Tim Tebow, Brady Quinn & Kyle Orton: Who'll Win Denver Broncos QB Job and Why
Brady Quinn wants an open quarterback competition in Denver, and he may get one this summer.
The Denver Broncos are in the unique situation where they have three quarterbacks who could realistically start for the team next year. This is both a good and bad thing.
In Kyle Orton they have a dependable, proven veteran quarterback. With Orton you know exactly what you are getting and what his abilities are. Tim Tebow, a 2010 first-round pick, is still a work in progress but has the leadership skills and athleticism to make an impact at the position. Brady Quinn, a one-time first-rounder himself, has never been given a real shot in the NFL and is still hoping for a chance at playing time.
Who takes the ball for Denver next year is still a mystery, but we break down the necessary components of a starting quarterback and let you know who will win the Broncos' quarterback competition.
Accuracy
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Breakdown: A big part of the growth of Tim Tebow is essentially teaching him accuracy and how to deliver the ball in short-to-intermediate throws so that the receiver can catch the ball in stride and keep running without slowing down or changing direction.
While Tebow may soon develop into an accurate short-range passer, he is not there yet. And really, he is not even close based on 2010 viewing.
Brady Quinn has good accuracy from what we saw during his time with Cleveland, but he is too rusty and not as experienced as Kyle Orton when it comes to delivering passes with pass rushers crashing around him and defenders in tight windows.
Orton is our accuracy winner, even though statistically he has not been a highly-accurate passer. Since coming to Denver, Orton is completely 60.5 percent of his passes. Good, but not great.
Winner: Kyle Orton
Arm Strength
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Breakdown: Brady Quinn has done very little in his NFL career. Drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2007, he has seen the field in just 14 career games.
Hardly enough time to properly evaluate his ability as a starting quarterback.
Quinn was an award-winning quarterback at Notre Dame and has the strength to really push the ball up-field. When with the Browns he did not have the talent on the offensive line, in the running game or at wide receiver to show what he can do. In Denver the talent is there for Quinn to show if there is anything worth salvaging in his career.
One thing Quinn can do is sling the football. Tim Tebow throws a nice deep ball, but nowhere near as well as Quinn.
Winner: Brady Quinn
Experience
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Breakdown: Brady Quinn has started 12 career games. Tim Tebow has started just three. Kyle Orton has started 62.
When it comes to the experience factor there is no besting Kyle Orton in the Denver clubhouse.
If the Broncos believe they have a real chance to win the AFC West in 2011 they must lean toward Kyle Orton as their quarterback, as he has the most experience and is the most game-ready of the three quarterbacks.
Winner: Kyle Orton
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Leadership
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Breakdown: It is not Kyle Orton leading workouts in Denver this offseason, it's Tim Tebow.
The second-year quarterback has taken over the locker room in Denver and is making this his team by leading the troops during the offseason and the current lockout situation.
No one has ever questioned Tebow's poise, character and leadership ability, it is perhaps his best attribute. Much like Michael Vick in his early days with the Falcons, people play harder when Tebow is in the game. You can sense that both the offense and defense trust him and feel like they have a real chance to win with him on the field.
That's not to say that Orton is not a leader. As the starting quarterback for the last two seasons he has become a leader and the players do trust him. Denver would be fine with either player leading the charge.
Winner: Tim Tebow
Mobility
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Breakdown: This is pretty easy to determine.
Kyle Orton and Brady Quinn are classic, drop-back quarterbacks. Tim Tebow is a fullback who happens to throw the ball pretty well.
With Tebow in the backfield the Broncos have their best dual-threat option on the field, giving them the flexibility to use Tebow as a runner or passer at any time. This is a great weapon for keeping a defense honest.
Winner: Tim Tebow
4th Quarter Poise
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Breakdown: Tim Tebow has played in big games while at Florida, the same for Brady Quinn at Notre Dame.
Neither has faced a fourth-quarter drive in the NFL like Kyle Orton.
Orton has led six fourth-quarter comebacks and seven game-winning drives in his career. Tebow and Quinn have combined for three game-winning drives total.
Orton has the experience factor, which makes him all the more dangerous in the fourth-quarter when the ability to control your nerves is as important as how well you throw the ball.
Winner: Kyle Orton
Value
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Breakdown: Denver used a first-round pick on Tim Tebow. They traded Jay Cutler for Kyle Orton. Brady Quinn came over in exchange for Peyton Hillis.
In hindsight, Denver is not good at trading quarterbacks.
What this goes to show is that while the team has very little invested in the three, giving up on a first-round draft pick after one year is a lot different than admitting a trade was a bad idea.
Tebow has won over the fan base, or at least most of it, and would be considered devastating to the franchise if he was deemed unfit to lead the Broncos in the future.
Winner: Tim Tebow
And the Winner Is...
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Breakdown: The Broncos can hope for a spirited quarterback competition this summer, but is it really an open competition?
Most expect the team to trade Kyle Orton to the highest bidder this offseason due to the large number of teams needing to upgrade at quarterback.
This would leave Brady Quinn, who is fairly green despite four years of service in the NFL and the largely raw Tim Tebow at quarterback.
Given the choice between the two, Tebow should have no problem winning out.
Winner: Tim Tebow
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