Passer rating aside, Orton will need some help to lead Broncos to the playoffs
Analysis: Passer rating aside, Orton will need some help to lead Broncos to the playoffs
By Jeff Legwold
The Denver Post
POSTED: 08/05/2010 01:00:00 AM MDT
Kyle Orton was ranked 14th last season in passer rating. (Denver Post file photo)
In many ways it's the chicken-and-egg deal of football, but there is no getting around it.
Performance at quarterback counts in the NFL, and no matter how the Broncos end up using Tim Tebow to complement what Kyle Orton does behind center, the bottom line will reflect how they handle that combination.
Last season's 12-team playoff field featured nine quarterbacks who finished in the NFL's top 12 in passer rating. Baltimore's Joe Flacco was 13th in passer rating, and Cincinnati's Carson Palmer was 16th.
The only quarterback in the playoffs with a passer rating lower than 16th was the Jets' Mark Sanchez (28th). But he was a rookie who played for the team with the league's No. 1 rushing offense, No. 1 scoring defense and No. 1 defense.
So, in general, the best teams had the most efficient quarterbacks. Yes, there is a certain "duh" factor to that.
Orton was ranked 14th last season in passer rating at 86.8, ahead of only Palmer and Sanchez among the quarterbacks in the playoffs. Orton passed for 3,802 yards — the sixth-highest season total in Broncos history — and yet will have to be better for his team to advance to the postseason.
"Better" likely means more touchdown passes and more than 7.03 yards per attempt.
Orton could be better if the Broncos run the ball better when they have to, especially in short-yardage situations or when they're trying to protect a lead.
But Orton will have to attack defenses with a running game that's still a work in progress because of injuries at tailback. Also, the offensive line may not have all-pro left tackle Ryan Clady (offseason knee injury) when the season opens Sept. 12 at Jacksonville. And two rookie linemen may be starters.
So far in training camp, Matthew Willis has stood out the most among the Broncos' wide receivers. But he isn't among the team's top four as they line up in practice. Demaryius Thomas, a rookie from Georgia Tech, has the size
and speed to be a matchup problem for defenses in the red zone. But he's still on a large learning curve, adjusting from a triple-option offense at Georgia Tech to the Broncos' offense, which requires wide receivers to do much more.Post Poll - Broncos QBs
Which quarterback do you wish to see take the majority of snaps as the starter this year for the Denver Broncos?
Total Votes = 15228
Kyle Orton: The incumbent will flourish in his second season under coach Josh McDaniels.
40.22 %
Brady Quinn: Given a second chance in a new system, his vast potential will be realized.
25.96 %
Tim Tebow: Why wait? He has proven himself a winner at the highest levels of college ball.
33.81 %
Yes, it's early in training camp, but the Denver offense is still searching for more impact plays. A long completion from Orton to Jabar Gaffney on Wednesday resulted in plenty of fist pumping from the offensive coaches, who waited the better part of six practices for such a play.
Generally speaking, schemes move the ball between the 20-yard lines and players who win matchups put the ball in the end zone. And the Broncos need wide receivers such as Gaffney, Eddie Royal and Brandon Lloyd to show a little more before the preseason turns into the regular season.
People are going to look at Orton's numbers to decide how the 2010 season went. But for those numbers to add up to a playoff berth, he's going to need some help.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_15677886
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