“We announced (to the team) that Tim Tebow would start the Miami game and we’re moving forward.”
Bronco players were told at an 8 a.m. meeting today that Tim Tebow would replace Kyle Orton as the starting quarterback.
After this afternoon's practice, head coach John Fox explained the decision.
'We're a 1-4 football team. I'm a 1-4 head coach,' Fox said. 'It's my job, our job, to make decisions to try to change that. We'll see if this is one that does that.'
Fox also made it clear that the Broncos' 1-4 record is not all about who's at quarterback.
Today Tebow talked about handling expectations and what he and the Broncos offense need to accomplish before facing the Miami Dolphins.
Coaches informed the quarterbacks of the decision to go with Tebow after the players arrived at Dove Valley this morning.
'I'm just disappointed with everything,' demoted quarterback Kyle Orton said at his locker after his first practice as a backup. 'I wish I could have played better, wish we had a better record, wish a lot of things. But the reality is what it is.'
Orton said he would continue to be a good teammate to Tebow moving forward.
As for Tebow, how will he approach practice as heads into the Miami game as the starter?
'It's not just in the 'what if' — what if I'm in there for this, what if we get this look — you have to plan for it because it's going to happen,' Tebow said. 'I just really try and visualize it and be ready for practices so we can have sharp, crisp practices all next week and really improve. One, to give coaches confidence in me, the players confidence in me. And two, to go out there and practice and do it right.'
Tebow will take a Broncos team that is 1-4, through a bye week of practices before traveling to Florida to face the Dolphins.
'I'm very excited about it,' said Tebow, a former star at the University of Florida. 'Not that it's Miami or that it's in Florida, it's just the opportunity to start for the Denver Broncos and that truly is an honor and a privilege.'
The Dolphins on that day will honor Tebow at halftime for his time in college with the Gators — an odd move by a host team putting the spotlight on the opposing team's quarterback.
'I haven't really thought about it,' Tebow said. 'It's extremely nice of them and it is great memories. But on that day, I'll be focused on being a Denver Bronco and trying to go out and compete to the best of my abilities.'
Tebow also talked about being thrust to the top of the depth chart.
'I feel I've improved in several ways, just with my knowledge of the offense and understanding defenses and how we're trying to attack them and what I need to do to exploit weaknesses that day that they have,' he said.
He also addressed past concerns about his throwing motion.
He said he has improved 'just with my fundamentals, with accuracy and footwork and getting the ball out of my hand.'
But expectations for Tebow, among Broncos fans and nationally, run high.
'That's something I've never tried to do is live up to other people's expectations,' he said. 'I set high expectations of myself and try to live up to them, that's why I put pressure on myself every day, that's why I work hard, try to improve every day, because I have expectations of what I want to accomplish.'
Tebow's goals?
'Every single day, get better,' he said. 'Understand the game plan, understand what we're trying to do against the defense and go out here and practice and execute what we're tying to do for that game.'
Tebow started the final three games last season — going 1-2 — after Orton got hurt and the Broncos decided to see what Tebow could do. Tebow was selected by former coach Josh McDaniels with the 25th overall pick in the 2010 draft.
As a rookie, Tebow completed 50 percent of his passes and threw five touchdown passes and three interceptions. He also ran for six TDs.
The Broncos will practice Wednesday before being dismissed until Monday for the bye week. During those four consecutive days off, players are not allowed to meet or work with coaches, making these two days of practice and meetings important for Tebow as he prepares to start Oct. 23 against Miami.
Players will be allowed in Dove Valley to do voluntary work on their own during the bye.
Tebow, who has thrown for 733 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions — in addition to 264 rushing yards and seven touchdowns — in 12 career games. The Broncos do not play this week so Tebow will make his first start of the season, fourth of his career, on Oct. 23 at Miami — where the Dolphins will honor former University of Florida football players.
There could be just as many Tebow fans, in other words, as Dolphin fans, in the stadium that day.
Other News:
Cornerback Champ Bailey, safety Brian Dawkins, wide receivers Eddie Royal and Demaryius Thomas and tight end Julius Thomas were held out of practice for injury reasons. Right tackle Orlando Franklin was excused for personal reasons after the death of his younger brother. All are expected to be back for the next game.
Aaron Brown, a speedy, 205-pound tailback who spent the previous two seasons with the Detroit Lions, was brought in to Dove Valley for a tryout Monday.
Brown was a sixth-round draft pick in 2009 and was one of Detroit’s final cuts from their 53-man roster prior to this season. He rushed 189 yards on 44 carries (4.3 per carry) in 21 games for the Lions.
Also working out for the Broncos on Monday were defensive backs David Jones and Trevard Lindley. Jones is a fifth-year defensive back/special teamer who played three seasons with Cincinnati and last season in Jacksonville.
Lindley was a fourth-round pick just last year by the Philadelphia Eagles but was cut just prior to this season’s opener.
The Broncos also waived running back Brandon Minor off their injured reserve list.
300th Post
This also happens to be the 300th post on Broncos Blog. Thanks to everyone that reads and enjoys our stuff. Thanks to Princess and Digger who have contributed posts. Hope we continue to make many more posts and grow our reader base. ~ Aussie.
