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Published on 10/13/2010 at Wed Oct 13 12:30.
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Can Tim Tebow Save the Broncos Rushing Attack?

Posted Wed Oct 13th by

Tim Tebow ran twice for two yards in his NFL debut in Jacksonville (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Tim Tebow ran twice for two yards in his NFL debut in Jacksonville (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Kris Burke covers the Denver Broncos for Bleacher Report and NFLTouchdown.com.  This is his first piece for BroncoTalk — let him know what you think in the comments. Follow Kris on twitter at @KBurkeNFL.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Knowshown Moreno, Laurence Maroney, and Correll Buckhalter all could not get the Denver Broncos running game going. The team ranks 32nd in the rush while ranking No. 1 in the pass.  Kyle Orton is on pace to smash Dan Marino’s single season passing mark, but coach Josh McDaniels knows that moving the ball through the air alone will not get the team very far come winter time.

So what can the Broncos do?  They tried bringing in Maroney, McDaniels’ old back from his days in New England, and had no success.  It seems like Moreno gets hurt too often to do any good and Buckhalter hasn’t done much either.

Could the answer be…Tim Tebow, running back? 

Now, McDaniels has gone on record saying that Tebow will be a quarterback in the NFL and a quarterback only, although he has experimented with putting the rookie in short yardage Wild Horses formations in the red zone. Tebow has only attempted two rushes all season and has not seen the field since the opening game at Jacksonville.

With a lack of quality running backs available, save maybe DeAngelo Williams in Carolina,  McDaniels may have no choice but to turn to the rookie from Florida to help get the Broncos running game moving and help propel the team to a possible playoff berth.

Here’s why it may not be such a crazy idea after all:

1. Tebow‘s athleticism

You can’t say enough about Tebow‘s unique athletic abilities. His height combined with his speed and sheer power provide a challenge for even NFL linebackers to bring down.  His garbage time rushing touchdown against the Bengals in the preseason where the lineback tackling Tebow came up lame comes to mind.

2. It creates a whole new playbook for McDaniels

Even with all his skills running the ball, let’s not forget Tebow possesses an incredibly strong left arm as well.  His jump passes that he pulled over regularly in college could easily work in the NFL even if Tebow lines up at halfback instead of under center.  Adding the threat of a halfback pass to every play will confuse some defense and allow McDaniels and Orton even more flexibility in an already explosive passing attack.

McDaniels could also utilize reverses, double reverses, and flea flickers here too.  A reverse via Orton to Demaryius Thomas to Tebow for example would be enough to make a defensive coordinator’s head spin.

3. He isn’t afraid to run up the middle or outside the tackles.

Along with Tebow‘s skills come his whatever-it-takes, never-say-die attitude.  His willingness to lay it all on the line for his team.  Tebow is not afraid to run it through any of the A, B, or C gaps or even take it to the perimeter to get yardage. Wherever this is a hole, Tebow will run through it.

Is McDaniels willing to subject his prize pupil to some potential punishment with the Broncos already wounded in so many areas? Perhaps that is the question keeping the coach from even trying an idea like this.

4. Oh those intangibles.

It was well documented this preseason how well Tebow endeared himself to his teammates. Anyone willing to publicly display a Friar Tuck-style haircut is brave in my book. If Tebow is able to bring his leadership skills over to the pros, this will take some pressure off of Orton to be THE locker room leader. An Orton-Tebow two-headed monster could be enough to propel the Broncos to the top of a very weak AFC West.

Conclusion

To some fans, this idea may seem anywhere from crazy to downright stupid.  To them, I would say why not try it? Nothing has worked so far.  The worst that can possibly happen in this situation is that it doesn’t work.  Tebow in the backfield can not possibly perform any worse than the Broncos already have.

There is of course the injury risk to Tebow, but with Orton now locked up through 2011, it would provide Tebow time to heal.

Then there is the argument that this could possibly hinder Tebow‘s development as a quarterback. To that I would say that this would be a bonus for No. 15 because he would be able to see how Orton directs the offense up close and personal.  It’s the closest thing to getting reps as he can, and it sure would beat studying pictures on the sideline.

McDaniels may go with this option eventually and then again he may not.

The choice is his, but as I figure it, it’s worth a shot.

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  • http://ehalseymiles.com E. Halsey Miles

    To some fans, this idea may seem anywhere from crazy to downright stupid. To them, I would say why not try it?

    Simple answer to why not try it:

    Tim Tebow's Future.

    1) Running backs take a lot of punishment. His career would shorten.
    2) If he's practicing running back, then he's not practicing quarterback, and he's not going to be an effective quarterback. We know he's not ready to be a starting QB right now, but the idea is eventually. He can't do that if he's playing running back.

  • areferee

    I am a Tebow fan, but as a QB with the potential to scramble, run, use the QB option etc. Not as a running back.

    I don't believe McDaniels would consider him as a running back, nor should he. This is where Josh can redeem himself, by showing some creativity in coming up with a back or a scheme that will make the running game effective. He hasn't until now and I suspect he doesn't know how. But it has to be done.

    Tebow as a running back is not the answer. Finding a quality runner is. McDaniels has to earn his keep on this one. Time is running out.

    Welcome aboard, Kris.

  • http://bleacherreport.com/users/38959-omar-brown Jagsbch

    Orton is the problem with the rushing attack. All his dink and dunk passes are killing the offensive line by forcing it to block more people than that atre on the line.

  • Navigator322

    Wow… Maybe the dumbest idea ever… Lets see… He would probably be the first 4.7 40 RB in the NFL…. Toby Gerhardt was faster and more powerful a runner in CFB… How has the translated to the NFL??? It hasnt. In the NFL you need speed and power to be a successful runner…

    The LB that tackled Tebow ended up getting cut before the season. So if getting blasted by a guy not good enough to play special cost Tebow 2 a week and a half of practice and 1 Game.. what would a real NFL LB do…

  • robtink242

    My answer is NO. Tebow is the QB and QB only. Its like Mike Vick. He doesn't run very well on those QB sneaks and draws. This is the NFL were everyone is a PROFESSIONAL athlete. When Vick, V.Young and the other mobile QB's make a move its when its a passing situation and the skill players on defense have their own responsibilities. The QB isn't accounted for then he makes a move. In most scrambling QB situation they have elite speed so even a spy LB cant stop them.

    McD isn't the ass he portrays every Sunday. If you want to run the ball put a fullback (not a TE) in the back field, a RB, and power the ball. If you want to run off tackle lets go off of Clady side with Graham and Larsen as lead blockers. This Bull he tries with these stupid stretch plays are as dumb as they come in this league.

  • Nick Shadow

    Can you believe we still have a poster “dinking and dunking” Orton. The running game doesn't work because Orton D &D too much? Gotta worry about some folks.

  • anthony33

    Nice… end of discussion.

  • Nick Shadow

    The running game isn't working because run blocking just plain is not there. You could put Jim Brown back there and it wouldn't work. When you see a ball carrier secure the ball and is instantly met by multiple tacklers, something when wrong, badly wrong, and it isn't the back.

    I am sure they are working overtime on run blocking for this very young interior line, and will continue until they make some progress., When the O line makes progress, so will the running game and not until.

    If it seems like a recurring theme with me, it is.

    Nick,

  • anthony33

    I see you must use the term 'poster' loosely. To say Orton has been anything short of oustanding is just stupid.

  • anthony33

    Besides agreeing with areferee, and sorry for the repeat comment here, but here's what the Broncos need to do:

    The Broncos need to pass the ball 70 times this week if they want to win. And I am dead serious. Activate all your receivers and run the wheels off the Jets defense. Converesly, it's easier for O-lineman to pass block than run block and it's harder for D-lineman to pass rush than stop the run.

    Have the receivers run deep the entire 1st qtr, make sure Orton protects the football and wear out that Jets defense. Yes, they will get to Orton a few time, but so what… it's kind of like “rope a dope”.

    Think about it: Jets coming off a short week… a very emotional Monday night game… and their coming a long way to play at 5,280 feet.

    Why not? Hey, if Adrian Peterson couldn't run the ball against the Jets, we have no chance at all… unless we wear them out early.

  • Nick Shadow

    One of the commentators on Sunday mentioned something I think is worth noting. I get the games on Satellite so I am thinking the crew calling the game for me is different from the locals.

    I believe it was Dan Fouts (sp) who remarked that Denver makes a lot of successful plays off of play action, which he found surprising since mostly play action works when you have a run threat, which of course is somewhat lacking.
    He went on to say that reason it works is because Orton is so good at selling it. Guess there is more to being a successful QB than just passing. Who knew? :)

    Nick

  • Nick Shadow

    Anthony,

    I like it, I like it a lot. Along those lines last week in a post I invited the Birds defense to take a couple of road trips to the West Coast and then do their thing in Mile High air. Denver was worn out in the second half.

  • Roy

    Are you even watching the same game as I am? Orton is averaging 8.1 yards per completion. That is more than McNabb, Brady, Schaub, both Mannings, Rodgers and Brees. All without a running game. If anything, it is the line and running game killing Orton!

  • http://ehalseymiles.com E. Halsey Miles

    Other than running the risk of Orton getting concussed like Cutler, it's not a terrible idea. It's true that it's one-dimensional, which means you basically take the play-action out of the play book and say screw it. We dare you to stop our pass. Every now and then fool them with just one or two runs which will probably get big yardage because they won't expect them, but don't even bother with a run at all in the first quarter.

    I dunno, though. NFL coaches aren't that innovative until they've already seen it work. There's probably a lot of reasons why it won't work that we just don't see. But I can't argue that if the run isn't working, stop trying it. There IS a football adage that says “if it works, keep using it until it stops working.”

  • Kel505

    There's no reason why McDaniels shouldn't bring in Tebow as a running QB on short yardage plays–that's always been the kid's specialty–but no, he's a QB not an RB.

  • UFGator1972

    Don't be dumb… Tebow played three years vs. NFL ready linebackers like Rolando McClain (Bama) of the Oakland Raiders. Watch this video of Eric Berry (Volunteers) starting safety of the KC Chiefs and see what he thinks of Tebow.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8S5_40FXJA

    By the way, Tebow has the size and strength of a typical NFL linebacker.

  • http://nation.theorangepage.com/blog Ian Henson

    My only reasoning against this, is until Tebow can be ruled a straight decoy he will be the target of the defense whenever he enters the game.

    Once a defense becomes dismissive of his presence on the field then he will actually be able to be Tebow.

    His ball control in the preseason probably scared the hell out of McDaniels too…

  • James Bond 007

    Tim Tebow is a QB, give him a chance to show what he can do and I bet you he will turn this team around and make the Broncos the top team in the AFC.

  • Rev_Rock

    Uh, “dink and dunk” IS the McDaniels' playbook. He uses short passes to substitute for running the ball. Have you missed THAT many Patriots games these many years? Dink and dunk is the name of the game in a McDaniels offense. That's why Tom Brady (and now Orton) has racked up mega-yardage in passing!! Where have you been? Orton is merely executing (and doing it VERY well) McDaniels' offensive strategy. The offensive line is simply weak right now, and will either end up making or breaking the offense.

    Of course, the defense has it's own set of problems, and is generally where the games are being lost.

  • Navigator322

    Actually it is pretty dumb… Here is video of a ex-4th string LB thats bagging groceries injuring him…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mfe46L0npkQ

    Tebow is slow by NFL standards and his 2 carries for 2 yards week 1 against the Jags proves how stupid this is…

    I guess I should pull up old Reggie Bush videos running past everyone… oh yeah.. That didnt work when he got to the NFL either… Tebow is a 3rd string QB…

  • Rev_Rock

    So, you're ready to waste his talent as a potential QB just to get him into the game? Lame!

  • RondoDakota

    throw the ball 70 absolutely. put tebow at outside linebacker to rush the other QB.

  • Arn Lee

    AP could not even run behind our O-line. the best teams have good O-lines period. We are lacking minimum of 3 real starting.offensive linemen.also need to fire our strength coach our ability to stay healthy is the most pitiful in the league.

  • broncoinva9986

    Number one need in next years draft is a running back to compliment Knowshon

  • Jeff

    We need an O-Line! Thats the bottom line. It would be cool to try to tricks for a few yards here and there , but it all comes back to the O-Line!

  • http://twitter.com/ds Dave Simon

    Terrell Davis in his prime wouldn't save our rushing attack unless the BLOCKING gets better. We've got two tackles who missed preseason and have had injuries, a rookie center, two inexperienced (until we subbed Hochstein in) guards.

    Another factor is that the 5 guys haven't played together much. A major factor of good o-line play is communication (which often comes with familiarity) and trust. If you don't trust the guy next to you to make the block, it doesn't help make holes.

    I feel that Ryan Clady, aside from taking some time to get in game shape, was better at pass-blocking in his rookie season because he trusted the guy next to him – Hamilton – to make his blocks. The last couple of years, he hasn't trusted the guys next to him (a variety) and has tried to do too much, resulting in more sacks given up and more penalties than in his rookie season.

    BLOCKING is the key to a running game. And after a while, a running game is the key to a passing game. If we don't get better push up front, get better holes to run through, people will just key on the pass or blitz the hell out of us, and we'll see our offense sputter.

    I'd rather see an article about Tebow playing safety. (Kidding!)

  • Dan

    He stays on the bench and learns…Leave it alone. The team is improving…because of injuries our improved depth is getting valuable experience. This team is growing. Hang tough faithful.

  • anthony33

    The debate on is it the O line or the RB’s could go on forever. I think it’s the coaching. McD has said from the end of last season that the focus was on running the ball better and stopping the run better… so, if that’s the focus and it still stinks, then you have to look at coaching.

    McD has proven without a shadow of doubt that he is an excellent QB coach, receivers coach and has a great offensive. I even think he knows a ton about defense.

    So what’s the problem?

    Has he picked the wrong position coaches (case in point… see Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel in KC, preceded by Pioli, (our useless GM is another story)) or is IT McD not a good leader, manager or coach of other coaches??? No question the offensive line, running backs and special teams coaches are not making anyone better.

    The next three weeks are going to tell us a lot about McD because the third point he stressed at the end of last year was handling adversity after a loss and not letting it turn into 3-4 losses in a row. So far he’s .000 on the first 2 priorities. We’re going to learn about #3 in the next 3 weeks.

    All that said… I have a good feeling about this week. “We’re riding down the rails of a crazy train!!”

  • areferee

    “Rope a Dope”…I love it…as long as we get to be “ALI”.

    (Would that make them: “Ryan's Dopes”?)

  • areferee

    Yes, we like him shaken but not stirred.

  • areferee

    Hell, just make him Head Coach!

  • areferee

    Blocking is important, but I always loved watching “Sweetness” and his style of runner go around 'em when the hole wasn't there.

  • areferee

    He will learn more on the field, but ideally when we're ahead 37 to zilch…(yeah, RIGHT). In lieu of that, we can use him in certain situations, just to make the defense “shoot” the ol' brick!

  • Vince_marine

    Don't do it! He is a QB not a RB. I do agree with using him in from the 10 yard line in. If a play breaks down he is a player that can find a way to punch the ball in the end zone.

    The running backs aren't the entire problem. I put most of the blame on the O-line. Most of the time the RB's are being met at the line of scrimmage by defenders. They need to do a better job at getting off the line. Also, I think we need to start running out of a two back set with a true fullback (not a LB made FB or TE). All the great running teams do it.

  • Laramieguy

    Do you suppose for one moment that McD set Tebow up where he would look ineffective on his rushing ability therefore getting the public off his bandwagon and making Tebow believe that he should be a student because he is not ready yet . When he came in the game all eyes were on him . OK if you are the defense would you come to the conclusion that Tebow will get the ball . The other thing that some people have noticed is the lack of an O line surge . If you were the running back running into the middle wouldn’t it be nice to have some blocking clearing an avenue instead of running into the big guy coming across on the other side trying to tackle you .

  • UFGator1972

    No, I am not saying that. Before you reply understand what I am commenting on. “In the NFL you need speed and power to be a successful runner… ” Tim Tebow has been clocked at 4.6 in the 40 but he is quick and powerful, look at his stats at the combine. With Orton defenses only worry about the pass with Tebow they will have to worry about his athleticism and ability to run too.

    My answer to your question “So, you're ready to waste his talent as a potential QB just to get him into the game?” is that I want him in the game inside the red zone and in short yardage situations as a QB because it seems that Orton does great from 20 to 20 but fails where Tebow has a better chance to excel.

  • Darwin

    Tebow is not a running back. Get Logan Mankin and our running game gets better immediately. Look at the Jet's running game. Funny how a 30+ year old LT looks so much better running behind that line than San Diego's line. There is just no where for a runner to go including Tebow. He would get killed with his height and slowness! The linebackers have to be going backwards in pass coverage for him to be effective and they won't be if he is used as a running back.

  • UFGator1972

    You must not know much about football. A quarterback who runs between 4.6 and 4.7 is not considered slow by any standards. Secondly, are you showing the video to make your point? What I see is a safety knocked out by the impact with Tebow and a linebacker flying off Tebow.

    For your information Peyton Manning runs a 4.9, Drew Brees 4.83, Philllip Rivers 5.08, Tony Romo 5.01, Jay Cutler 4.77, Mark Sanchez 4.94, Matthew Stafford 4.88, Ben Roethlisberger 4.76 and so on… Tebow is faster than most NFL QBs. You should write things when you know what you are talking about.

    My opinion is that you just envy Tim Tebow and that the slow one here is you.

  • john616

    Yeah, bad idea putting Tebow at RB.

    Seeing as how you can't replace the entire OL and start over, I would like to see the Broncos spread the field and go no huddle. They may find it easier to run from a spread formation also. I mean, hell, we can't run from any other formation, so give it a shot.

  • Spock

    He's relatively fast for a QUARTERBACK, but that's not fast for a RUNNING BACK, which is what is being talked about here. But this whole discussion is pointless, because McDaniels is not about to do anything as daft as making Tebow into a running back. Even if he was potentially good AS a running back, which I doubt, he wouldn't be behind this line. It's the run blocking that's the problem. You can't fix that by making Tebow a running back.

  • Spock

    That's easier said that done. You don't get to just keep throwing the ball until you've thrown it as many times as you want (or as your plan calls for), because unless you get ten yards the other team gets to play with the ball for awhile. Depending on how many first downs they get, the Broncos might not even run 70 plays.

  • Kgiacg

    Hey Kris Burke, get off Tebow's dick. He's a rookie third string QB, who shold be doing what every rookie QB in all of history should be doing, learning off of a QB who is playing well so that when he actually does play he knows what he's doing.

  • Kgiacg

    Also, it is 100% McDaniels fault that we can't run. The Denver Broncos can't magically go from turning ANY running back into a 1,000 yard rusher no matter what, to all of a sudden getting 100 yards rushing in the 1st 5 games without someone really messing it up. Oh wait, who messes with the team? McDaniels. Get back to our small O-line that is really quick, Shanahan seemed to know what he was doing with out running game, maybe McDaniels needs to try and learn from what others have done before him.

  • Mcdumby Hater

    Why did McDumby trade away Peyton Hillis again? Why did McDumby cut Ryan Torain? Both running backs are starting on other teams now!!!!!

  • B4ucmego

    Wrong. The Patriots did pass the ball a lot but they also had an effective run game too. They compliment each other the same way Addai does to Manning and Maroney did with Brady. You need both and McDaniels is well aware of this. Also if you notice the Broncos are not just dinking and dunking anymore, they have been airing it out long to Lloyd, Royal etc.

  • B4ucmego

    Wrong. The Patriots did pass the ball a lot but they also had an effective run game too. They compliment each other the same way Addai does to Manning and Maroney did with Brady. You need both and McDaniels is well aware of this. Also if you notice the Broncos are not just dinking and dunking anymore, they have been airing it out long to Lloyd, Royal etc.

  • B4ucmego

    Wrong. The Patriots did pass the ball a lot but they also had an effective run game too. They compliment each other the same way Addai does to Manning and Maroney did with Brady. You need both and McDaniels is well aware of this. Also if you notice the Broncos are not just dinking and dunking anymore, they have been airing it out long to Lloyd, Royal etc.

  • tired of being lied to

    what the denver running game needs is a younger version of fullback Howard Griffith; if it wasn't for Howard Griffith…Terrell Davis would not have rushed for all those yards.

  • Fer355s

    Agreed turn the reins over to him and let him win games that what he does sometimes its not pretty but a win is a win and he is a winner.

  • LarECanada

    It's the line and the RB. I wouldn't go off on McDaniels just yet. Shanahan left Denver to the Raiders at a similar age got fired came back to Denver got caught up in QB(Elway) vs Coach(Reeves) got fired and now we all morn his loss and OL Zone blocking. Suprised not to see anyone morning the “Orange Crush” as our D seems to be a little lackluster as well.

    Shanahan got a total of 20 games with the raiders. Now as True Bronco fans do you want to behave like Al “The Walking Dead” Davis? We'll finish better than five hundred and next year take AFC Championship maybe even the Superbowl.

    Personally I blame it all on Red Miller.

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