Welcome back and keep the queries coming
Today’s comes from C.R. in Irvine, Calif.:
Q: Honestly, is Kyle Orton the answer at QB? Why not give Chris Simms a chance? I say (the Broncos) trade Orton, let Simms start, and start working their way to drafting Colt McCoy.
A: It takes a lot for a coach to make a move at quarterback, especially if he had selected the starter in June, as Josh McDaniels did when he originally named Orton as the team’s starter during the team’s minicamp.
It takes even more for a coach to make a move at quarterback when the guy he named in June is now 2-0 as the starter, ugly or not at times.
So, unless injury dictates something different, a move won’t be coming anytime soon.
McDaniels rarely talks about his quarterback without the phrase “manage the game” appearing somewhere in the sentence. That has been Orton’s strength over the years, and that’s why McDaniels picked him for the job. Also, Orton is the guy who was essentially traded for Jay Cutler to go with some draft picks, and it would be a huge admission from the team’s perspective about the quality of the deal just one or two games into the season to then move Orton aside for another quarterback.
And overall, McDaniels does not want a risk-taker behind center right now as he tries to build a roster.
He is a coach with an offensive lineage, but he also started as a defensive assistant working for a former defensive coordinator in Bill Belichick, so McDaniels seems to value the ball and avoiding turnovers more like a former defensive coordinator who became a head coach.
He does favor three- and four-wide receiver sets, putting the quarterback in the shotgun and throwing the ball plenty, but a lot of those passes are basically extended handoffs — safe 4- or 5-yard passes.
So decision-making is at the top of the list rather than arm strength. And while McDan- iels, like any coach, would like a quarterback who can do both, he’s shown he’ll take the decision-making at this point.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
