The Denver Broncos led the NFL last season in rushing yards and second to last in passing yards. In a year of three 5,000 yard quarterbacks, the Broncos were the only team to gain more yards per game on the ground than through the air (164.5 vs. 152.1). The Tebow-conscious offensive strategy worked. Denver went 7-4 after turning from Kyle Orton to Tebow over the Week 6 bye. The stretch of success included a six-game winning streak with five consecutive wins coming by a touchdown or less. That run propelled Denver into the postseason as the AFC West champion at 8-8.
The run-heavy strategy worked at home against Pittsburgh. The Steelers loaded the box with eight and nine men. In only ten completions Tebow threw for 316 yards, including the 80-yard winner to Demaryius Thomas on overtime’s first snap. The Broncos went on to face New England next week and…
Don’t even remember that game. It says nothing about this season’s Broncos. It says nothing about Peyton Manning’s offense. Out goes the three yards and a pile of dust Tebow offense. In comes the aerial Manning offense.
Three questions for Manning’s Broncos, to wit:
Can the D improve? Much of the praise for Denver’s second half run went to the defense. However, the defense finished 24th with 24.4 points per game allowed. With Tebow at the helm, they averaged 22.7 points allowed. Those numbers are not bad, but they could be better. A pair of new starting defensive tackles, Justin Bannan and Ty Warren enter the season as major question marks. Warren played his last down in 2009; Bannan has recorded one sack in the last three seasons. Rookie lineman Derek Wolfe finds himself in an outstanding situation. Likely to start at defensive end after Jason Hunter’s injury, Wolfe will be an afterthought with Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller attracting most of the attention. Newcomer Tracy Porter will start beside Champ Bailey at cornerback. Watch for Porter to seriously up his interception total from last season’s one. Strong safety Mike Adams is yet another addition. Adams, 31, recorded three interceptions last season with Cleveland. The defense, like the rest of the team, brings in a lot of new faces. Look for Wolfe and Porter to make impacts that slightly improve the defense.
Can Peyton stay healthy? The Denver offensive line faces more pressure than any other NFL unit this year. Led by Pro Bowl left tackle Ryan Clady, the line cannot just focus on limiting sacks, but all hits on Manning. Number 18’s neck carries a target with a big question mark in the bullseye. Left guard Zane Beadles, right tackle Orlando Franklin and center J.D. Walton are solid but left guard Manny Ramirez could be a weak point. The play of these five men will determine the Broncos fate.
What is the record at the Week 7 bye? Denver starts the season with a hellacious schedule: Pittsburgh, at Atlanta, Houston, Oakland, at New England, at San Diego. Not one of those teams had a losing record last year. Denver will need Manning to work the kinks out of his new offense in a hurry against stiff competition. A 3-3 record at the break would be respectable when Denver hosts New Orleans in Week 8.
The Broncos are a far cry from the team that went 8-8 and won a playoff game last season. Yes, Peyton Manning is a major addition, but there are a lot of new faces on this team. Considering the schedule, do not be surprised if Denver fights to another 8-8 record. Look for a second half surge similar to last season. If things go right, Denver could finish 9-7 with another AFC West crown. I’m counting on it.
Here is a list of the 5 quarterbacks in the NFL that i believe must bounce back from having a disappointing season.
NO.5
Tim Tebow
Although the Denver Broncos made it to the playoffs, and yes Tebow threw the game winning touchdown in overtime against the Pittsburgh Steelers, in the first round of the playoffs, but Tebow is my number 5. QB that must improve on the 2012 season. Here is Tebow by the numbers.
Completion percentage: In 2011 Tebow was ranked 34th in the NFL, which is worst among qualified quarterbacks, with a 46.5 completion rating. Tebow must improve on this if he wants to be the starting QB forr the New York Jets
Total yards passing: Tim Tebow ranked 32nd in the league in total yards passing with 1,729. Two quarterbacks from Arizona had more than Tebow. Tebow must improve his number one problem in completion rating for him to get more passing yards. More accurate passes equal better numbers everywhere.
Yards per passing attempt: Tebow ranked 28th in yards per passing attempt with a 6.38 mark. This number is so low because of Tebow’s inability to throw the ball accurately down the field. If Tebow want to improve on this number he must be able to throw the ball down thr field.
Touchdowns: Tebow was ranked 27th in touchdowns with just 12 thrown all season. Even if you include Tebow’s 6 rushing touchdowns along with his 12 through the air, it would put him at 15th in the NFL in touchdowns which is still average at best.
QB Rating: Tim Tebow was ranked 28th in QB rating with a rating of 72.9 on the season. This was the worst rating of any playoff quarterback in the 2011 season. Tebow will not be a starter in the league for very long if he can not improve on his QB rating.
Yards per game: This is another stat in which Tebow was ranked the worst in the NFL with a 124 yards per game last season. Every playoff winning team must have a quarterback that can produce above average yards through the air. Tebow must be better then that number to keep a position when it’s open.
NO.4
Michael Vick
Michael Vick is number 4 on my list because of the numbers he put up in 2010 were far better than last seasons numbers, and in order for Vick to stay towards the top of elite quarterbacks, he must improve from the 2011 season. The Eagles finished 8-8 on the season with a team that was supposed to the “Dream Team” of football after their previous off season. Here is Vick by the numbers.
Completion percentage: Michael Vick ranked 19th in the NFL in 2011 for completion percentage with a percentage of 59.8%. Michael Vick was ranked 10th in 2010 with a 62.6% completion rating. In order for the Eagles to go to the playoffs this season, Vick must return to his old play of the 2010 season. If he does not improve neither will the Eagles.
Total passing yards: Michael Vick was ranked 17th with 3,303 yards passing in 2011. He knows how to make the big play, but he must be able to learn how to sub stain a drive to improve his passing yards for this season.
Yards per attempt: In 2010 Michael Vick was ranked 4th in the NFL with a 8.11 yards per attempt on the season. Vick answered that mark with a 7.81 yards per attempt in 2011 which made him 11th in the league. If Vick can just get back that half yard or better he will improve his teams wins on the season.
Touchdowns; In 2010 Vick threw 21 touchdowns after making his comeback season. Although Vick improved his ranking from 16th to 14th in 2011, Vick threw for just 14 touchdowns on the season. Vick must throw at least 20 touchdowns for the Eagles to have a chance to get back to the playoffs.
Interceptions: In 2010 Vick threw only 6 interceptions to go along with his 21 touchdowns. Vick threw a career high 14 interceptions to go along with just 14 touchdowns in 2011. If Vick keeps up these high number in the interception department, the Eagles have no shot of making the playoffs in 2012.
QB Rating: In 2010 Vick was 4th overall with a rating of 100.2 on the season. In 2011 Vick only had a QB rating of 84.9 which made him 14th in the NFL. Vick must get back to his 2010 form for the Eagles to produce offensively.
No.3
Philip Rivers
Philip Rivers is my number 3 quarterback after having a career year in the interception department. The Chargers finished 8-8 on the season, and out of the playoffs for 2010. Rivers 8 multi interception games makes him one of the top 3 qb’s that must improve in 2012. Here is Rivers by the numbers.
Completion Percentage: In 2010 Rivers had a completion percentage of 66% which ranked him 3rd overall in the NFL. In 2011 Rivers had a completion percentage of 62.9 which ranked him 7th overall. Although his numbers weren’t terrible in 2011 he must improve his accuracy for the Chargers to get back to the playoffs with Manning now on the Broncos.
Total Yards: In 2010 Rivers led the league in yards thrown with 4,710 total yards. Rivers dropped to 6th in 2011 with 4,686 total yards on the season. Rivers must improve in a league that just keeps getting better through the air. If Rivers doesn’t improve, then there will be no playoffs in San Diego.
Interceptions: In 2010 Rivers ranked 13th overall in the NFL with 13 interceptions which was the most since 2007. In 2011 Rivers ranked 3rd in interceptions with 20, which was a career high. If Rivers continues to put up high numbers in the interception department, then there is no hope for the Chargers.
QB Rating: In 2010 Rivers had a QB rating of 101.8 which was 2nd only to Tom Brady on the season. Last season Rivers followed up with a 88.7 QB rating which ranked him 11th in the NFL. If Rivers can bounce back and have a repeat season of 2010, then that Chargers will be in the playoffs.
NO.2
Sam Bradford
Sam Bradford is my number 2 QB that must bounce back from a rough 2011 season. Bradford’s numbers were way down from his 2010 season, and the Rams finished 2-14 on the season. Bradford needs to improve in order for the Rams to look like an NFL team. Here is Bradford by the numbers.
Completion Percentage: In 2010 Bradford was ranked 20th in the NFL with a 60% completion percentage. Bradford dropped all the way to 32nd overall in 2011 with a completion percentage of 53.5 on the year. Bradford must improve his completion percentage for him to live up to his draft spot potential.
Total Yards: In 2010 Bradford was ranked 12th in the NFL with 3,512 total yards thrown. Bradford dropped to 27th overall in 2011 with just 2,164 yards thrown. In order for the Rams to have any success Bradford must be able to prove that he can throw the ball threw the air and down the field.
Touchdowns: In 2010 Bradford ranked 18th in the NFL with 18 touchdowns thrown, which was a great sign his rookie season. Bradford followed up the 2010 season with just 6 touchdowns which made him 33rd overall in the NFL for the 2011 season.
QB Rating: In 2010 Bradford ended his rookie season with a 76.5 QB rating. Bradford answered that with a 70.5 QB rating in 2011. Bradford must improve his QB rating for the Rams to improve on the 2012 season.
NO.1
Josh Freeman
Josh Freeman is number 1 on my list of quarterbacks that must improve on the 2012 season. After having a great 2010 season, Freeman answered an abysmal 2011 season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 2011 season ended with Tampa Bay finishing with a 4-12 season. Freeman must bounce back for the Buccaneers to make it to the playoffs in 2012. Here is Freeman by the numbers.
Completion Percentage: in 2010 Freeman was ranked 17th in the NFL with a 61.4 completion percentage. This may be the only stat in which Freeman improved on in the 2011 season with a 62.8%. Freeman may have improved his completion percentage but his completion percentage to the other team improved as well.
Total Yards: Freeman remainded the same in 2010 and 2011 being ranked 13th overall in the NFL both seasons. Freeman threw for 3,592 yards in 2011 and must improve to at least 4,000 for the Buccaneers to make the playoffs in 2012.
Touchdowns: in 2010 Freeman was ranked 10th overall in the NFL with 25 touchdowns thrown for the season. Freeman responded in 2011 with just 16 touchdowns which made him tied for 18th overall in the NFL. Freeman must get back to the quarterback he was in 2010 for the Buccaneers to score touchdowns.
Interceptions: In 2010 Freeman was ranked 34th overall in the NFL with just 6 intercptions on the season for the then 10-6 Buccaneers. Freeman answered that with 22 interceptions in 2011 which made him 2nd only to Patrick Fitzgerald on the season. Freeman must reduce these numbers in order to be called a top qb in the NFL
QB Rating: In 2010 Freeman was ranked 6th overall in the NFL for QB rating with a 95.9 rating. In 2011 Freeman dropped to 25th overall with a 76.6 QB rating on the season. In order for Bucs to get back to their winning ways Freeman must have a better QB rating in the 2012 season.
So there are my top 5 QB’s that need to bouncew back in 2012. Who do you think should be number one?
The Sports Guys 