Patrick Smith - Getty Images
5 months ago: DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 18: Quarterbacks Tim Tebow #15 and Brady Quinn #9 of the Denver Broncos take the field during warm ups before playing the New England Patriots at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on December 18, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
It appears as though the Pittsburgh Steelers have drawn the easiest match-up of the postseason: the 8-8 Denver Broncos. The 7-9 Seattle Seahawks were the easiest draw in last year's postseason though, and they ended up upsetting the New Orleans Saints.
Tim Tebow's reign in Denver started masterfully, as he put together a 7-1 record this year after the removal of Kyle Orton from the starting position. Whether it was clutch defense, masterful planning by John Fox, or "Tebow Time" taking over in the fourth quarter of games, Denver's run to make the postseason was nothing short of remarkable.
The past three weeks, Tebow has hit reality. His loss to the Patriots can be deemed as excusable because not many teams can go toe-to-toe with Tom Brady and company. His efforts the past two weeks have been abysmal though. He was a turnover machine against the Bills, and last week against the Chiefs, Denver lost 7-3. Denver could have won either game to clinch a playoff spot. They lost both...yet still backed into the playoffs with an 8-8 record because nobody else in their division was any better.
Defenses have figured out Tebow, for now, and you don't get much better defensively than the Pittsburgh Steelers. Denver's offense could be historically bad for a playoff game if the Broncos don't mix it up a bit.
The one thing that is great about having Fox as a head coach? He's not afraid to mix it up. He completely changed Denver's offense when Tebow became the starter. Running the football and running the option might work against the average NFL defense, but Fox has to know that it won't work against Pittsburgh. He will put together something more unique to try to catch Pittsburgh by surprise. Could that surprise entail a more traditional "quarterback" who can stand in the pocket? Someone like...Brady Quinn?
The former Browns quarterback was dealt to Denver prior to last season for running back Peyton Hillis and a couple of draft picks. Awesome trade for Cleveland, right? Of course. But, with Orton out of Denver, you have to wonder if Quinn could get an opportunity to play in one of the biggest games Denver has had in several years this weekend.
It's not just me that has thought about the scenario. Mike Florio of PFT mentioned it in his Monday 10-Pack. Even the Denver media asked Fox about playing Quinn in place of Tebow. Fox's response was understandably vague:
"I don't do well with hypotheticals. I anticipate that we will play very well this Sunday."
Quinn faced the Steelers once as a member of the Browns. That came in 2009, and it was the last time the Browns defeated the Steelers. Quinn's line for the game? 6-of-19 for 90 yards. (hmmm...maybe they should just stick with Tebow). Even if that stat line is terrible, that was two years ago. He showed spurts at least twice in his career where he would suddenly get "hot" and throw for a bunch of touchdowns. And, more than anything, I think Browns fans would love to see Pittsburgh fall in the opening round of the playoffs.
What do you think? I'm not suggesting Quinn play the whole game or anything, but would it be wise of Denver to mix in Quinn at quarterback against Pittsburgh?
0 recs | 103 comments
I wonder if the rust has been removed from workout boys arm, just in case?
J. W. - January 4, 2012
I love being a subject nazi.
SpecialBrownie - January 4, 2012
The first was clearly a mistake. The second? You’re probably right but I’m not so sure; because in spite of that putrid Quinn line, it still looks better than what Tebow has put up recently.
Spidey - January 4, 2012 via mobile
Both editing gaffs on my part. Originally, the first part had more sarcasm about Tebow’s “great” start against Detroit as a traditional “passer.” The second part originally mentioned “shouldn’t go with Quinn” and I neglected to revise the player to Tebow.
Chris Pokorny - January 5, 2012
I voted yes not because I care but because it’ll be really amusing to watch that go down, it will go down badly & that would be amusing.
Groza - January 4, 2012
I can’t vote. They both suck. P.S. Why aren’t you contributing lately?
The New Kardiac Kids - January 4, 2012
Me or Chris?
Groza - January 4, 2012
I voted for Quinn because he knows how to beat the Steelers without throwing the ball any.
North Coast Flea - January 4, 2012
Tim Tebow is a TE playing quarterback, but what are we laughing at, TEBOW a third team QB for Denver to start the season with no OTA’s and no real pre season, (remember he was getting third team snaps in preseason) compares favorably compared to our McCoy who was our starter from day one this year. Compare the two Careers:
Tebow Career Games 17 , QB Rating 75.1 TD’s 17 Int. 9 Wins 10 – Losses 7
McCoy Career Games 21, QB Rating 74.5 TD’s 20 Int. 20 Wins 6 – Losses 15
I contend that McCoy is obviously a better quarterback, but when your stats are comparable to Tim Tebow and your win loss percetnage is worse and you have thrown as many INT’s as TD’s, we should not be looking down at anyone. Oh and he lead the Broncos to the playoffs as laughable as that is.
On a side note, how far has Brady Quinn fallen to be on the bench behind Tebow? He will be gone after this year.
champion64 - January 4, 2012
I wouldn’t judge QBs individually on wins and losses. Plus, I don’t think that Tebow had to face the Ravens, Bengals, and Pittsburgh twice this year.
emily522 - January 4, 2012
Emily you know I think Colt McCoy is much better than Tebow, but you have to give him credit, he took the Broncos to the playoffs with his play, so he deserves the start and we should not look down at him and say he sucks because our quarterback’s stats are not much better.
champion64 - January 4, 2012
Why and how does an assessment of Tebow relate to a Cleveland Browns QB?
emily522 - January 4, 2012
Just saying everyone on this board thinks Tim Tebow is a sideshow and not a real quarterback, which I agree, but when the subject of McCoy comes up we make excuses. SO how can you look down at Tebow who has favorable stats compared to our guy?
champion64 - January 4, 2012
Who is still making excuses for McCoy?
North Coast Flea - January 4, 2012
Champ, dont bother Em has a Tebow complex.
Red-Right-88 - January 4, 2012
That wasn’t a dick statement at all.
SpecialBrownie - January 4, 2012
Nope, I don’t. Thanks for playing though!
emily522 - January 4, 2012
And I’m actually rooting for Denver, because I’d love to see the Steelers lose. It would be hilarious.
emily522 - January 4, 2012
This.
The Licensed Optimist - January 4, 2012
You really should apologise for being a jerk. You won’t though.
The Licensed Optimist - January 4, 2012
Watch it.
rufio - January 5, 2012
I’ll give him credit for his great play on the defense…oh wait…
bross09 - January 4, 2012
Our QB has worse stats because at first, teams had to sacrifice good pass defense for run defense to be able to stop the running of Tebow, resulting in better stats. But then when teams figured out how to keep a balance between the two to stop Tebow both ways, he loses multiple games in a row, his stats suffer. I bet that Tebow will not be starting as a QB in Denver in probably two years.
macdowellm03 - January 4, 2012
Rec… less games than McCoy, and preseason games with the first team. but people want to grade Tebow like a 5th year starter…such is life.
Red-Right-88 - January 4, 2012
How bad must Brady Quinn be?
champion64 - January 4, 2012
I was never a fan of Quinn, but I got a hunch that if he got a shot he might be almost decent there. Almost. He didn’t get a shot because everyone in Colorado’s got Tebow fever.
dawgtribe - January 4, 2012
He’s played like absolute crap in the preseason games there.
TheDriveStillHurts - January 4, 2012
who is grading Tebow like a 5th year starter? If you grade his passing ability as a rookie starter in his first game, he is still shit.
bross09 - January 4, 2012
Shit is high praise for Tebow. He honestly is a Tight End playing quarterback
champion64 - January 4, 2012
I couldn’t think of anything worse than just describing his play as utter crap garbage.
bross09 - January 4, 2012
He’s fast for his size. Good athlete. And you can’t say he is a TE. If he has crap catching ability than he’s no TE. You can say he is of TE size but that’s about it.
Brownie's Year - January 4, 2012
I’d say he’s more of a FB.
Legoman0721 - January 4, 2012 via Android app
Great minds….
rufio - January 5, 2012
Fullback, not tight end.
rufio - January 5, 2012
The Broncos also have one of the best defenses in the league, and the Tebow mania would be no where near what it is without that defense.
Brownsbacker488 - January 5, 2012
Tebow to start, plus you cant change it up now. What do you say to a team , when the Quarterback of the team went 7-4 after a 1-4 start? You going to say to your team, well even though we won 7 games with Tim Tebow we are going to reward that effort with a benching? Never happen. Also the Broncos season was a roaring success. To make the playoffs with that team was way above expectations with Tebow as the quearteback , any wins now are just gravy. Tebow will go down in flames (like in Buffalo) and it was fun to watch all year, end of story. Brady Quinn is awful end of his story.
champion64 - January 4, 2012
If the players are stupid enough to interpret “mixing it up” with playing your backup for a few plays as a “benching” and the implication that they are giving up on Tebow, they are idiots and honestly they deserve to lose if mixing it up is going to affect their psyche and their play on the field.
bross09 - January 4, 2012
And didn’t Denver have no right to win the Chicago and San Diego games if not for complete screw ups by the opponents?
Spidey - January 4, 2012 via mobile
I’d argue they have won at least a game or two that maybe they didn’t “deserve” to win.
bross09 - January 4, 2012
For one shining moment, that darned Detroit game Quinn looked like the man….that was how many years ago now? 2+?
Would love to see Tebow kill the Stillers….take that Ben! Dream is for Tebow to lay out and give Harrison a concussion.
Red-Right-88 - January 4, 2012
That game was against the worst secondary of all time. And we still lost it. Quinn sucked. That was the only game he looked serviceable in (with the possible exception of his only complete game the year before against Denver, which he also lost). Quinn also was very injury prone.
TheDriveStillHurts - January 4, 2012
You go with what got you to the playoffs. Tebow. No need to mix in anything else. If you start getting fancy and over think, you will lose.
Brownie's Year - January 4, 2012
Fancy is kicking an onside kick to start the second half… Hmmm?
I say go for broke. If Denver has a few trick plays, use them. It’s foolish of them to think they will win straight up without some type of trickery.
Spidey - January 4, 2012 via mobile
I guess it comes down to how you perceive things. Kicking an onside to start a half isn’t fancy, it’s trickery. I have no problem with that. Did it all the time with my Pop Warner teams. But that was also part of the game plan throughout the year. So it wasn’t like we switched anything up. Trick plays are fine because the players practice that stuff.
But if you all of a sudden start switching players around and changing schemes, that becomes over thinking an fancy. Idiot coaches do that when the playoffs come around as if they’re gunna throw the other team off. It never works. You have to stick to the plan that got you to where you are. Was Quinn playing a role that helped Denver get this far? Nope. Now you’re just gunna throw him in an important game hoping to catch the D off guard? Only a moron coach would do that. If Quinn was getting snaps during this "Tebowtime" I wouldn’t think anything of this. But giving him playing time now is stupid.
Brownie's Year - January 4, 2012
Good points.
It’s probably water under the bridge, as Denver will probably be playing from behind, and Fox will probably avoid desperate moves at that point.
Spidey - January 4, 2012 via mobile
Ah I guess I kind of get what you mean. Nevermind.
rufio - January 5, 2012
I go the other way once the playoffs hit. It’s the perfect time to bring out all your special plays. Teams are going to bring blitzes that you’ve never seen and coverages that you’ve never seen, you have to give them something they’ve never seen and at the same time be ready to adjust to what they might do.
rufio - January 5, 2012
Tebow has a different kind of skill set than McCoy, granted his skill set is very NFL iffy though colledge friendly.
Roles reversed, Tebow here & Colt in Denver. Any guesses on any difference either would experience, given our O-Line & WR corps vs. his in Denver? And that would not even matter since on paper & reality are not quite equal partners in todays NFL.
Groza - January 4, 2012
I’m sure I’m just feeding the fire, but if you switch those two QBs I think both teams would have pretty much the same records they have now.
Legoman0721 - January 4, 2012 via Android app
I hate to type this, but PIT should win by three or more TDs.
JulioBernazard - January 4, 2012
Thank you. I could not bring myself to type that because it makes me sick to believe that as well.
Groza - January 4, 2012
Obviously you havent been watching their Defense play this year, the Pitt Offense is nothing like NE or Even Detroit’s. Their D is a huge part of what got them there…playing Pittsburgh at home to move on in the playoffs…we woulda taken that.
Red-Right-88 - January 4, 2012
I think with better offense (wont mention positions) we would have beaten the Steelers twice this year and if it were in the playoffs, I honestly think we had a shot to be the Steelers.
champion64 - January 4, 2012
Pitt also makes NFL QBs look silly. Tebow is not an NFL QB right now.
bross09 - January 4, 2012
Is this an early April Fool’s post?
Brownsyup - January 4, 2012
who?
pwndabear - January 4, 2012
Speaking of backups, how crazy would it be if TJ Yates managed to get the Texans far into the playoffs?
emily522 - January 4, 2012
Not terribly crazy, considering that teams still have to stop Foster, Tate, and cover Andre Johnson, unless he’s injured.
macdowellm03 - January 4, 2012
Only kind of crazy because that run scheme is so well done.
rufio - January 5, 2012
Tebow was a project coming into the NFL. If Elway can get him to become a pocket passer, he has very high upside with great intangibles, if not…well we’ve seen that already
abock15 - January 4, 2012
Clemson football is the Cleveland Browns of college football.
emily522 - January 4, 2012
OT but whatever. Seriously. Break hearts every damn time.
emily522 - January 4, 2012
Its only halftime…
BTW, how did Bowers do this year? It’s crazy how he went from top 5 pick to mid second rounder in about a month.
HenryDawg - January 4, 2012
Down 29. I don’t see any hope for this. And they get the ball to start the half. I really hope our defensive coordinator is fired. We were 1 yard from taking the lead then the sh*t hit the fan. That turned it all around. So embarrassing.
emily522 - January 4, 2012
Down 36. Oh my, this is the worst sports loss ever.
emily522 - January 4, 2012
42.
Oh.
My.
God.
Okay, I’ll stop here. But I am just depressed. I will to say to Kimble, that WVU earned it and completely outed us in every facet of the game.
emily522 - January 4, 2012
46.
SpecialBrownie - January 5, 2012
Absolutely terrible. This is the second to worst sports game moment in my life right behind the Tribe blowing it against the Red Sox. I have no words.
emily522 - January 5, 2012
Didn’t really watch the game because I was playing pool at a bar. But when I looked up and saw the score I winced. And thought "Oooo, poor Emily".
Brownie's Year - January 5, 2012
Sorry! I felt bad for you while at the same time, my old boss who hired me into the company is a big WVU alum so I had to give her props today.
HenryDawg - January 5, 2012
Bowers had 25 tackles and 1.5 sacks. So yeah not to hot, although I don’t know how often he played.
emily522 - January 4, 2012
Don’t take it too hard, Holgorsen is incredible and ahead of the curve right now on CFB. He’s the Denver Broncos (before they hit the part of the schedule against teams with winning records) of CFB.
rufio - January 5, 2012
Sorry for all the posts, guys. I was pretty much ranting everywhere on the internet haha. The mods can delete the posts since has 0 do with the Browns. I was just so happy that with all the Browns misery and OSU scandals that Clemson was finally doing well and my football season wasn’t miserable. Then tonight happened. :/ For the first time I was truly embarrassed to say I cheer for a team, and that’s saying a lot.
emily522 - January 5, 2012
It wasn’t that bad. You guys made it to a BCS bowl and lost to one of the hottest teams in the country. And you are finally starting to get something out of all that recruited talent.
rufio - January 5, 2012
Thanks for the positives, rufio. And to clarify my last sentence on my previous post, obviously I’ll keep rooting for them; I’m just embarrassed at how very little this team look prepared, like they didn’t have 3+ weeks to get ready for this game. It was astounding, and I’m still dumbfounded.
emily522 - January 5, 2012
Yeah, they got rocked pretty hard. Baby steps, though. Making it to that BCS game and winning the ACC was huge for the program, now you have to make it consistently and win a few.
Urban Meyer might steal all your recruits though, so that would be a step back. Oh wait that’s only every other B1G team.
rufio - January 5, 2012
It’s funny you mention that, because Clemson would steal some of Florida’s recruits while Meyer was there.
emily522 - January 5, 2012
Nice.
rufio - January 5, 2012
Noah Spence looked awesome tonight. I think he is a big time impact guy.
Bernie19Kosar - January 5, 2012
He’s rated very highly by several scouting services. This DL class should go on to be outrageously good.
rufio - January 6, 2012
Hopefully it is better than the famed “Block O” offensive line class.
But, I do lay most of that blame at the feet of the worst offensive coach in history, Bollman.
Bernie19Kosar - January 6, 2012
When you go to a school you don’t have much choice but to root for them. Even when you graduate and are donating money all the time, you still have to love em even when they do dumb things. Really, really dumb things.
HenryDawg - January 5, 2012
Teams have caught up to Tebow, and frankly, I am surprised it took Belichick and this much time for them to do it. Though it also takes the right kind of corners and some guts to call man-1/man-0 all night in the NFL.
Credit Tebow for what he’s been doing during his winning streak: playing a decent chunk of turnover-free ball, setting his defense up nicely and letting them rest, presenting a running threat, making some good individual plays, and connecting on throws a few times in the 4th quarter when his back was against the wall.
But the dude was given way too much credit simply because his team was winning. He is what we thought he was: fast for a fullback with decent power, a really long delivery, and pretty poor accuracy. Make him throw hard throws to wideouts and you stop him. Play him like a normal QB and let him be a threat running the ball or the option and you’ll lose.
We are witnessing the case-in-point of why “spread” (spread to run, utilizing the threat of a running QB) offenses don’t work in the NFL at this moment in time. NFL teams “catch up” schematically much, much faster than college teams, it’s harder to hide as 1 of 32 teams than as 1 of 110, “freak” athletes are just one of many which “shrinks the field” and leads to injuries and a specification of skills (Tebow used to be able to run away from and over everyone, now he can only run over DBs and away from DL).
NFL defenses are good and well-coordinated enough to be able to force you to innovate and break new ground as they catch up to you if you rely on one thing (the option/QB run) for your offense to work, and sooner or later you’ll run out of new things to do and you’ll need to have some balance. They’ll force you to do “something else” and you’ll have to back them off. Right now, Tebow can’t.
rufio - January 5, 2012
This is why I prefer the NFL over NCAA whenever I’m asked which I like more.
Brownsbacker488 - January 5, 2012
Yes and the NFL rules I think are very favorable to a good passing offense more than to an option/running offense. If you can’t pass effectively both long and short, you aren’t taking advantage of rules that make passing easier (not being able to hit receivers down field, interference, hitting defenseless receiver etc.). Tebow has a good pass now and then but it is not his forte and as you said, what he was able to do in college he can’t do in the NFL due to the athleticism of most of the defensive squads. The first, most important thing a QB needs to be able to do in today’s NFL is deliver the ball with speed and accuracy in passing both long and short.
Brownsyup - January 5, 2012
I don’t know if its the rules so much, but the NFL is just a better environment to balance your traditional running game with passes than with the QB run. The “shrinking field” and "freak of freak athletes things contribute to that. Balance wins no matter how that concept is employed, and it is extremely tough to find balance without passing the ball in the NFL.
rufio - January 5, 2012
Tim Tebow, this is the only time in my life you’ll see me rooting for you to win. Only time, so cherish it while you can.
Brownsbacker488 - January 5, 2012
At least until the go to Baltimore.
HenryDawg - January 5, 2012
Also, people here in Denver are seriously rooting for Quinn to start.
rufio - January 5, 2012
Wow really? That shocks me, because the media would have you believe that the fans all love him in Denver.
emily522 - January 5, 2012
In Cleveland you have the “we are so terrible, we’ve been terrible for 20 years, I’m so fed up with this team, let’s fire the coaches and FO” fan, in Denver you have the “We lost three games in a row! This is horrible! Let’s find a new starting QB” fan.
rufio - January 5, 2012
I also find this surprising. But I don’t watch the games. It would be a very risky coaching move to start a new QB in the playoffs when your starter is not hurt. I doubt most coaches would even think of doing it. This is definitely a unique situation given how Denver backed into the playoffs.
Brownsyup - January 5, 2012
It would be stupid to start Quinn. Maybe you bring him in for one or two trick plays.
rufio - January 5, 2012
I feel bad for all the people with Tebow tattoos.
SpecialBrownie - January 5, 2012
Polar opposites
Fact is Brady Quinn and Tim Tebow are essentially opposites. Tebow doesnt show up until the second half, and Quinn quits before the second. Career stats say that Quinn has a quarterback rating of 80 in the first half, as opposed to Tebow’s Rating of around 60. In the second half though, Tebow sits somewhere in the low 80s during the second half, while Quinn is somewhere around 58. It is incredibly ironic, but if you put the two together you might have a half decent quarterback.
chasers19 - January 5, 2012
there’s the answer. And since I have the Broncos, I hope no one thinks of it. Except for the Squeelers game.
dawgtribe - January 5, 2012
correction: since I HATE the Broncos and their horse-toothed HOF QB.
dawgtribe - January 5, 2012
Could you explain the irony a little further?
rufio - January 5, 2012
so play BQ the first half and Tebow the 2nd??
bross09 - January 5, 2012
I don’t understand the advantage of having Brady Quinn standing in the pocket having a panic attack. Don’t you still need someone to throw the ball?
JustBob - January 5, 2012
lol on the pocket panic attack!
Quinn throwing the ball forwards or backwards? Please be specific. I remember it going the wrong way a few times.
P.S. I successfully removed the nameplate from my Formerly Known As Quinn jersey.
The Browns should have a blank iron-on Brown or White nameplate giveaway to salvage jerseys.
tribe71 - January 5, 2012
He’s a WINNER!!!111
Kimble_79 - January 6, 2012
I have already informed a couple guys at work that if Denver beats Pittsburgh, as retarded as it may be, I plan on Tebowing every single time I see them.
Kimble_79 - January 6, 2012
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