Today’s questions about the Broncos come from Scott Sargent.
Q: Now that we have determined that the Kyle Orton of 2011 is the same Orton as 2009, and 2010, can the Broncos please move on? Orton has won six games in his last 25 starts. How much more do the Broncos need to see?
A: Scott, this has been the most popular question this week, especially in the wake of the fourth-and-goal failure from the Titans’ 1-yard line Sunday. And at the risk of doing nothing but spinning on the Tim Tebow carousel every day, it raises what is the big question folks seem to have about the Broncos’ plan for now, and the future.
They are not “looking” for anything from Orton. They are demanding he play the position they way they want it played. If he doesn’t, they’ll make a change.
While fans like to bring up a quarterback’s starting record, the people evaluating the position use a bigger model.
Orton certainly made turnovers in key situations with the game on the line in the Broncos’ two losses this season. And the team has not been good for much of his tenure — he is 6-19 in his starts since the team’s 6-0 start in 2009, 12-19 overall as the Broncos’ starter.
Quarterbacks are paid handsomely to be judged in the public domain by whether they satisfy both the ticket buyers’ and their bosses’ desire for wins.
But there are some things to consider about Orton’s record, or what any other quarterback’s would be, for that matter, as a starter over those 25 games:
And although NFL personnel people will always consider quarterback most important piece in team building, none of the hugely significant issues listed above that the Broncos have faced over the last three seasons has anything to do with the player behind center.
The Broncos have been one of the worst teams in the league on the draft board, and one of the worst on defense, during the last few seasons. They don’t believe changing the quarterback will fix that.
Quarterback has always been the most discussed position, even when John Elway played there, and it will be.
Plenty of folks want to see Tebow play and are frustrated that hasn’t. But the Broncos, rightly or wrongly, will judge the position on more than the quarterback’s won-lost record.
There are other factors.
They can’t make emotional decisions and call Tebow’s five-point loss to the nonplayoff Chargers last season a bright spot for the future and Orton’s two three-point losses this year “the worst ever,” as some folks have done.
For now, the Broncos’ decision-makers don’t believe Orton is the team’s biggest problem.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
