In an interview with Denver Post, Broncos head coach John Fox said he plans to have an open competition for the quarterback position this preseason, assuming the labor dispute is resolved.
“I prefer a gamer to a good practice player. … I want someone who will execute under pressure in a game,” Fox told the Denver Post, adding that he had a pretty good idea who the starter would be at the beginning of the season.
A depth chart hung a in a cabinet could be seen during the interview and listed the quarterbacks in order, starting with Kyle Orton at No. 1 with Tim Tebow at No. 2 and Brady Quinn at No. 3. Fox also said that he will not bring in another quarterback to compete with those three once camp begins.
“We’ve got three quarterbacks who have started games in this league. I know that quarterback is the top priority in Denver — and there’s a reason why they are so important because the great ones are so hard to find — but I like the problem of having three to pick from,” Fox told the Denver Post.
Orton started the first 13 games of 2010 and was on his way to his best statistical season before missing the final three games due to a rib injury.
Orton threw for more than 3,600 yards and completed nearly 59 percent of his passes, including 20 touchdowns and just nine interceptions. Despite is statistical success, the team was just 3-10 in his starts.
Tebow started the final three games and went 1-2, showing flashes of excitement as well as inexperience. Most memorable was his 40-yard touchdown run in his first start in Oakland.
Tebow finished his three starts completing 40-of-81 passes for 651 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions. His elusiveness and ability to run the ball could give him an advantage in the competition as he ran 31 times for 199 yards and three touchdowns in those three starts, more than 100 yards more than Orton ran for in his 13 starts.
Fox also added that he will put a higher priority in the running game, saying the Broncos will have “the most sophisticated system in the game.”
That likely means that the Broncos will sign at least running back once free agency begins to complement Knowshon Moreno.
Likely candidates are Cedric Benson, Cadillac Williams, Ronnie Brown and DeAngelo Williams, who played under Fox in Carolina.
While in Carolina, Fox was known for having two running backs that contributed heavily, first with DeShaun Foster and Stephen Davis and finishing with Williams and Jonathan Stewart.