Yep. In the first 5 games of 2012, Manning went down about 3 times per game and the Broncos were 2-3. The Broncos then went on a multi-game win streak where the offensive line didn't allow a single sack.
IIRC, Tebow went down about 3x per game as a Bronco. Sacking Tebow is much more difficult than sacking Manning which should tell coaches that Tebow was under much heavier rush than Manning. Had the offensive line protected Tebow better, he would have put up better numbers.
“Sacking Tebow is much more difficult than sacking Manning”
not necessarily. Passing QBs avoid sacks by staying in the pocket and making quick downfield decisions. Running QBs are very quick to pull the ball down and run. This might avoid sacks if he makes the line of scrimmage, but blocking for a pass is different than blocking for a run so the line was less effective.
Running QBs are a dime a dozen in college, and worth even less in the pros. A lot of people don’t realize the skill differential from college to pro, at every position.
the NFL is a downfield, air strike, big-play league. Tebow is not in the top 100 QBs in terms of NFL skills.