With Orton as starter, Denver averaged 21 points scored a game and 28 given up.
With Tebow as starter, Denver has averaged 19 1/3 points scored a game and 20 given up.
With Orton as starter, Denver scored at least 20 in 4 of 5 games.
With Tebow as starter, Denver scored at least 20 in 1 of 6 games.
With Orton as starter, Denver gave up more than 20 points in 4 of 5 games.
With Tebow as starter, Denver gave up more than 20 points in 2 of 6 games.
All of this should be a clear indication that Tebow, while he has certainly brought something to the team, does not deserve the lion's share of credit for Denver's current success. Instead, it is the play of the defense that deserves the attention.
Yes, Tebow has done a better job protecting the ball. Orton had too many turnovers. Making the switch appears to have been a good idea, at least for this season. However, when you score fewer points that you were before yet suddenly win the majority of your games, the focus should be on the defensive improvement. If he does not improve his passing, Tebow will be successful only so long as his defense continues to smother the opposition. Trent Dilfer was able to win a SB by letting his defense win games and avoiding mistakes, perhaps Tebow will be able to do the same; what bothers me is giving Tebow the credit when the majority of his play argues against it.
Oh, and has already been said, college and the NFL are not the same. The talent levels are different, the amount of time with which to develop players is different, even some of the rules are different. There's no reason to assume that because something works at the college level it will work in the pros. I'm not opposed to trying new tactics at the NFL level, but saying that an option-type system doesn't work simply because NFL coaches are idiots is just silly.
