Prior to the start of training camp, the Denver Broncos were supposed to have one of the most intense quarterback battles for the 2011 season–but Kyle Orton was named the starter over Tim Tebow earlier than anyone expected. When comparing the two, Orton was the clear favorite considering he gave the Broncos their best shot at winning this upcoming season, but after one disappointing game, fans are already asking for Tebow to step in as his replacement–which is absolutely ridiculous.
Despite throwing for 304 yards, Orton only completed 52 percent of his passes and had two costly turnovers–both of which came when Denver was making a strong push in Oakland territory. There were numerous occasions when Orton over or under threw one of his targets and even though the conditions weren’t all that great due to the rain–nothing can change the fact that he was a key factor in the Broncos coming up on the losing end.
Since Monday night, it’s been a rough week for Orton as he’s been one of the hottest topics to talk about in the media and even the fans are chiming it about how it’s time to replace him with Tebow. As if the “we want Tebow” chants at the end of the game weren’t already difficult for Orton to deal with, news broke this week how hundreds of Broncos fans plan on purchasing two billboards–which cost $10,000 each to use–to send a message to head coach John Fox about making a change at quarterback.
Instead of jumping to conclusion about how they think he’s going to perform throughout the 2011 season, Broncos fans need to give Orton more time to prove himself. Think about it–on top of being more understanding about the poor game conditions, fans need to give Orton a break and realize that maybe Oakland’s defense is better than most of us expected them to be this season.
Did Indianapolis Colts fans call for Peyton Manning’s replacement when he threw 11 interceptions during a three-game span last season? Of course not because even though Manning struggled (even though Orton is nowhere close to being as effective as Manning), he was the team’s best option at the time–which can also be said about the Broncos. Tebow has all of the potential in the world with his type of work ethic and could be an effective quarterback one day–but he won’t make the type of impact the Broncos need from a quarterback at the moment.
Give it time Broncos fans–it’s only been ONE game into the 2011 season and already you’re giving up on the quarterback that gives the team their best chance at winning when compared to Tebow. However, if he continues to struggle over the next couple of weeks and Denver sits at the bottom of the AFC West–then fans have every right in the world to ask for a new starting quarterback.
But let’s not immediately assume Tebow would be the best replacement for Orton if that time comes. Considering all of the talk from the preseason–maybe the team should give Brady Quinn a chance to prove himself at quarterback if Orton fails to get the job done.
Dan Parzych is the Lead NFL Content Editor for www.RantSports.com/NFL, where he writes and edits NFL content for www.RantSports.com.
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You say that Broncos fans need to relax? That it’s only been one week? Have you forgotten that Broncos fans have been watching Orton play exactly like he did against Oakland for over two years now?
This idea that Kyle Orton is the Broncos’ “best chance to win now” is pure hogwash. He’s their best guy in practice, but has demonstrated time and time again that he folds under the pressure of real games. If you watched the Monday night game, you saw Orton prepare to take a sack long before the sack ever came. Then he ran right into a defender to take another sack. He failed to convert third downs, extend drives, make plays, or score touchdowns in the red zone (one TD in four trips). And then there were the turnovers: an inexcusable INT from any QB by badly under-throwing the receiver, and a no-pressure drop right into the hands of the defender that is sure to make the “Come on Man!” segment of Monday Night Football next week.
One bad week you say? Well, considering that such performances are pretty much par for the course with Kyle, you’ll have to excuse me when I call that for the horse hockey it really is. He played that choke artist football of his pretty much all throughout the 2010 season, with maybe two notable exceptions. He puts up a lot of yards, sure, but he doesn’t get wins. Contrast that with, say, Mark Sanchez, who had terrible stat lines, but was in the AFC championship game two years in a row … now you see what I mean right? Who cares if Orton throws for 300+ yards, except for those who have them on their fantasy football team.
Further, he’s not the future of the franchise, and the Broncos are admittedly in a rebuilding year. Most of the fans know not to expect a playoff run out of the Broncos this year, and in return for the down-the-road faith we are placing in the new regime, we are simply asking that they don’t subject us to any more Kyle Orton. Please.
Start Quinn … fine. He’s not Orton. Better to start Tebow though, because then they’re at least giving the one QB on the roster next year a bit of experience.
Really don’t see some people’s problem with Orton. Tebow is not up to
the grade for the NFL and Orton is an excellent QB.