Like many NFL fans, I watched a lot of Thursday night’s game with absolute horror…until there was seven minutes left and the Broncos had the ball on their 5 yard line. Once Eddie Royal escaped from the grasp of Jim Leonhard at the goal line and rambled for a 9-yard gain, I told my 9-month old daughter sitting with me to sit back and enjoy. Neither of us was disappointed.
Denver’s performance was remarkable. How do you come up empty so many times to only get it right at the end? I’m not sure if it’s divine intervention or what, but Tebow has the “IT” factor. Anyone who has played sports knows the people on their team that had IT. They were always the hardest workers laying it on the line all the time, making you push yourself even further than you normally would. The result, you end up performing better as a team than you would otherwise.
If you look at the stats, there isn’t a whole lot of difference between the stats pre-Tebow and post-Tebow. However, the whole team seems to be performing at a higher level, especially the defense. Some of the defense’s improvement can be attributed to the guys getting use to Fox’s schemes, but that doesn’t explain it all. Now, the three and outs of the offense span a longer time period given the propensity of the team to run with Tebow rather than throw with Orton.
To all of you haters, let’s go over a few facts. First, with a Tebow at quarterback, the defense can’t go 11 on 10. Tebow is just as likely (perhaps, more likely) to pull the ball on a read and take it himself than he is to give it to the running back. Therefore, there is a defensive player that has to follow him. As a former running back, you have to love it..one less potential tackler. Second, the guy is a kid. I’m not sure if you haters have gone back to look at Elway’s first few seasons, but they were nothing statistically to write home about and were about where Tebow’s completion averages are. Third, it looks to me as though Tebow is throwing some balls away intentionally further killing his completion average but not turning the ball over. Finally, the team’s winning, something it wasn’t doing early in the year.
So, to all you haters, I understand why, but let’s give the kid a break and see how he develops. If is successful in the NFL, it will be one more example of the American work ethic. Perhaps, some of the #Occupy movement can learn from him.