There was ultra-conservative play-calling, too, along with the typically
horrific Denver defense. But on exhibit through the rain and chill
Sunday afternoon was a greatness of will, great athleticism and far
greater hope the Broncos will have better days ahead.
Will Tim Tebow be a great NFL quarterback? Only time will tell. Patience
will be difficult, though, now that Tebow Time is on the clock.
Amid all the hype, anticipation and criticism that greeted his NFL
starting debut, Tebow's performance against the Oakland Raiders provided
moments of greatness.
In the Broncos' 39-23 loss to their AFC West-rival Raiders at the
far-from-filled Black Hole, one of the greatest college football players
to apply eye black put on a memorable performance in his first full
professional game.
"He's a wonderful athlete," said Raiders defensive tackle Tommy Kelly,
who was in on the first career sack of Tebow. "And he's definitely a
better athlete than I thought he was. You see him running plays in
college and you think, 'Ah, he's running past 180-pound guys,' and
you're thinking, 'Get him up here with the big boys and see what he can
do.' But he got in there and he was making 230, 250-pound guys miss."
The NFL has been around for 90 years and until Tebow came along, only
two quarterbacks — similar-styled Michael Vick (2002) and Kordell
Stewart (2000) — had rushed for a 40-yard touchdown and thrown for
30-yard score in the same game.
Tebow pulled off the accomplishment in the first quarter of his first start.
"I thought he did OK," said Raiders Pro Bowl cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.
"I thought his footballs were on the money. And I thought he ran well."
It all began with Tebow huddling his offense deep in Raiders' territory
following an interception by Broncos' defensive end Kevin "Hands" Vickerson.
Eventually faced with an impossible third-and-24 from
the 40, the Broncos discovered nothing is impossible with Tebow.
He took off on a relatively, safe quarterback draw.
"Well, um, to be honest," Tebow said, trying to stifle a chuckle at the
truth he was about to deliver, "that was a mistake on my part."
Tebow thought it was a "Q" draw, or quarterback draw. That wasn't the
call. It was tailback Correll Buckhalter who was supposed to run the draw.
Instead, Buckhalter led a synchronized group of superb blocking. Tebow
churned and cut through a huge hole, broke a tackle, then another. He
got more blocks downfield, then determinedly carried a Raider defender
into the end zone.
Touchdown Tebow.
"I think his confidence started coming after that run,"
Asomugha said. "(Raiders receiver) Louis Murphy played with him (at
Florida) and he said once he gets a little charge he's going to be a
little more courageous with his play."
On his next possession, Tebow threw a deep, arching pass from the
Raiders' 33 into the end zone. The ball went right through the hands of
Raiders cornerback Stanford Routt and fell into the stomach of Broncos
receiver Brandon Lloyd, who was on his rear.
The acrobatic Lloyd not only caught the ball, but replays that Broncos'
interim coach Eric Studesville demanded revealed the Llody kept his
derriere in-bounds. Touchdown Tebow.
"That's what he does, creates energy for the entire team," said Broncos
receiver Jabar Gaffney. "It's that Tebow factor. He showed that whatever
he has to do he'll do it. He really kept his composure and played real
well with what they let him do."
Yet for all of Tebow's great improvisational skills, he remains an
unfinished product. A lefty, he struggles on the short to intermediate
passes to his right. Given his first hurry-up chance with 1:02 remaining
and decent field position in the first half, Tebow instead was given
hand-off calls.
Backed up at his own goal line twice in the second half, Tebow was not
allowed to throw.
"I try to do as well as I can for whatever they ask me to do," Tebow said.
But besides the danger he presents with his legs, Tebow throws well to
his strong side, and on deep routes to all points down the field.
His passing stats were not great: 8-of-16 for 138 yards and a touchdown
— another TD pass was dropped by running back Lance Ball. Tebow also
rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown.
Too bad they won't let Tebow play safety. In two games against the
Raiders this year, Denver's defense has allowed 98 points and 1,010 yards.
On a day when Tebow showed he has greatness in him, the Broncos again
revealed it has many other problems as they edged closer to a top-three
draft pick. No need to take a first-round quarterback. The Broncos just
did that last April.
"I like the guy," the Raiders' Kelly said. "He gets a couple more starts
under his belt he's definitely going to keep D-coordinators up at night.
He's got a very bright future."
