NFL.com still hadn’t put up the Exit Interview for the Broncos so I’m working entirely on my own with this one, as I may be for Carolina and Arizona.
John Fox was the most successful coach in Carolina Panthers history. Not only that, he was just the third coach in the franchise’s young life. He inherited a team that had gone 1-15 the year prior to his arrival and turned them around quickly. His first season resulted in a 7-9 record. Then, in 2003, his second season as the Panther’s head coach, he took Carolina to the Super Bowl where they lost to the Patriots on a late Adam Vinatieri field goal.
Now he is being trusted with the job of turning the Broncos around after a 4-12 season. Kyle Orton no longer looks like the man for the job. He led the Broncos to an 8-8 record in 2009 (they were 6-0 going into the bye week, after which they dropped four straight on the way to finishing 2-8). This year, Orton was injured late in the season and Tim Tebow took over. He wasn’t anything particularly special, but he didn’t look too bad.
Despite not having a quarterback in house who should be considered a reasonable candidate for the job in 2011, there is hope for Denver. Remember that John Fox’s first year in Carolina was also Jake Delhomme’s first year there. Delhomme came from New Orleans, where he had only played in six games over his five-year career up to that point. No doubt Fox will be able to find someone capable of starting in Denver, even if that someone is a ‘nobody’ to start the season.
Tebow isn’t the answer, but he’s a good guy to have on the roster as a backup quarterback and to run the wildcat formation. He’s got a long way to go before he can be considered a reasonable starting candidate for any team. I do think Orton needs to go. But don’t use that early draft pick on a quarterback. Instead, get one through free agency, the way Fox got Delhomme before.
Their offense could use a lot of help in other areas, too, especially the rushing department. Tebow was their most effective runner, enough said.
In addition, their run defense needs a big overhaul. They gave up twice as many rushing touchdowns as their offense scored, in addition to 22 runs of 20+ yards. The defensive line is probably where Denver should start in terms of the 2011 NFL Draft.
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