Lonestar
02-11-2010, 09:31 PM
Q&A: Orton likely needs big year in 2010 to get big contract
By Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
POSTED: 01/26/2010 01:00:00 AM MST
Broncos QB Kyle Orton (Denver Post file photo)
Today's question about the Broncos comes from Dennis Smythe.
Q: Will the Broncos sign quarterback Kyle Orton to a long-term deal or will they simply tender him for a year in 2010? You and many of your colleagues have argued that it is difficult to win without an above-average QB, and I find it hard to believe that Broncos coach Josh McDaniels thinks he can win an NFL championship with Orton.
A: Dennis, unless something changes, the expectation is that the Broncos will try to figure out what they can work out with Elvis Dumervil, the league leader in sacks this season, as a first priority. It's almost a given that Dumervil will receive an offer sheet from another team if the Broncos don't respond first, and that Orton will get a one-year tender offer from Denver.
I know a lot of fans have made their minds up about Orton. There is plenty of history to suggest that he has worked in offenses that don't stretch the field and struggle to score from time to time, that he avoids mistakes above all else and will rarely make throws that carry some risk but also bring the reward of big plays.
Orton also has done exactly what his coaches have told him to do. Unlike some quarterbacks, he doesn't simply check out of plays he doesn't like.
But there are plenty of football people who believe he could probably do more if an offense would let him. He has showed plenty of arm in his NFL career, the last two passes against the Oakland Raiders at Invesco Field at Mile High being prime examples. He likely could push the ball down the field more if he were in an offense that was more balanced and with people who were more willing to let him try.
After seeing Orton in practice, he has plenty of arm strength. But it's inconsistent. He can wing the ball, but his deep ball will come up short on many plays.
If I were looking at Orton without any knowledge about his history, I would say that shows he's aiming the ball, fearing the mistake, so he short-arms the ball instead of completing the throw.
Enough arm strength is there, but Orton's deep ball is not always accurate. The quarterbacks who throw the deep ball well have great arms, but they also have the confidence to let it fly and finish their follow-throughs.
Orton has played for two NFL head coaches — Chicago's Lovie Smith and Denver's McDaniels — who have drilled him above all else not to make mistakes. So he's going to play that way. Nobody wants to make mistakes, but there is playing to avoid mistakes and there is playing to make plays.
Orton has spent his NFL career playing not to make mistakes. He has followed directions and done what he has been told.
Like most players, Orton would like a long-term contract. He has said he would like to buy a house somewhere and settle in, but he's probably going to need a big season in 2010 to get a long-term deal in Denver or someplace else.
There are never enough quality quarterbacks to fill the jobs in the league, but Orton seems to be one of those players who's going to need someone to believe in him in the short term, to let him play with more freedom, to get something done over the long term.
And if or when he's presented with opportunities to let the ball fly — however few they may be — Orton has to take advantage of each one.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_14265480#ixzz0fHiPtdP4
By Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
POSTED: 01/26/2010 01:00:00 AM MST
Broncos QB Kyle Orton (Denver Post file photo)
Today's question about the Broncos comes from Dennis Smythe.
Q: Will the Broncos sign quarterback Kyle Orton to a long-term deal or will they simply tender him for a year in 2010? You and many of your colleagues have argued that it is difficult to win without an above-average QB, and I find it hard to believe that Broncos coach Josh McDaniels thinks he can win an NFL championship with Orton.
A: Dennis, unless something changes, the expectation is that the Broncos will try to figure out what they can work out with Elvis Dumervil, the league leader in sacks this season, as a first priority. It's almost a given that Dumervil will receive an offer sheet from another team if the Broncos don't respond first, and that Orton will get a one-year tender offer from Denver.
I know a lot of fans have made their minds up about Orton. There is plenty of history to suggest that he has worked in offenses that don't stretch the field and struggle to score from time to time, that he avoids mistakes above all else and will rarely make throws that carry some risk but also bring the reward of big plays.
Orton also has done exactly what his coaches have told him to do. Unlike some quarterbacks, he doesn't simply check out of plays he doesn't like.
But there are plenty of football people who believe he could probably do more if an offense would let him. He has showed plenty of arm in his NFL career, the last two passes against the Oakland Raiders at Invesco Field at Mile High being prime examples. He likely could push the ball down the field more if he were in an offense that was more balanced and with people who were more willing to let him try.
After seeing Orton in practice, he has plenty of arm strength. But it's inconsistent. He can wing the ball, but his deep ball will come up short on many plays.
If I were looking at Orton without any knowledge about his history, I would say that shows he's aiming the ball, fearing the mistake, so he short-arms the ball instead of completing the throw.
Enough arm strength is there, but Orton's deep ball is not always accurate. The quarterbacks who throw the deep ball well have great arms, but they also have the confidence to let it fly and finish their follow-throughs.
Orton has played for two NFL head coaches — Chicago's Lovie Smith and Denver's McDaniels — who have drilled him above all else not to make mistakes. So he's going to play that way. Nobody wants to make mistakes, but there is playing to avoid mistakes and there is playing to make plays.
Orton has spent his NFL career playing not to make mistakes. He has followed directions and done what he has been told.
Like most players, Orton would like a long-term contract. He has said he would like to buy a house somewhere and settle in, but he's probably going to need a big season in 2010 to get a long-term deal in Denver or someplace else.
There are never enough quality quarterbacks to fill the jobs in the league, but Orton seems to be one of those players who's going to need someone to believe in him in the short term, to let him play with more freedom, to get something done over the long term.
And if or when he's presented with opportunities to let the ball fly — however few they may be — Orton has to take advantage of each one.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/premium/broncos/ci_14265480#ixzz0fHiPtdP4