Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton will continue to be one of the most scrutinized players on the roster.
When he played for Purdue, Orton was unlucky enough to be the guy after The Guy. He followed Drew Brees with the Boilermakers. Now, with the Broncos, Orton is the guy on the depth chart listed ahead of The Guy People Hope is The Guy here, Tim Tebow.
In an offseason that was all but destroyed by the NFL lockout, the Broncos couldn’t come close to repairing all that went wrong last year, when they finished 4-12. They may not win enough games this year to keep Orton from being a flash point for criticism. But if the Broncos show improvement, particularly in the red zone, that will help Orton’s public relations.
When they penetrated the red zone last year, the Broncos usually were in a formation with three wide receivers. They tried to throw their way into the end zone. One reason for that: The Broncos didn’t have much of a running game.
“I don’t think you can live trying to throw fades into the end zone consistently,” Orton said. “We’ll have to find ways to run the ball into the end zone. And if they load the box, that’s when we’ll hit them outside.”
First-year Broncos coach John Fox has emphasized the importance of a strong running game, especially near the opponent’s goal line. Monday night, when the Broncos open their season against the Oakland Raiders at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, the Broncos will have their first official opportunity to put that philosophy into action.
To rev up their running game, the Broncos signed free-agent tailback Willis McGahee. Also to improve their performance in the red zone, the Broncos drafted two athletic tight ends — Julius Thomas and Virgil Green. Their new starter at tight end, veteran Daniel Fells, can help in the red zone too.
“I like our additions there because they can make a difference,” Orton said. “We’ll see how it all plays out, but I like the possibilities.”
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
