[...]Preseason Week 3: Tuesday Practice Blog « DenverBroncos.com[...]…

I’ve previously said my piece in support of Tebow and will not repeat it here. I think the issue is dead at the moment. I think he would benefit by trying to lower his profile at the moment, although he is constantly hounded for interviews by everyone and is critiqued in the national media every day, so I’m not sure that’s possible. In fact, there may be some interviews he is required to do by the NFL and/or the team policy. But I think the less exposure he gets to the constant controversy that comes out of the interview questions and extreme scrutiny of every word he says and every snap he takes is probably not beneficial right now.

But in reference to what Mandiego said, I just disagree with the belief that “It doesn’t matter who our QB is as long as our defense [is good].” Recent history (past decade+) has shown that on the whole, the QB very much matters in terms of the teams that consistently win. A game manger type QB just is not enough these days.

Also, you are asking for a lot out of the rest of the team for the defense to get all opposing teams to go 3 and out and to have 200+ rushing yards a game. Yes, those unlikely stats might decrease the need for the top tier QB, but they seem really unlikely on a consistent basis. I’m not sure how many NFL teams have 200+ rushing yards per game consistently, but I know that 100+ rushing yards is considered pretty good for the teams with elite QB’s and opens up room for them to really dominate.

I also just can’t see many defenses realistically being able to consistently get Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Rothlisberger or Rivers (our division) to go 3 and out most of the time. In fact, the general consensus to beating Manning seems to have become to try to limit how many times he can even get on the field because it’s assumed he’s going to score at least a field goal on almost 90% + of his drives.

So the idea is to have a really great ball control offense and hope he gets 7-8 tries on offense per game and that 1 or 2 of them won’t produce points. The Saints did that with the surprise onside kick in the Super Bowl two years ago. That took away a single possession for Manning that he was supposed to start the second half with while in the lead and changed the whole game. That really put the Colts in a situation where they had to sore every drive. I think that is pretty hard to do for most teams. Of course, not every team has one of the elite QB’s, but I think 3 and out almost all the time is probably unlikely.

I will say that it is time to support Orton because he’s who the coaches have decided is best. Not supporting him is divisive to the team. However, I think it’s naïve to think that it doesn’t matter who the QB is in the NFL as it is played today. I don’t think teams can consistently rush for 200 yards a game or force 3 and outs on elite QB’s. I think that for the Broncos to have a real shot at being contenders, Orton will need to improve his game, especially when the chips are on the line. And maybe he will.

I think that it is more likely that Orton can improve some than to hope for such an extraordinarily dominating running game and such a strong defense. Even the Ravens and Steelers type teams can’t win based on defense and ball control alone. And the difference between the Steelers and Raven is very obvious – the Steelers have a playmaker at QB who finds ways to extend plays and win. And Rothlesberger over the years has shown that he can be a big time passing QB when the game is on the line. Orton will have to step up and do that.

I do think Orton has an outstanding receiving corps that can boost his play some and that can help put more points on the board. The team as a whole really needs balance in all phases of the game. I think it’s possible to get a strongly balanced team in all phases that is a contender, but I can’t agree that the QB position is not that important in today’s NFL.

We need to support the team as a whole. If Tebow is not going to be traded, then it’s up to him to do what is necessary to play QB in Fox’s system. I will make one comment about Tebow’s ad lib style, which has a long history of being very successful. It may be different, but it is not something teams cannot do. Florida did it with great success in an organized fashion. It’s not just chaos, just like the Colts running no huddle on ever play with Manning doing all his audibles is not chaotic to the team because that’s what they practice. So it’s possible to organize a scheme that can utilize Tebow’s playmaking skills. The offense as it stands now is not set up that way, except possibly in the red zone.

Ok. Let’s kick the Raiders in the opening game. And from my point of view, the Raiders really didn’t get a lot with Terrell Pryor. He was pretty much an underperforming college QB based on the hype and predictions of many who said he would be the next Vince Young. He never came close to being Vince Young. Young was incredibly dominant and college and has had trouble adapting to the pro game on a consistent basis. Pryor never came close to what Young did even in college. He is way behind in knowing what to do in the NFL.

Although he has speed, I don’t believe he has the overall dominating physical skills of someone like Young, let alone the knowledge of what to do as an NFL QB. And the idea of putting him at WR as some have said seems pretty far fetched. I can’t see him being able to make that kind of switch without an enormous amount of work. So long term, I don’t see that Terrell Pryor is going to be a big benefit for the Raiders in my opinion. That’s all the better for us.

Ok. Let’s see how the season goes and hope for the best from everyone. Orton is the man, so let’s support him. If he does well, that’s great. I hope that If there starts to be a semblance to what happed last year, the other QB’s will get their chance.

“I didn’t have any thoughts on it to be honest,” Orton said after practice Tuesday. “Just keep going, business as usual.”

Thanks since 1972, coming from one of our senior member it means a lot, and let me post this once again for you and everyone who wishes to participate:

About upcoming contests:

-The season record prediction contest entries will be taken starting Aug 29th through September 10th only.

-The first score prediction contest will start for the first regular season game with entries taken for that between Sept 5th and 11th only.

-And after that entries for the weekly score prediction contest will be taken only starting the day AFTER the previous game right up to the day BEFORE game day. Exception: bye week when you will have to wait until OCT 17th to place your entry for the following game, that way I get a week off too.

So please all mark your calendars, thanks.

PS, remember just fun and games between bloggers, no affiliation with the Bronco organization whatsoever, so no prizes, just looking for pride and avoiding shame, that’s how I roll.

No, the Washington game was two years ago! Remember when we still had Marshall because he had those two very long touchdown passes from Orton when he was wide open!

As for the Tebow controversy – PLEASE, let it die … whatever happens, happens – let’s just talk about what is …