Tip Sheet notes: Tim Tebow Factor

[Denver Native (Carol)]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/insider/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=5301467&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnfl %2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dpasquar elli_len%26id%3d5301467

Broncos could face thorny issue of how Tebow is listed on game day

The recent suggestion by Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels that he likely will have only two quarterbacks active for game day this season garnered a lot of headlines.

But since McDaniels used only two active quarterbacks in 2009 -- the since-departed Tom Brandstater was the Broncos' No. 3 quarterback for all 16 games -- it probably shouldn't have been big news, except for this:

The Tim Tebow Factor.

The suspicion remains that McDaniels will design a special package of plays (a Wildcat set or some other exotic formation that gets the ball into the hands of the former Florida star) for Tebow, or that the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner will line up at another position.

But the limits on McDaniels' ingenuity could depend on whether Tebow or Brady Quinn (assuming that incumbent starter Kyle Orton retains his job) is listed as the No. 2 quarterback on the day of the game. The rules limit when a No. 3 (or "emergency") quarterback can enter a game without jeopardizing the eligibility of the top two designated players at the position.

Unless Tebow is the No. 2 quarterback or is listed at another position, he can't simply enter a game in the first three quarters, operate the Wildcat offense for a play or two and then return to the bench and allow either Orton or Quinn to replace him. So the thorny issue becomes one of just how Tebow is listed on game day.

There were 256 regular-season games in 2009, and thus 512 instances in which teams had an opportunity to utilize three quarterbacks. Yet there were only seven instances in which a club used three quarterbacks, and only three times in which all three of a club's quarterbacks registered pass attempts in the same game, according to official game documents.

The Philadelphia Eagles, because of the presence of Michael Vick as a Wildcat specialist of sorts, were the only club to use all three quarterbacks in a game more than once. And the Eagles never had all three quarterbacks -- Donovan McNabb, Kevin Kolb and Vick -- attempt a pass in the same contest. Kolb was designated the No. 3 quarterback for 11 games, but was only nominally so, as evidenced by the fact that he started the two contests for which McNabb was injured.

The rules notwithstanding, the ever-creative McDaniels probably will conjure up a manner in which to use Tebow, to get the ball into his hands and allow him to make plays. But it won't be easy.

[BroncoWave]

I figure this will be done EXACTLY like the Eagles did it last year. Start Orton (McNabb) and make Tebow (Vick) the #2 and Quinn (Kolb) #3 but if there is an injury, bump Quinn up to starter and keep Tebow at #2. I'll be surprised if that's not how it works out.

[The Glue Factory]

The rules notwithstanding, the ever-creative McDaniels probably will conjure up a manner in which to use Tebow, to get the ball into his hands and allow him to make plays. But it won't be easy.

REally? Granted I'm not much of an X's & O's guy but wouldn't listing Tebow as an RB give him excellent opportunities to run or throw in an exotic play? I'm sure if I sat and thought for more than a few seconds I could come up with other ways to get Tebow in and keep KO and Quinn as QB's.

[BroncoWave]

REally? Granted I'm not much of an X's & O's guy but wouldn't listing Tebow as an RB give him excellent opportunities to run or throw in an exotic play? I'm sure if I sat and thought for more than a few seconds I could come up with other ways to get Tebow in and keep KO and Quinn as QB's.

I don't think it's as simple as that. He's listed on the roster as a QB and has a QB's number so I'm pretty sure you can't just randomly list him as a RB on game day or the Eagles would have done that with Vick.

[The Glue Factory]

I don't think it's as simple as that. He's listed on the roster as a QB and has a QB's number so I'm pretty sure you can't just randomly list him as a RB on game day or the Eagles would have done that with Vick.

Like I said, not an xo guy. Will probably work out like you said though.

[T.K.O.]

we only have one FB on the roster.....coincidence:confused:....i think not:D

[Lonestar]

The 3rd QB is not normally carried as a "Suited" up player. As they can. Only dresss so many on game day. The 3rd option they are talking about is an exception to that rule.

IIRC.
Once #3 comes in there are restrictions to the QB that was replaced can not go back in the game.
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[Denver Native (Carol)]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d809f6279&template=with-video&confirm=true

NFL'S "third-quarterback" rule -- sometimes misunderstood:

Seventeen years ago (1991) the third-quarterback rule was instituted to enable teams to have an emergency quarterback available who was not on the 45-man game-day active roster, since many teams, for strategic purposes, only carried two quarterbacks on their game-day roster.

Everybody thinks they understand the NFL's "third-quarterback" rule. But do they?

The rule states that if a third quarterback is inserted before the fourth quarter, a team's first two quarterbacks cannot be used in the game at any position.

Another aspect of the rule is sometimes misunderstood. It is a coach's decision as to whether a third quarterback will be used.

The active quarterbacks do not have to be injured for a team to use its third quarterback.

[Lonestar]

Danke Carol.
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[bronco_TD]

I think that if Orton, Quinn, and Tebow go into the regular season ranked 1st, 2nd ,and 3rd, but McDaniels wants to utilize Tebow in the Wild Horses or Goal-line formation it will be as follows. Orton will the starter, Tebow the backup, and Quinn the emergency QB. Orton and Tebow will be able enter/leave the game as needed. If Orton is injured, Quinn could still come in to play, with the caveat that Tebow would have to sit the remainder of the game. If both Orton and Quinn were to be injured, a fourth "QB" would have to come in to hand off, which in that case it would hardly matter. Of course if Orton were to be injured in the third quarter, McDaniels could decide to keep Tebow in until the fourth, where he would still retain the option to interchange Quinn and Tebow. Whether, this is worth the risk depends greatly on how effective Tebow is overall as well as in the Wild Horses and/or Goal-line roles.

Of course any Orton injury which carried over to the next game would see Quinn as the next week starter and Tebow as the backup. Just my two cents.

[bronco_TD]

The emergency QB is a additional player that is designated in addition to the other 45 [I think it's 45] active players for any given week. The emergency QB becomes a 46th active player. All three QBs can be named active as part of the 45 and can therefore play without any restrictions, but obviously one other player who might have been active would have to be inactivated.

[Denver Native (Carol)]

The emergency QB is a additional player that is designated in addition to the other 45 [I think it's 45] active players for any given week. The emergency QB becomes a 46th active player. All three QBs can be named active as part of the 45 and can therefore play without any restrictions, but obviously one other player who might have been active would have to be inactivated.

I think this is the key - all 3 can be part of the 45 active players, and each one can play whenever they are put in the game, without any restriction.

[Lonestar]

Bingo.
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[SR]

I wish we would've never drafted him.

[TXBRONC]

I wish we would've never drafted him.

I hope Tebow becomes a good maybe even a great quarterback then we really don't have to regret drafting him. :beer:

[T.K.O.]

i know one thing....i am alot more confident in our qb situation (present and future) than i was going into last season.
a vet with a year in the system and two 1st round qb's has got to be better than what we had !....GOT TO BE !:beer:

[BroncoWave]

I wish we would've never drafted him.

Good lord man, at least wait until his first pick in the preseason to begin your premature overreaction. :lol:

[SR]

I hope Tebow becomes a good maybe even a great quarterback then we really don't have to regret drafting him. :beer:

I hope so too, but I don't like all this BS before hand. I want to know who my starting quarterback is, what kind of offense we're going to run, and get warm and fuzzies knowing that. I absolutely cannot stand all of this pre-season BS and this cloud of drama surrounding the QB position. I was happy when we traded for Brady Quinn and now it seems like that trade has been totally negated by drafting Tebow. Drives me bonkers.

[SR]

Good lord man, at least wait until his first pick in the preseason to begin your premature overreaction. :lol:

It has nothing to do with him or his abilities as an athlete. I'm not saying that because I'm not confident in him, because I am. I'm saying that because I can't stand all this other nonsense.

[dogfish]

It has nothing to do with him or his abilities as an athlete. I'm not saying that because I'm not confident in him, because I am. I'm saying that because I can't stand all this other nonsense.

ignore it!

it's a huge waste of time for people to worry about this. . . tebow's going to beat quinn outright for the number two spot. . . solved! quinn will dress as the emergency QB but won't be listed as active. . . our situation isn't any more complicated than any other team that doesn't have a set-in-stone starting QB like manning or brees. . .

just like everybody getting all worried about us having four QBs. . . we saw what a huge problem that turned out to be. . .

[TXBRONC]

ignore it!

it's a huge waste of time for people to worry about this. . . tebow's going to beat quinn outright for the number two spot. . . solved! quinn will dress as the emergency QB but won't be listed as active. . . our situation isn't any more complicated than any other team that doesn't have a set-in-stone starting QB like manning or brees. . .

just like everybody getting all worried about us having four QBs. . . we saw what a huge problem that turned out to be. . .

Not all of us man.:D

Seriously I didn't we would keep four quarterbacks going into camp and just logical that the odd man out was going to be Brandstater.

I hope you're spot on about Tebow beating Quinn outright for the number two spot. That would give me hope that Tim is progressing.

[GGMoogly]

It has nothing to do with him or his abilities as an athlete. I'm not saying that because I'm not confident in him, because I am. I'm saying that because I can't stand all this other nonsense.

Perhaps you're just looking at this the wrong way, brother. Allow me to share...

As I've walked down the long, winding path of football fandom, I've learned that to everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under Heaven. A time to build up,a time to break down, a time to dance, a time to mourn...

These are the golden days of Summer, when the sound of lawn sprinklers and children laughing make old men young and football lovers dream. All things are new again, ripe with possibility and potential. The wide eyed innocence of the rookies, promises of renewed dedication from the veterans, lies from the coaches, it's a seasonal ritual that has it's own place and must not be denied. Time is swift and before long, the battle is joined. THAT'S when we start bitching! :protest:

[Bosco]

It has nothing to do with him or his abilities as an athlete. I'm not saying that because I'm not confident in him, because I am. I'm saying that because I can't stand all this other nonsense.

You don't like three young quarterbacks in an all out battle to see who gets the privilege of being the starter?

[BroncoWave]

It has nothing to do with him or his abilities as an athlete. I'm not saying that because I'm not confident in him, because I am. I'm saying that because I can't stand all this other nonsense.

Wow, so you'd rather NOT have a talented player because of the meaningless media stuff around him? I really hope I never come to view sports that way. I'll just sit back and enjoy his play on the field while you worry about all the media stuff.

[SR]

Wow, so you'd rather NOT have a talented player because of the meaningless media stuff around him? I really hope I never come to view sports that way. I'll just sit back and enjoy his play on the field while you worry about all the media stuff.

I'm just tired of the crap, and you missed my point as opaque as it might have been. And just like you said to me, he hasn't taken a snap yet so we don't know we he can/will do. I like Tebow as a person and player and I'm glad he's on our team, but I kinda miss the simpler days I guess.

[Northman]

I'm just tired of the crap, and you missed my point as opaque as it might have been.

Surely you jest. :laugh:

[SR]

I was trying to watch UFC and post at the same time...my mind wasn't in the right spot.

Yesterday was a rough day for me...I spend the first four hours of the day with my belt sander and detail sander out on the back patio, then I went to Lowe's to get more sand paper for the belt sander and some ass basket in a riced out Civic cut me off so I followed him inside Lowe's and gave him a piece of my mind, then some other shit happened through out the day that just had me scramble egg brains. lol

[WARHORSE]

I was trying to watch UFC and post at the same time...my mind wasn't in the right spot.

Yesterday was a rough day for me...I spend the first four hours of the day with my belt sander and detail sander out on the back patio, then I went to Lowe's to get more sand paper for the belt sander and some ass basket in a riced out Civic cut me off so I followed him inside Lowe's and gave him a piece of my mind, then some other shit happened through out the day that just had me scramble egg brains. lol


When people do that to you, just punch em in the face.

Sometimes that helps.:coffee:

[SR]

I'm not trying to get arrested.