But there are other ways to defeat an opponent, as Denver showed on several occasions last year when they actually installed an offense tailored to Tebow. They broke down defenses, which, in the NFL, are not geared to being pounded with the run and having to defend a ball carrier who might also throw. All they know about that is the occasional HB pass, thrown by someone who is not warm, who is not a QB, and who usually gives it away as soon as they get the toss.
I thought there were a lot of things Denver could do to make their offense with Tebow better. They were just getting started. But Elway had no interest whatsoever in going that way. He was going to spend the entire offseason supposedly teaching Tebow how to be Elway. Tebow isn't Elway. Elway had no mobility. He didn't run over linebackers. He didn't scramble for 15 seconds before finding someone downfield. He knew one thing. Sadly, he still only knows one thing. Football geniuses, like Bellichek and Harbaugh, care about one thing, too. That thing is winning. They find a way. Remember when Brady went out, and NE won about 12 games with Matt Cassell? How has he done in other cities? Harbaugh turned Alex Smith into a great QB. Is Smith any better than he was? No, Harbaugh created plays and situations that allowed Smith to be great. Elway could never do that. He'd have traded Smith, too, and undercut him to the press.
I can't speak to Elway's mental skills, but his scrambling ability is what set him apart from other QBs. He was ALWAYS a threat to run. No mobility? What league were you watching? Didn't run over linebackers? Did you miss the signature play from the 1998 Super Bowl? Didn't scramble for 15 seconds before finding someone downfield? That is just incorrect.
Personally I think Tebow has the potential to redefine the QB position and I would love to see it happen in Denver. Apparently Elway is not willing to take that on but I guarantee you that he wants to win a Super Bowl as team president.
Jim Harbaugh found a way to win with Alex Smith. He did not turn him into a great quarterback, yet.
Other than that, I agree with your post.
Elway was a solid scrambler in his time. He understands winning with non-classic drop back QBs. What he can’t figure out is how you win with a QB who misses open receivers enough to have a completion percentage of 47. When your QB can’t do timing patterns and can’t be counted on to put the ball on target the whole winning thing gets problematic.
And Harbaugh didn’t turn Smith into a great QB, he turned Smith into a no longer horrible QB. There’s a reason their FG unit set records last season, the Niners couldn’t finish drives.
What the hell are some of you people smoking?
a rocket for an arm.
A 46.5% completion rate for the season, a 40.4% completion rate in the playoffs and a career QB rating of 75.1 is not indicative of a "rocket for an arm". Obviously you didn't spend too much time watching the Jekyll and Hyde performance in the 13 games Tebow started in 2011; how about that 2-8 performance against Kansas City in week 10 or his 6-22 performance against Kansas City in week 17?
Elway had no mobility.
Elway rushed for over 3400 yards in his career.
I guarantee you that if Tebow goes to SF, NE, Baltimore or any team with a coach who can think creatively, those franchises would succeed.
That's why everybody in the league is breaking down the Broncos door to get Tebow, right? By the way, why was Tebow being tutored by Noel Mazzone on his mechanics in February if he's such a great prospect? By this time in his football career he shouldn't have to be working on his throwing motion, hips or footwork.