Elway lost it: God's anointed NFL disciple has earned starting status in 2012

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

Possibly, but you can't lay 8-8 on TT ... you can put 7-4 on him since that was the team's record once he became the starter.

Look, this team wasn't expected to do much when Orton was the starter. They over-achieved that expectation by starting off 1-4.

Yes - TT has his issues as a starting QB, but the team rallied.
Yes - the Chiefs, Raiders and Chargers did their best to out-choke each other in their pursuit of not winning the division.
Yes - Denver ended the season on a 3 game skid and won the division at 8-8.

The bottom line is that while TT was starting, they were 8-5 this season... and no, it wasn't pretty and often it was downright brutal. But, there's potential there.

I think people are kidding themselves when they say "had they started a better QB, the team would have done more."

Guess what... they did start a QB for 5 games (that many will say is better) and that you guys started to enjoy in your final few games. And, Denver went 1-4 with him and Lloyd in the offense.

All I'm saying is they did well considering the start and challenges they had on offense this season. We'll see how TT evolves prior to next season and we'll find out quickly what the team plans to do to build around him on offense.

But, you can't lay 8-8 at the feet of TT... you can put 8-5 at his feet though.

And, regarding your comment of "go find a different QB". Name 3 FAs that are hands down better for them that are available in FA. This will be fun, I know 2 names that most of you will throw out there... and no, they don't fit the description of "hands down better".

It's really great that he won all those games when the pressure was so high. Essentially, his career was in the balance. I highly doubt Elway pencils him in as the starter next year if he doesn't take his team to the playoffs.

I'm willing to give Tebow ONE quality win. A win where the game was ALL him, and that if they started Orton or Quinn, it would be a loss. That quality win is the Steelers playoff game. Tebow's got a rocket, and consistently beat the coverage by "pulling the trigger." Orton doesn't make those throws. In fact, I think probably the only other QB who would have done as well in that game is Cam Newton. The Steelers were hell bent on shutting down the run, and didn't respect Tebow's arm at all. Tebow definitely made them pay for it. He deserves ample credit for that win. Kudos to Tebow.

But the rest of the year? The offense he played in was pop gun. Comical. It was run-heavy, control the clock, and play defense. Those games ain't pretty, but they will win you regular season games against bad opponents all the time. Just ask Herm Edwards and Damon Huard in their 2006 playoff season. What that style of football does is take the pressure off the defense by forcing them to go onto the field less often for shorter amounts of time. And it also cuts down on turnovers and mistakes.

That style of football can win you a lot of regular season games, especially if your schedule is favorable. Miami, Matt Cassel Kansas City, Oakland, Chargers, Vikings, Caleb Hanie Bears. I guess I will also give the Jets to Tebow as an impressive win, even though the Jets were in free fall mode by that point. All of these are teams with HUGE problems. They make mistakes, turn the ball over, stall, and will get beaten by solid defense, a run game, and a QB on a short leash who won't turn the ball over.

So I totally understand why Elway is rolling with Tebow next year. He'd look pretty bad and face some huge fan scrutiny if he didn't start him. But I'm saying, I'll hold off my fears of the almighty Tebow until I see him properly read coverage and throw a crisp, accurate, 9 yard out over the middle.