giants. dont know about he ravens though.
get over it carnage. people are happy and looking foward to next season.
@carnage
None of them said that in “The Season Ending Locker Room Sounds” video posted on this site. Did you just make that up ?
I watched the Sportcenter also… Bailey said even his job was not safe…
Don’t read anything into that… it would be silly…
carnage…..you are a Tebow hater,always have been,always will be….why don’t you be a team player instead of a Tebow hater???
We know Tebow needs experience,but so does the rest of our young team…so why don’t you diss on our pathetic Defense ByGod???
i think carnage does it to argue. and because of that hes just a jerk. we know tt has to improve as well as many other things. and its all about D.
good night bronco country.
Goodnight socal!!!!!!!!
carnage..eat s#$% and die!!!!!!!!!!!
Our Broncos will kick Ass in 2012……Bank on it!!!!!!!
NICKELBACK……BOTTOMS UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!BYGOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Check it out!!!!!!!!!!!!
Turtle…nickelback……Gotta Get Me Some!!!!!!!!!!!!live action!!!!!!!
WHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bud Light as a Matter of fact By God!!!!!!!!!!!!
I want to add my voice of appreciation to Bay for the hard work invested in the bloggers, in the info that he supplies, and in the long hours he puts in read the blog and tabulating results. I thank Mrs. Bay as well, you are hear-by no longer a Broncos season widow / we give you your husband back. LOL
I’m sorry we couldn’t deliver on the backing into the SB – just was too big of a stretch this year.
God Bless you all!
My parting shot: Tebow is fine, and will continue to be just fine!!!
Daddy is out! See you in the fall!
‘reading the blog’
One Love Bronco Brothers!!!
B-R-O-N-C-O-S BRONCOS BRONCOS BRONCOS!!!!
ps… BFE, You are GREAT!!!! you make me LOL!!! Thanks man!
Well a disappointing end to a roller-coaster of a season. Not having made the playoffs in 6 years it was a pleasant delight to not only make the playoffs but win our first game as well.
Going forward we have a lot of work to do on both sides of the ball, and that starts with drafting and FA. We need serious help on both sides of the ball but mainly the defensive. Like I said before we need a premier DT, why, because it not only provides a means to stuff the run but it also helps the pass rush. When their o-line can man up one on one with our DT and not allow penetration well Brady is going to have a field day. We need a DT that requires a double team..someone like Suh. I also think for our defense at CB needs a lot of work. I’m tired of watching Goodman look like Nate Jones. I also think we need faster LBs.
On the Offense, we need RB and o-line depth, and play making TEs. I think we need to reevaluate the option scheme and hopefully Tebow can work on his passing abilities. The patriots didn’t do anything elaborate basically looked like cover 2 the entire time and Tebow can’t read the defenses. Gotta get better on that and his passing accuracy and decision making. I am excited to see what he can do with an offseason but if he doesn’t make improvements EFX might not keep him around.
Overall a good turnaround season though..4-12 to 8-8 division winner and one playoff win all starting from a 1-4 season…I’d say it turned out decent. Just wish we would’ve put up a better fight than a goldfish out of water.
I see carnage is insistent on laying it on thick … to each his own I suppose. Until I hear otherwise from the top, Broncos starting QB is Tim Tebow. There’s no point even debating it. Don’t get sucked in folks.
Go Broncos in 2012!
Later Days, TRB
Brian,
It was a good year … just really wanted the Broncos to play the Ravens. But we didn’t deserve it. I said when you look at San Fran, Pats and Saints and Packers as well, you see some of the most Dynamic TEs … they help a QB so much. So DT check, CB check, RB check, TE check and Maybe even receiver (but I doubt it we only run 2 receivers most of the time). At 25 it will be tough to get that impact DT or CB we wanted (DT Devon Still or CB Clairborne) But I still think a CB/DT should be drafted with the 25. Right now Walter has it at Lamar Miller, the shifty RB from Miami. I personally still believe in Moreno (even tho he is not as fast) when healthy. After spending 2 picks on TEs I doubt we do it again. We will probably give them time to develop. Its hard to gauge what will be drafted, we lost Ty Warren Kevin Vickerson Syquan so it depends on how they evaluate the CB and DT position. Should be fun.
TRB
TRB,
Any truth to their being a press conference today from Dove Valley about Tebow and next year? I heard that this morning on my local news station.
Mike McCoy might still be gone just so you guys are aware. He will be interviewing with the Dolphins today. Dunno if it was already covered but I just saw it. Like I said, if he leaves, won’t mind, maybe we can get a guy like Hue Jackson he would be very good, not unless we wanna promote from within like maybe Studesville. But a guy like Jackson would be my choice if McCoy goes. Im sure he wants to stick it to the Raiders. And if McCoy stays … consistency abounds … nothing wrong with that. TRB
Heard nothign about it Dan … but if there is I would be very interested in watching it. I feel we hear more supposed news about TT and this team from the outside than from the inside. Im sure the blogs woulda let us know. TRB
Lol….funny…I have always learned that a. People never want to hear the truth and b. When people run out of legitimate debate they make personal attacks.
When I say Tebow played well is that not being a “team” player. I have said, he is bad for the TEAM…long term. People quote “he is a winner” and “leader” and “no one works harder”. Come on be real. The defense was bad when Orton was playing QB…check the blogs I said it. BUT during the winning streak (which I called fool’s gold) they played lights out. I said we were winning because of defense and running the ball. Of course the defense is flawed, but that ADDED to the glaring weakness at QB put us in a quandry. People said we lost because Orton had too many 3 and outs. Tebow led the NFL in those. Wearing the D out. He turned the ball over at least once every game. Failed to score. All facts. Him being a great guy and winning in college and high school don’t make him a great qb. Brady didn’t win in college. Manning either. Brees. Rodgers. Not one National Championship. Vince Young did. Gino Toretta. Lots of them did. I refuse to allow admiration for one player cloud me from telling the truth. Yeah the defense gave up 42 but we scored 10. 10. So say what u like I evaluate it as I see it. I see players saying over and over that the QUARTERBACK has to learn how to THROW. WHAT! You same people dog Moreno for not being able to run. Why not jump on the give him some more time bus. I see people dog Rahim Moore. So what if he cannot tackle. He can run really fast. That’s the theory behind Tebow. Who cares what he has shown on the field….we have to accept him. Basically what Tebowites are saying is, we can hold every other posituon accountable and look to improve it but not QB. Wow
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/sportingscene/2012/01/letter-from-new-england.html
Nice article. Read all the way to end.
Later days, TRB
I just checked the website, and nothing there, but then it isn’t even 8 a.m. there yet either.
To each his own carnage. And actually Rahim Moore is quite slow if I recall … somewhere in the 4.5s much like Quinton Carter. And im all for giving them time, defend Moreno all the time. Better question i suppose is why u may be willing to give them time … but not Tebow. Hmmm … and don’t bother answering. It was rhetorical.
TRB
Seweatherman,
There’s a noon season wrap up presser and one of the Denver radio guys tweeted that he was going to ask about tebow as 2012 starter in no uncertain terms. So maybe that’s where the rumor is coming from.
Thanks Applejack. I just knew that the last word from Elway was that all players were going to be evaluated before any decisions had been made. General generic answer that he finally learned. Actually, his answer sounded well rehersed when he gave it last week.
That’s a good article TRB. Excellent read.
I think Tebow will be the starter going into training camp. I think we’ll draft a QB in the later rounds, pick up a college FA, and either resign Quinn or look at other veteran FA. Unlike the past two seasons, I believe it will be an open QB competition and Tebow had better show improvement or he might not be the starter for long.
Here is a Klis article from the Denver Post that is way to long to paste on here, but bears reading.
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_19750601?source=rss
I didn’t say give him time….though he is TRULY a rookie. I was all for upgrading at EVERY position. I said LAST YEAR Dawk was done. Last year. I have no qualms in upgrading for the TEAM. I catch heat because no matter what I say about anything else…my failure to blindly praise Tebow draws ridicule. I though haven’t lied on him yet. Someone claimed he is a better “leader” than 90 percent of NFL QB. Like that can be measured. What I do know is that he is the ONLY starting QB that is not a captain. And as far as leaders Romo…Brady…Manning…Manning…Brees…Cutler….Rivers….Schaub…Stafford….BIg Ben…Newton…all better leaders and that is 10. I think Dalton and Smith but those are debateable. I put Cam on there because look at the way those guys fight for him. Steve. Smith blasted the notion publicly of Tebow being better than Newton. STOOD UP for his leader. No one in Denver responded…Suggs took shots no one defended him…that’s leadership when your troops go down fighting for you. My opinion though. Feel free to dispute it factually….not with just I am a jerk.
Tebow gets kudos from teammates on leadership
Posted: 01/16/2012 01:00:00 AM MST
By Lindsay H. Jones and Tom Kensler
The Denver Post
Quarterback Tim Tebow didn’t make an appearance in the Broncos’ locker room Sunday while it was open to reporters, but as has been the case all year, Tebow was the focus of conversation.
Teammates said they were impressed with the way Tebow helped lead the team to the playoffs after a 1-4 start under former starter Kyle Orton.
“He did a lot of good things,” cornerback Champ Bailey said of Tebow. “The one thing about him is, you can’t expect him to regress. I know he’s going to work to get better and be the best he can. So I think the guy has a good shot to be a good quarterback in this league.”
Bailey said Saturday’s 45-10 loss to New England showed how much the Broncos as a whole have to improve. That includes Tebow, who Bailey said could improve “a little bit of everything.”
Asked what Tebow needs to work on, Bailey said: “That comes with experience. The more he plays, the better he’ll get. He can definitely be a better passer. But I think he knows that, and he’ll work at it. I expect nothing but the best from him next year.”
Added wide receiver Eric Decker: “I know he has all the tools and capacity to be a starting quarterback. … He wants to come in next year as an all-around leader of this team. I think he will be.”
Starters ponder free agency.Saturday’s playoff game marked the final game for Eddie Royal under a rookie contract he signed in 2008, when Denver drafted him in the second round. Royal said he wants to “just take a breath” before thinking about free agency, but he said he would love to remain a Bronco.
“I think everyone knows I love it here,” Royal said. “I love the franchise, the coaches, my teammates and the fans. You want to find family, teammates and an organization you can call home, and I think I found that here.”
Other players set to become free agents include starting middle linebacker Joe Mays, reserve linebackers Mario Haggan and Wesley Woodyard, reserve defensive end Jason Hunter and kicker Matt Prater, among others.
“I would love to come back,” Mays said. “I love it here. These last two seasons have been my best years in the league.”
Prater, who has been with the Broncos since late in the 2007 season, also said he’s eager to return.
“I wouldn’t want to play anywhere else but here. From top to bottom, there are great fans, I love the coaching staff, from the owner to the equipment guy, I have a relationship with everybody,” Prater said. “I hope to stay here. With this group of guys, with the chemistry we have as a team, I think we’re only going to get better.” Decker: I’ll be ready for minicamps.Decker, who in his second season led the Broncos in receptions (44) and touchdowns (eight) in the regular season, said he will be ready for spring minicamps.
Decker suffered a knee sprain (MCL) on the first play of the second quarter in the wild-card victory over Pittsburgh on a hit by Steelers linebacker James Harrison.
“For sure, I’ll be there,” Decker said Sunday when asked about minicamps. “It was a sprain. It wasn’t anything major. It’s a day-to-day type of thing. I’ll just take my time and make sure it heals quickly, and I’m ready to go.”
Decker said he does not view the hit by Harrison as being dirty.
“I think with the new rules (against helmet-to-helmet hits), guys are scared to hit high. A guy like Harrison, he’s been fined so much, he ought to go low,” Decker said. “As a receiver, I’d rather get hit high because my legs are my investment. At the same time, I’m not upset or mad because of what he did. I’m only upset because I didn’t get to play (against New England).” Footnotes.Broncos coach John Fox, executive vice president of football operations John Elway and general manager Brian Xanders are scheduled to address the media today to review the 2011 season and look ahead to 2012. … There was no sign of veteran safety Brian Dawkins during the open locker room Sunday, and questions remain about whether the neck injury that kept him out of the past three games will be career-ending.
Upbeat atmosphere for a season’s finish
Posted: 01/16/2012 01:00:00 AM MST
By Lindsay H. Jones
Denver Post
Eric Decker walked through the Broncos’ locker room at Dove Valley on Sunday afternoon, a white AFC West champions T-shirt and a black Sharpie marker in hand. One by one, Decker approached his teammates and asked for a signature.
Decker plans to have the shirt framed and keep it at his house as a permanent reminder of Denver’s wild 2011 season.
“We accomplished some good things,” said Decker, a second-year wide receiver.
Players arrived at Dove Valley less than 12 hours after their season ended in Foxborough, Mass., with an all-around disappointing performance in a 45-10 loss to New England in the divisional round of the playoffs.
The team plane didn’t land at Denver International Airport until after 4 a.m., and players were exhausted as they began the tedious process of cleaning out their lockers. Many players gathered together around a table on the offensive side of the locker room to watch the other AFC divisional playoff game between the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans before heading into a final full-squad meeting. Players also received their final physicals, and many received routine day-after-game medical treatment in the training room.
The sting of Saturday’s loss remained fresh, and players tried to balance the frustration of a disappointing end to the season with the excitement of the ride from 1-4 at the bye week to a divisional title at 8-8.
“People think we should walk around with a smile on our face because we made the playoffs and won a playoff game,” said cornerback Champ Bailey, a team captain. “But we came up short again. I don’t have a whole lot of time left (as a player). We didn’t win. So now we have to start all over again.
“That’s not to say everybody should have their heads down. There’s definitely a better feeling than last year because we know we’re headed in the right direction.”
The atmosphere at Dove Valley was dramatically different from locker-cleanout day at the end of 2010. Last year, players left the facility after a 4-12 season and facing a very uncertain future because of turnover on the coaching staff and the impending labor battle between the players and the league.
At least now, Broncos players feel like they have stability in the coaching staff and the front office, and the confidence that comes with winning nine games, including last week’s wild-card playoff victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“We had our ups and downs, more downs than ups. But we definitely overcame most of them,” linebacker Joe Mays said. “By us having those downs, we became a close-knit team. That’s one thing I love about this team — we never took no for an answer. We were going to try to outwork each person we played.”
Broncos make progress, but there’s plenty of work to do
Posted: 01/16/2012 01:00:00 AM MST
By Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
When all was said and done with the Broncos’ season in a frigid Gillette Stadium on Saturday night, there was talk of pride, progress and potential for what’s to come for the team.
A team that started 1-4 finished 1-4 and leveled off to 9-9 when it was out of games to play.
The Broncos led the league in drama, Web hits and talking points both in and out of their home market, but in the end it’s always about the football. And where things stand for the Broncos is better than their 4-12 stumble in 2010, but not yet where they want to be in seasons to come.
They were a playoff team this season, sliding in as their late-season losses coincided with somebody else’s. And to make the playoffs is indeed some progress over what’s gone on since 2005.
But if the New England Patriots are some kind of football tape measure, the Broncos find themselves with plenty of room to work on the growth chart.
“In the two matchups we had with the New England Patriots this year, it was pretty evident we have a lot of work to do,” said Broncos coach John Fox after he came in from the cold Saturday night.
In those two losses to the Patriots, roughly a month apart, the Broncos fell by a combined score of 86-33 and looked to be a challenger that had stepped into the ring before he was ready.
At least some personnel executives around the league now believe the Broncos team they evaluated since the start of December showed that its midseason surge was built on adjustments and plenty of out-of-the-box thinking on offense. The jury is still out on whether that’s built to last.
Their two main arguments for this are:
B The Broncos are too limited passing the ball to consistently recover against teams that don’t let them run.
B They can’t match up with diversified passing attacks on defense.
The Broncos made enough progress to get into the playoffs. Now it’s about fixing those two items to make enough progress to stay there.
Key matchup
Much like it was during the season that just concluded, any remark, partial sentence, phrase, clause or dangling participles that emerge from Fox, John Elway or both about quarterback Tim Tebow in the coming offseason will be sifted, sorted and discussed.
The Broncos’ symmetrical season, with the 1-4 start and the 1-4 finish, put Tebow’s development front and center. He is all things to all critics and supporters right now.
He is both motivated and limited, both enthralling and aggravating or both groundbreaking and an offensive anchor, depending on what side of the Tebow discussion you reside.
But the bottom line is this is easily the most important offseason of Tebow’s young career, and it is incumbent on him to do as much as possible when it comes to his vocation. There will be no labor situation to limit offseason workouts and other team activities.
It will be a time for Tebow to expand what he can do in the Broncos’ playbook. Over the last five games, the Broncos lost the ability to say “he just wins,” because opposing defenses caught up to Tebow’s youth and the Broncos didn’t just win.
People defended his game and the Broncos’ offense along with it. They, together, created the template others will use when September games begin.
And competition is coming — he won’t be the only quarterback under contract when training camp opens — so if the expectation from the coaches is that everybody on the team improves, then Tebow now finds himself at the top of the list.
Comparison shopping
The Raiders fired their coach, the Chiefs fired their coach and the Chargers very nearly fired their coach.
All of which is to say the Broncos are the model of stability in the AFC West at the moment. The Broncos also have a head start on the kind of roster makeover their division brethren will have to undertake, as well as the annual erosion exacted by age and the salary cap.
A strong draft and a firm decision about the direction of the offense long-term, and whether Tebow will conform to an NFL playbook or an NFL playbook will conform to him, could put the Broncos in position to win the West again.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
——————————————————————————–
Miles to go
The Broncos played six games this season against teams that made the playoffs. They were 2-4 in those games, including two losses to the Patriots, and were outscored 225-119 in those six games overall. They were outscored 180-66 in the four losses, with all four opponents topping 40 points.
Kiszla: Tim Tebow needs more schooling
Posted: 01/16/2012 01:00:00 AM MST
By Mark Kiszla
The Denver Post
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. —As the clock struck midnight in New England, the magic was gone. The Broncos’ season? Done. Quarterback Tim Tebow stood in a corner of the locker room and unwrapped a bandage, revealing nasty, red scratches on his arm.
God’s quarterback bleeds. And when he loses, Tebow falls with the thud of a 45-10 loss to the Patriots. Does Tebowmania have staying power? Or should Denver fold the tents on this circus?
“Sometimes you definitely don’t want it all. You’d like to just go to dinner, hang out with friends and just be a normal 24-year-old … so that makes it sometimes hard,” said Tebow, whose every prayer and turnover attracts eyeballs from across the country. “But I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Tebow wants to change the world, one visit at a time to children in a hospital. And you know what? I don’t doubt this remarkable young man will make a lasting impact far beyond football.
Question is: Is he the quarterback who can lead the Broncos to the Super Bowl?
Watching Tebow create fourth-quarter miracles from thin, mile-high air, I’ve learned never to say never with No. 15.
But, to tell the truth, NFL rules are stacked against Tebow ever winning a championship at the pro level. He is an action hero built for football in the 1960s, not a video-game generation for which 40 points often aren’t enough to keep up with the arms race won by deadly accurate quarterbacks such as Tom Brady.
After Tebow replaced Kyle Orton under center in Denver, the Broncos fashioned an 8-5 record from the ashes of a dismal start. With a never-grow-old spirit, Tebow made cheering for the Broncos seem as fresh as 1977.
It would be downright foolish, however, to assume this overachieving team is closer to a 12-4 record next season than a slip back to 6-10.
The hearts of Tebow fanatics pump with anticipation of what’s next. What the Broncos must do next, however, is a far more daunting task.
“This was my first time in the playoffs. And it ain’t as easy as some people think,” said Demaryius Thomas, offering careful consideration when I asked him the lesson learned from a 35-point loss to New England. “To get to the playoffs and win a game? That’s something to be proud about.
“Getting to the playoffs is hard. But winning in the playoffs is even harder.”
Because Tebow represents everything many fans wish was right about sports, the quarterback’s most zealous supporters refuse to see his flaws, finding it easier to label anybody who points out the shortcomings as a hater. Tebow is such a hot-button issue, people on both sides of the debate often shout so loudly that nobody can hear a darn thing.
Like him or loathe him, Tebow is an undeniable force of social change. But quarterback is all about scoreboard, baby.
In five defeats with Tebow at the controls, Denver scored seven touchdowns and lost by an average of 23.6 points.
In the Total QB Rating that ESPN spent great time and effort to develop, Tebow finished the regular season ranked 32nd out of 34 qualifying quarterbacks, just ahead of Indianapolis’ Curtis Painter.
Here are the numbers Tebow lovers really don’t want you to know. In five games to start the season, Orton was vilified after the team went 1-4 and averaged 21 points per game, as he completed 58.7 percent of his passes, with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions. In Denver’s final five games, Tebow also went 1-4 and averaged 16 points per game, yet he is supposed to be a hero for completing 40.8 percent of his passes with three touchdowns and four interceptions?
Whether in the draft or free agency, the Broncos need to find another cornerback and a defensive tackle. Does franchise owner Pat Bowlen still want to win as badly as his ticket-buyers do?
Tebow has earned the right to be the No. 1 quarterback any challenger would have to bump off the top rung of the depth chart.
But, one way or another, Broncos executive John Elway should bring in a serious challenger to Tebow, whether it’s drafting 28-year-old Brandon Weeden of Oklahoma State or finding a way to maneuver for USC quarterback Matt Barkley in 2013.
Veteran linebacker Mario Haggan knows the NFL schedule will be tilted against the Broncos in the months ahead, because a league built on parity makes it hard to repeat the feeling of winning a division title.
“Everybody had that good feeling. You want the feeling back. You know how hard you had to work to get here. Well, you’ve got to work twice as hard to get back,” Haggan said.
“That’s the fun part of competing. The better you get, the more bullets get shot at you.”
The intangibles of Tebow are not a mystery to anyone who believes true leadership is as rare as Elway’s ability to hit an open receiver on the dark side of the moon.
But the way Tebow winds up from the hip contributed to a costly fumble against the Patriots. Rather than survey the entire field, he appears to be a man peering into the tunnel for a train. While his feet are full of imagination, his instinct for throwing a pass to open space before a receiver breaks is almost nonexistent.
That’s not hating on Tebow. That’s a list of flaws Tebow must correct.
If he fails to do so, Tebow still will win friends and convert souls around the world.
But the Broncos won’t win a Super Bowl with Tebow as their quarterback.
carnagebronc, there are always going to be the people who think you should blindly follow you team and not question. You just have to let those people go. Don’t let them get to you. No matter what you do no matter what you say there are always people who aren’t happy or who aren’t willing to relinquish that their stance isn’t the correct one. Just like everything there are always the extremists.
Wow….interesting reads
Look at those Giants… 49ers too… Looks like a great defense really does trump a great offense – even with an elite QB…
I hear you guys about a DT and CB, but at #25 I think our best opportunity will be ILB Dont’a Hightower.. ILB’s are rarely taken in the top half of the draft, and we should have the pick of the litter when we pick.. I also think it’s the position that we are weakest at on D, and it’s also the position we were the healthiest on D, so it’s hard to make excuses there.. Give me that big, thick kid Hightower, who’s got a motor!
Giants and 49ers both scored quite a bit….and have dynamic offenses as well. Both teams especially SF were able to play in shootouts. The linebacker theory is interesting but the proper DT can make our marginal ILB better
Trust me, I’ll be thrilled if we if we go DT round one.. I’ve said here before, it’s been years since we’ve taken a DT anywhere in the draft, and it represents the most neglected position in the draft in our recent history, hands down.. The only one who will be available is Dontari Poe, 5th ranked DT out of Memphis. I don’t know anything about the kid, but I like Hightower, b/c he’s the 2nd ranked ILB, and he looks like a play maker!