MattInTheCrown wrote:
In my mind, the interesting thing about the whole Tebow experience, and it has received little play, is how the Broncos coaching staff has effectively designed a game-plan around Tebow's "skills." Is Hanie better than Tebow? I don't think so. But, he's not a lot worse, IMO. It's been a real feat of coaching to design an offense around a guy who can't throw worth shit, but Fox's staff has managed it. Not to say the Denver offense is good by any stretch, but they've done about as good as one could do with what they have. The Bears, by contrast, have done nothing whatever to make the most of their shit QB.
Tebow sucks as a QB, and I don't believe he'll ever be worth a damn. But for this stretch of games, the Broncos game-plan has been excellent in exploiting his strengths and minimizing his weaknesses. It wouldn't take the Bears doing much with their defense for them to beat shitty teams despite a bad offense; the Broncos have simply adapted better than the Bears.
ETA: the Brocnos will get crushed against competent NFL teams, and Tebow will never be the type of QB who will lead a team to a championship, but this episode has shown what creative coaching can do in a league with so much parity, and a bit too much conservative wisdom.
People who don't like him have the same arguments. He doesn't look good throwing the ball. He's inaccurate. His completion percentage is low, etc.
The reality is that they leave out the more important stats. He's 6-1 as a starter on a team that was 1-4 without him in the lineup, so he wins. He has more 4th quarter/OT winning drives than any other QB in the League in terms of percentage of games played, so he's clutch and you want the ball in his hand with the game on the line. The Broncos all of a sudden have the best rushing Offense in the NFL, demonstrating an ability to run the ball, control the clock, keep games close, and put the ball in Tebow's hands with the game on the line. The team has seen their 3rd down conversion percentage skyrocket, which is due to short yards to convert due to a running the ball and feature third and shorts with Tebow in the backfield, allowing them to keep drives alive, keep their Defense off the field, and keep the opposing Offense off the field. They've seen their time of possession skyrocket for many of the same reasons. And perhaps the #1 statistic for the guy? He has an 8:1 TD to TO ratio in the team's last 5 games. In other words, he doesn't turn the ball over.
So. Here is the recipe:
1. #1 Rushing Offense in the League with a QB who is arguably your best RB at the moment (mind you this team is missing their starting RB and for much of this run, was missing their #2 RB, as well)
2. Dominating Time of Possession
3. Have a very high 3rd down conversion percentage
4. DON'T TURN THE BALL OVER
5. Have a guy who is turning into one of the most clutch QB's in the NFL in just his first season as a starter, allowing the team to win close games (which they have a lot of as a run first/control clock style football team
What is so hard to figure out here? And why does this not equate to an outstanding football player? Because he doesn't stand in the pocket and fit your conventional wisdom of what a QB can do? How'd that work out for them when Orton was in the game?
Happy New Year BD.
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