Kyle Orton Disappoints (Again) With 3 First-Half Interceptions

SAN FRANCISCO -- Kyle Orton knew in June he would be the Denver Broncos' starting quarterback, having been given what should have been a confidence-building vote of confidence by first-year head coach Josh McDaniels.

That should have given Orton -- the former, much derided Chicago Bears starter -- ample time to correct the interception problem that has plagued him throughout Denver's mini camps and training camp.

The epidemic of bad passes hasn't waned. Orton endured a ration of heat last week from an Invesco Field crowd of more than 13,000 Broncos followers who booed him lustily for tossing two interceptions during a structured scrimmage. One pick was returned for a touchdown.

Friday night at Candlestick Park, Orton gave impatient Denver fans more reason to voice their displeasure.

Three first-half interceptions from Orton on his first three drives against the San Francisco 49ers' first- and second-team defense were easy pickings, leading to a 9-0 San Francisco halftime advantage. Starting 49ers cornerbacks Nate Clements and Dre' Bly, along with backup safety Reggie Smith, sat back and gladly accepted gifts from Orton, who faced little pass rush on any of his errant throws.

It was this easy: "I saw the route (to tight end Daniel Graham) and played my responsibility and (Orton) threw it," Clements said at halftime. "When an opportunity presented itself, I just made a play on it."

Orton is what Denver received from the Chicago Bears in a monster offseason trade for Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler, along with two first-round Bears' draft picks (2009 and '10) and a third-round pick in '09. This controversial personnel move was the handiwork of McDaniels, the former boy wonder offensive coordinator for New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick who is now experiencing the intense pressure of replacing longtime Broncos czar Mike Shanahan in a football-crazed state.

Sure, Cutler wanted out of Denver, leaving the Broncos little choice to move him. But this stance emerged after the headstrong McDaniels and the slighted Pro Bowl quarterback found they simply could not co-exist following Denver's willingness to listen to trade offers for a player who passed for 4,526 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2008.

Given Orton's disastrous showing Friday night in his exhibition debut, the booing and jeering in Denver will continue in earnest. Until Orton tightens up his game and shows he is worthy of being something more than Chris Simms' backup, that tension building in the Mile High City between a beloved but beleaguered NFL franchise and its hard-to-please fan base will require more than a McDaniels' two-minute miracle to defuse.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

8-15-2009 @ 2:21AM

JFCJR said...

I love it!

Former Bronco Fanatic

8-15-2009 @ 3:01AM

bigpeeler said...

He has taken suckage to a new level. 5,280 feet to be exact.

8-15-2009 @ 8:47AM

ciulineihmenjo said...

Holy CRAP! He threw poorly in a preseason game! Stop the presses, put everything on hold, our season must be going down the toilet! No.
Don't forget, the selfsame Detroit Lions that had the worst record ever in NFL history went 4 - 0 in the preseason. Matt Cassel, who lead the Pats to an 11 - 5 season struggled through the preseason. Don't forget, this is the first time that Denver has gotten to play it's offense against a defense who isn't on the Broncos.
Let's give them a few inches of slack here.

Also, ALL mini-camps with a competent D are plagued with interceptions. If you're a cornerback worth anything in the league, you'll begin to recognize "hey, that's a curl route" and jump the route. Cut the kid some slack. It's his first real game with a new scheme, coach, and wide-outs.

8-15-2009 @ 6:33PM

bleighwheel said...

Hey Josh, what does Chris Simms have to do...walk on water? Great career at Texas - led the Bucs to the playoffs in 2005 - tall, strong armed passer (like Cassel and Brady). In comparison, Orton is a trol under the bridge who watched Rex Grossman take the Bears to the Super Bowl. Oh, I see, Orton's the starter because you traded Cutler for him, not Simms. Great coaching moron!

8-15-2009 @ 9:19PM

joshmosh1222 said...

Orton wasn't a backup his whole career. If you knew anything about football you'd know he was the Bears starter last year. He was a pretty good one and the Bears were doing very well until he got injured. The Bears started doing worse. Then he came back from the injury but was only 85% and of course he wasn't as good as he was before and the Bears just barely misssed the playoffs. Orton is one thing that Jay Cutler never was. A winning quarterback. He's in a new and complicated offense, I doubt you know anything about McDaniel's offense from the Patriots. It's not your average pro-style offense. Not everyone can learn it right away. It also helps that Orton was interepted by Bly and Clements who are two of the best corners in the game. By the end of the preseason he'l have worked out the kinks in his passing.

Also, Chris Simms is old. His arm isn't as strong as it used to be. What he did in the past in 2005 has no affect how he will do now thar he's a lot older (4 years!), let alone how he did in college. If previous stats were all that mattered Graham Harrell would've been the first QB picked in the NFL draft this year and start right away. He and Colt Brennan should be superstars. Well, Harrel is in the CFL right now and Colt Brennan is the thrid stringer for the Redskins.

8-15-2009 @ 10:29PM

Hey Joshmosh...I didn't say Orton was a career backup, I just said he backed up Rex Grossman who lead the Bears to the Super Bowl. In other words, he lost the starting job that year to "REX GROSSMAN!!" That says it all! There were no tears in Bearland when he was traded - for Jay Cutler, or a ham sandwich, whichever. Age wise, they're within a couple of years of each other, and Simms (did you see the game) clearly has a stronger arm and a tight spiral. Not to mention decision making. Whether he was injured or not, he didn't do what Simms did with the Bucs. A playoff birth. Both could be a bust, but, unless you're related to him, I don't understand your over-the-top defense of his career or abilities. Then again, I'm an admitted Simms fan.

8-16-2009 @ 10:10AM

samm said...

whoever the qb 4 the broncos is this yr..they wont win more than 7 games max....terrible decision to trade cutler if they still had him i think they wud b a playoff team

8-16-2009 @ 9:47AM

TheMcEntyres said...

Orton arm is very weak,I seen better arms on High School QBs.Plus Orton telegraph his passes as where Simm looks off and make the right throw.It's going to be a long season in Denver.McDumass won't last 2 years in Denver.

8-18-2009 @ 9:50AM

akpbrown said...

Orton was a good QB in Chicago and I am not alone among Bears fans that would rather see Orton as our QB than Cutler. Jay may have a good arm but he has already demonstrated several times that he is not a good team leader. Same problem he had in Denver.

Orton had an excellent rookie season for the Bears after Grossman got hurt in preseason and took them to the playoffs. Rex came into each camp as the starter except for last season and Orton was in the top 5 QB's statisticly and leading the division until he broke his ankle. Three games later he was back in which was too soon to be effective.

If anyone can learn the complicated offence Denver will be playing it's Orton. Give him some time to develope rather than throw him under the bus. Play Chris Simms??? Give me a break!