The Broncos’ passing camp is underway. Clearly, there is much attention on the Broncos’ four quarterbacks: Kyle Orton, Brady Quinn, Tom Brandstater and Tim Tebow.
Shortly after the NFL draft, 850 KOA had the chance to talk with Tebow (TT) one two occasions. Here is part two of our interview.
850 KOA: You’ve obviously been blessed with great skills. But it’s apparent you have a broader perspective on things. Where does that come from?
TT: It’s having that relationship with Jesus Christ and knowing that football is just a game. It’s passionate, I love it. I care about it, I want to be the best I can be at football. But at the end of the day, it’s just a game. There are things that are more important. Football gives me a platform. It gives me an opportunity to walk into a hospital and make a kid smile. It gives me the opportunity to talk at a youth ranch and inspire young boys. It gives me an opportunity to talk to a team and tell them you can go reach your dreams if you believe in yourself and outwork your opponent. That’s what I believe football gives me. It gives me the opportunity to share my faith and that’s what I love about it. I believe it’s an obligation to make a difference in people’s lives because you are blessed with a platform. If you go out there and win games and try to win championships, at the end of the day, what does your life really mean? You won some games. But those trophies, they’re going to rust and they’re not going to mean much one day. If you make a difference in people’s lives, that’s going to make an impact and that’s going to last forever.
850 KOA: You find out you’re one of the first picks, you come to Denver, you meet the press, you talk to the coach and you fly home. How is your life right now and what exactly does it entail?
TT: My life is wonderful. I am truly blessed. I had a great time flying to Denver and getting to know everybody. Right now, it’s pretty much just learning the offense. As we speak I have film in front of me and I’m just trying to understand this Bronco offense.
850 KOA: Despite the fact you are in Florida, you’re still trying to learn everything and getting ready to be a Denver Bronco?
TT: I’m trying to learn, I’m trying to get better every day. For me, the great thing about it is it’s not work. It’s something I love to do and so even if I didn’t get paid for it and it was something I could go do for fun I would do it. I do it with all my heart.
850 KOA: After the Broncos drafted you, Coach McDaniels was quick to point out that he stole some of the Florida offense that you ran in college under Coach Urban Meyer. Are there any similarities you can see between the Broncos’ offense and what you ran at Florida?
TT: Yes, there are some similarities with some of our reads, some of our progressions, a lot of our empty package, a lot of our five-wide. The verbage is different. For me, for a lot of the empty (formations), it’s just translating the verbage. I can pick up on it pretty quick because we did a lot of similar things. That package is pretty easy to pick up and learn. A lot of the other stuff is a little bit different. It’s things that have evolved with Coach McDaniels. But overall it’s a great offense. I’m excited about learning it. I’m excited about being in it and understanding it so it becomes second nature for me.
850 KOA: Now matter how good a player was in college, he must, in a sense, start over when he moves on to the NFL. What will your approach be at mini-camps and training camp?
TT: There are two important ingredients you need to have. Number one, you need to be humble. You have to know that you don’t know it all. You have to understand that there are a lot of people that have been doing this for a while and those people can teach you a lot. And then you have to come in with the drive, with the hunger to work hard and get better and soak up knowledge and talk to the other guys and learn and try to improve every day. For the rookies coming in, our number one goal needs to be to do those things and earn respect from the older guys, not with our words but our actions.
850 KOA: When you were playing in Coach Meyer’s offense at Florida, how much of that offense was called in the huddle as opposed to how much did you have at the line of scrimmage to change a play?
TT: We’d call something in the huddle and we’d go up to the line and have a lot of things, run-run checks, run-pass checks, pass-pass checks. We’d go up there (to the line) with three or four different calls where if they give us this look, we’re going to check to this. If they give us this look, we’re going to check to this. Our philosophy at Florida was we want to be in the best possible play in the best possible scenario. We didn’t want to lock ourselves down to just being in one play. Coach (Meyer) gave me the ability to have freedom at the line of scrimmage to be able to audible. Even if we know we want to run the ball, we still have audibles to three or four different runs depending on the (defensive) looks. We always went up there with multiple options but a lot of it was game plan. You’d say, versus this look, we’re going to run “x,” versus this look, we’re going to run “z” and we’d always have those different looks we would be able to change it to. I think that gave us a lot more success at Florida because we had the ability to try to get into a better play.
As always, feel free to post thoughts you might have about Tebow or the Broncos’ quarterbacks. I appreciate your reading.
Sincerely,
Mike
Tags: Brady Quinn, Head Coach Josh McDaniels, Kyle Orton, Tim Tebow, Tom Brandstater
brian, you’re soo funny!! thanks for the laugh..ha
I think Gaffeny is somewhat underrated. He’s got descent size and and good speed. He did do pretty well week 17 last season. I think he’s probably our best option at #1.
baylin.. I think devil_27 felt bad because you forgot about him and didn’t list him on your post lol.. thanks for not forgetting about me LOL ;D..
cmon devil going mad about that, just read the post.. nothing bad about others.. even i read this almost everytime i can, but i don’t post too much.. we all got things to do in real life.. this is a fun way to interact with some people that love the broncos the way you do.. peace lol..
Thanks broncomex, I really was not downtalking about anybody, glad you could see that.
Anyway, what’s your WR roster order, florio? I showed you mine, now show me yours, LOL.
No hay problema
..
So now, what’s the talk about lol?
WR starting order, I just posted mine near the bottom of the previous page.
#1 Royal
#2 Thomas
#3 Gaffney
#4 Stokley
#5 Decker
#6 McKinley
I know you didn’t ask me but I wanted to answer because I am regular….lol
#1 Thomas
#2 Royal
#3 Gaffney
#4 Stockley
#5 McKinley
#6 Decker
LOL!! I’m not that regular but i answered too haha..
OC, you are thinking it almost like you do Tebow, because Thomas is about the equivalent in non NFL ready as Tebow is yet you have him at #2 ahead of Decker who most say is totally ready to contribute. Don’t know if you are aware of all that, if not you will find it very interesting at what different level of readiness Thomas and Decker are if you research the matter, like night and day. That’s what their college career shows anyway.
oops.. Stokley..
I think Thomas steps up right away..
I personally think Thomas spends his first year mostly learning everything, I know he is our first pick but he is by all accounts a project, a great one at that may I add, that’s why McD couldn’t pass him up, but he won’t be a big factor this year in my opinion. Hope you guys prove me wrong.
So, both you guys leave Lloyd out, I think he is a very sure handed receiver who is not very old and can still contribute like he did last year.
Actually he was inactive most of the year but did very well when he got called upon, here is what Lloyd did last year:
2009: Listed as inactive in Games 1-14… Made his Broncos debut at Phi. (12/27) and recorded four catches for 22 yards… Started vs. K.C. (1/3) and totaled four receptions for 95 yards (23.8 avg.).
I see him as a next andre johnson.. big physical receiver, hard to cover.. don’t you think?
I really like Decker to be on the field alot this year… he seems more NFL ready than Thomas even though Thomas has a higher ceiling of potential. It’s hard to do a depth chart of wideouts because although Royal is probably our best returning wideout… he is more suited for the slot and if we have a 1 wideout set I see Gaffeny being the guy. So instead of ranking a depth chart persay, I’m going to rank based on the number of catches instead.
1. Royal
2. Gaffney
3. Decker
4. Thomas
5. Stokely
6. McKinley/Llyod (whichever one doesn’t get cut)
My bad baylin didn’t mean to repeat what you said about Decker and Thomas (with the NFL ready remark). I completely agree though.
HOF, your order looks a little more like mine than the others, other than you drop Stockley which could very easily happen this year, he is getting near the end of a great career, but like you I also see Decker playing a bigger role this year than Thomas.
By drop, I meant you have Stockley fifth, I have him third, probably not realistic though, you may be closer to how it will come down.
Yea Stokely will still be effective but only in small doses in my eyes. i.e. those 3rd and short situations that he was successful in last season and during the Cutler era.
I hope Decker doesn’t turn out like Brian Robiskie in Cleveland (who was thought to be the best route runner and NFL ready from day 1). He has a little more speed and physicality than Robiskie which hopefully will set him apart from Robiskie and his struggles last year.
#1 Thomas
#2 Royal
#3 Gaffney
#4 Decker
#5 Stokley
#6 Llyod
#1 for Thomas seems to be the majority consensus for the fans, it makes sense since he is our #1 pick, but I don’t see it that way, I see more an Ayers type of first round pick, not quite ready for the big league in his first year yet tremendous upside for the long run.
Sorry I was a little irregular by not responding quickly. Tee hee
1 Thomas
2 Gaffney
3 Royal (the wes welker slot)
4 Decker
5 Stokes
6 McKinley
I know Gaffney can play.. but McD drafted Thomas to replace the #1 receiver spot left by Marshall’s departure.. we dont know whether he plays this year or not xD..
1 Gaffney
2 Royal
3 Decker
4 Stokley
5 Thomas
6 Loyd
rebel, HOF and I are somehow seeing eye to eye, to where just about everyone else is basing their WR corp for this year on Thomas leading the pack, I certainly hope that can be the case, it would just mean it’s happening sooner than I thought it possible is all.
1 Gaffney
2 Royal
3 Thomas
4 Decker
5 Stokley
6 Lloyd / McKinley
This years replacements must still develop, but they will have playing time. I guess no matter the depth order, it will depend in who’s the QB in that game (for rapport. ie. last year in preseason Brandstater and Lloyd worked well together) and which is the situation (in 3rd we might see a lot of Stokes, no matter he’s #5)
SIGN DOOM!
I am surprised “coach” florio thinks Thomas is ready though.
Really? How can he? I guess even Thomas doesn’t know that… with his foot and all.
SIGN DOOM!
The main thing we all seem to agree on, Willis will not make it, not a single mention of him here, poor guy, just imagine how he must feel with all the competition, it’s not all glamorous to be an aspiring NFL player, it seems as tough as anything for guys like him.
It doesn’t matter where DMT is ranked. As long as he is on the field. His deep threat ability will pull safeties back, hence leaving space open for our great rout running WR’s in royal, gaffney, decker and stokley.
Besides, did it matter where marshall was on the depth chart last year? No orton just threw to him any way. Lol.
There is the coaches break down bay. Lol
Good point whitebronco:
Thomas, the Broncos’ top overall draft pick, broke his left foot doing drills just before the NFL combine. He said he should be able to run routes in two weeks when the veterans and rookies gather for the start of the team’s offseason training activities.
That’s what he was hoping, however as far as I know he has only been a spectator so far, correct?
You know if Orton starts he will throw to Gaffney jus like he did to Marshall, he did so in the last KC game to great success, and he is single minded, therefore that’s why I got Gaffney as #1, no coach’s opinion here, just a fan’s, LOL.
I really hope we utilize Royal more this year in the passing game. Sometimes I think Orton wasn’t even looking for Royal, probably because of baylinorcrush’s post above.
I wonder what happened to BFE, not like him to stay away this long.
I can’t wait til the season starts….I’m ready to sit in the stands at Invesco Field and cheer our Boyz on!!!! Lets go Broncos Lets go!!!!! Fan 4 Life!!
LETS GET WEST AND THAT CENTER AND TO…he will play hard for his last year in the league…we need that
Dude, we have more WR’s than we know what to do with right now. Why would we get an old band-aid like TO?
TO is like a bad fart in the locker room…Maybe the Dolphins can sign TO if the Beast of Burden doesn’t get his hip healed up before pre-season..?
TO? I think you forgot the respective “LOL”, right?
Yeah bay… Right now I guess nobody would like to be on Willis’ shoes… nothing of stability there. He must break it hard and loud, or an easy good-bye.
Been away for a few days,a lot of stuff to do,but here’s how I see it:
1.Gaffney(experience)
2.Royal(speed)
3.Decker(contributes right away)
4.Stokely(catches everything)
5.Thomas(project,but will be a GREAT WR)
6.Mkinnely(played great at SC,but shows little now)
7.Lloyd(great potential,but better hurry along)
But I could definitely see Bay Bay contributing more than #5,if he grasps and learns the system faster.He definitely has great potential,and I think he will be worthy of a 1st round pick!!!!!
All the WR talk,like everybody giving up on the ground game?? I hope not,I hope we pick up the running game,with all the beef up front and Moreno a year under his belt,I think he’ll come outta the gate running,sure do miss all those 100 yard games,and 1000 yard rushing seasons.
WR Depth Chart
1. Gaffney/Lloyd
2. Stokley/McKinnley
3. Royal/Decker
4. DMT/Dickie Lyons
Dickie makes the team!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8wpLrIoECU
DMT was taken in the first round. No way decker hits the field before he does.
lol at OC. “TO is like a bad fart in the locker room.” Like my old youth football coach used to say, “if you want to be a terd, go lay in the grass.”
haha.. good times.
I guess I’ll chime in on the WR order.
1. Gaffney/ back up Thomas
2. Royal (slot)/ back up Stokely
3. Decker/ back up Lloyd
4. Mckinnely
Well, there it is. I think Thomas will be used on specially designed plays. He is behind due to the system he comes from so he will be used sparingly.
GO BRONCOS…
On my 7:44 post I picked the WR’s in order of playing time ‘STARTING’ the season,but I look for Royal,Bay Bay,and Decker all to shine as the season goes along,and I think they’ll be our best 3 when it’s all said and done.No disrespect to Gaffney,but if McD thought he was a true #1 WR he wouldn’t have drafted Bay Bay with the 1st pick.Just one man’s opinion that don’t mean a Helluva lot.
BFE
I agree with that BFE. Eventually, I think it will be Bay Bay, Royal, and Decker.
If these guys can “click”, it could be something real special. I like the potential a lot. Hopefully it translates well on the field.
BFE92 – Agree with your 7:44pm post.