The Denver Broncos have had solid play out of the QBs the last 30 years
The Denver Broncos have had some pretty solid play at QB since 1980. I have ranked every QB that has started at least 1 game from 1980-2010 for the Broncos. Here’s how they have stood up in my eyes:
1. John Elway – This was a very easy pick. Elway got the Broncos to 5 Super Bowls, winning 2 of them. He also made it to the Pro Bowl in 9 of his 16 years with the Broncos and he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004. Elway played in 234 games (231 starts) in his 16 years with the Broncos and they were 148-82-1 (64.4%) in those games. Elway completed 4,123 of 7,250 passes (56.9%) for 51,475 yards with 300 TD passes and 226 INTs (79.9 QB Rating). Elway also carried the ball 774 times for 3,407 yards (4.4 ypc) with 33 TD runs with the Broncos. Elway had a rocket launcher attached to his right shoulder and he was also an outstanding runner when things broke down in the pocket.
2. Jake Plummer – The Broncos didn’t know what they were getting when they acquired Plummer because he played pretty poorly for the Cardinals. But, Plummer turned back into “The Snake” like he was in college for the Broncos. The Broncos were 39-15 (72.2%) in games started by Plummer at QB. Plummer played in 59 games (54 starts) for the Broncos and he completed 944 of 1,596 (59.1%) passes for 11,631 yards with 71 TD passes and 47 INTs (84.3 QB Rating). Plummer also carried the ball 54 times for 181 yards (3.7 ypc) with 7 TD runs. Plummer made it to 1 Pro Bowl with the Broncos. Plummer looked like a poor man’s John Elway with the Broncos, but that’s still pretty darn good.
3. Brian Griese – Brian Griese was the Broncos starting QB right after Elway, so it’s hard to imagine how hard he had it. The Broncos were 27-24 (52.9%) in games started by Griese. He played in 53 games (51 starts) for the Broncos and he completed 1,044 of 1,678 passes (62.2%) for 11,763 yards with 71 TD passes and 53 INTs (84.1 QB Rating). Griese also carried the ball 166 times for 516 yards (3.1 ypc) with 5 TD runs. Griese made it to 1 Pro Bowl with the Broncos.
4. Jay Cutler – The Broncos might really dislike former head coach Josh McDaniels down the road for dealing Cutler to the Bears. Cutler was only 17-20 (45.9%) as a starting QB for the Broncos, but that record wasn’t all his fault. Cutler played in 37 games (all starts) for the Broncos and he completed 762 of 1,220 passes (62.5%) for 9,024 yards with 54 TD passes and 37 INTs (87.1 QB Rating). He also carried the ball 113 times for 423 yards (3.7 ypc) with 3 TD runs for the Broncos. Cutler made it to 1 Pro Bowl with the Broncos.
5. Kyle Orton – Kyle Orton was part of the return to Jay Cutler from the Bears and he has played well for the Broncos. The Broncos are only 11-17 (39.3%) when Orton starts but that’s more because of the lousy defense they have been playing the last couple of years. Orton has played in 29 games (28 starts) for the Broncos and he has completed 629 of 1,039 passes (60.5%) for 7,455 yards with 41 TD passes and 21 INTs (87.2 QB Rating). Orton has also carried the ball 49 times for 169 yards (3.7 ypc) for the Broncos. It will be interesting to see if the Broncos start Orton, deal him or have him backup Tim Tebow in 2011.
6. Craig Morton - Craig Morton’s career was winding down in the 1980′s but he was still solid for the Broncos. The Broncos were 15-12 (55.6%) in games started at QB by Morton in the 1980′s. Morton played in 30 games (27 starts) for the Broncos in the 1980′s and he completed 426 of 703 passes (60.6%) for 5,538 yards with 33 TD passes and 30 INTs. He also carried the ball 29 times for 47 yards (1.6 ypc) with 1 TD run.
7. Gus Frerotte – Gus Frerotte was a solid QB for the Broncos as they were 4-3 (57.1%) in games he started. Frerotte played in 14 games (7 starts) for the Broncos and he completed 168 of 280 passes (60%) for 2,084 yards with 12 TD passes and 8 INTs (85.5 QB Rating). He also carried the ball 32 times for 73 yards (2.3 ypc) with 3 TD runs for the Broncos.
8. Steve DeBerg – Steve DeBerg was a solid backup for the Broncos. The Broncos were 5-6 (45.5%) in games started by DeBerg. DeBerg played in 33 games (11 starts) for the Broncos and he completed 314 of 546 passes (57.5%) for 3,819 yards with 22 TD passes and 24 INTs (74.3 QB Rating). DeBerg also carried the ball 30 times for 95 yards (3.2 ypc) with 2 TD runs for the Broncos.
9. Tim Tebow – Tim Tebow was solid as a rookie last year for the Broncos. The Broncos were 1-2 (33.3%) in Tebow’s starts last year. Tebow played in 9 games (3 starts) last year for the Broncos and he completed 41 of 82 passes (50%) for 654 yards with 5 TD passes and 3 INTs (82.1 QB Rating). Tebow also carried the ball 43 times for 227 yards (5.3 ypc) with 6 TD runs last year. Tebow will likely be the starting QB for the Broncos in 2011 if Kyle Orton is dealt. If Orton is still on the team when the 2011 season starts, Tebow will compete with him for the starting gig.
10. Bubby Brister – Bubby Brister wasn’t with the Broncos long, but he played well for them. The Broncos were 4-0 when Brister started at QB for them. He played in 10 games (4 starts) for the Broncos and he completed 96 of 160 passes (60%) for 1,121 yards with 10 TD passes and 6 INTs (86.5 QB Rating). Brister also carried the ball 25 times for 121 yards (4.8 ypc) with 1 TD run for the Broncos.
11. Gary Kubiak – Gary Kubiak was a solid backup QB for the Broncos. The Broncos were 3-2 (60%) in games that Kubiak started at QB. Kubiak played in 119 games (5 starts) for the Broncos and he completed 173 of 298 passes (58.1%) for 1,920 yards with 14 TD passes and 16 INTs (70.6 QB Rating). Kubiak also carried the ball 65 times for 238 yards (3.7 ypc) with 2 TD runs for the Broncos.
12. Ken Karcher – Ken Karcher was the Broncos’ starting QB for the replacement games in 1987. The Broncos were 2-1 (66.7%) in the games started by Karcher. Karcher played in 4 games (3 starts) for the Broncos and he completed 62 of 114 passes (54.4%) for 756 yards with 6 TD passes and 4 INTs (78.0 QB Rating). He also carried the ball 9 times for -3 yards (-0.3 ypc) for the Broncos.
13. Steve Beuerlein – Steve Beuerlein was a so-so QB for the Broncos. The Broncos were 2-3 (40%) in games started by Beuerlein. He played in 12 games (5 starts) for the Broncos and he completed 101 of 180 passes (56.1%) for 1,314 yards with 8 TD passes and 10 INTs (70.9 QB Rating). He also carried the ball 10 times for 22 yards (2.2 ypc) with 1 TD run for the Broncos.
14. Chris Miller – Chris Miller wasn’t with the Broncos long, but he was effective. The Broncos were 2-1 (66.7%) in games started by Chris Miller. Miller played in 3 games (all starts) for the Broncos and he completed 46 of 81 passes (56.8%) for 527 yards with 2 TD passes and 1 INT (79.6 QB Rating). Miller also carried the ball 8 times for 40 yards (5.0 ypc) for the Broncos.
15. Hugh Millen – Hugh Millen was 0-2 as a starting QB for the Broncos but it wasn’t nearly all his fault. Millen played in 8 games (2 starts) for the Broncos and he completed 107 of 171 passes (62.6%) for 1,090 yards with 3 TD passes and 3 INTs (79.3 QB Rating). Millen also carried the ball 8 times for 65 yards (8.1 ypc) for the Broncos.
16. Matt Robinson – Somehow the Broncos were 4-3 (57.1%) in games started at QB by Matt Robinson. Robinson played in 14 games (7 starts) for the Broncos and he completed 78 of 162 passes (48.1%) for 942 yards with 2 TD passes and 12 INTs (39.7 QB Rating). Robinson also carried the ball 21 times for 47 yards (2.2 ypc) with 3 TD runs for the Broncos.
17. Tommy Maddox – Tommy Maddox as a first round bust for the Denver Broncos. Maddox was 0-4 as a starting QB for the Broncos. Maddox played in 29 games (4 starts) for the Broncos and he completed 67 of 122 passes (54.9%) for 758 yards with 6 TD passes and 9 INTs (59.4%). Maddox also carried the ball 11 times for 18 yards (1.6 ypc) in his career with the Broncos.
18. Mark Herrmann – Mark Herrmann was a pretty lousy backup QB for the Broncos. Herrmann was 0-1 as a starting QB for the Broncos. He played in 2 games (1 start) for the Broncos and he completed 32 of 60 passes (53.3%) for 421 yards with 1 TD pass and 4 INTs (53.5 QB Rating). Herrmann also carried the ball 3 times for 7 yards (2.3 ypc) with 1 TD run for the Broncos.
19. Bill Musgrave – Bill Musgrave didn’t do much for the Broncos. He was 0-1 as a starter for the Broncos. Musgrave played in 10 games (1 start) for the Broncos and he completed 39 of 64 passes (60.9%) for 369 yards with 0 TD passes and 2 INTs (63.9 QB Rating). Musgrave also carried the ball 16 times for -8 yards (-0.5 ypc) for the Broncos.
20. Danny Kanell – Danny Kanell was a good college QB, not so good in the pros though. The Broncos were 0-2 when Kanell started at QB. Kanell played in 5 games (2 starts) for the Broncos and he completed 53 of 103 passes (51.5%) for 442 yards with 2 TD passes and 5 INTs (49.1 QB Rating). He also carried the ball 6 times for 5 yards (0.8 ypc) for the Broncos.
21. Jarious Jackson - The Broncos were 0-1 in Jackson’s start. Jackson played in 5 games (1 start) for the Broncos and he completed 11 of 22 passes (50%) for 114 yards with 0 TD passes and 1 INT (46.4 QB Rating). He also carried the ball 7 times for 15 yards (2.1 ypc) for the Broncos.
22. Chris Simms – Chris Simms absolutely sucked for the Broncos. He was 0-1 as a starter for the Broncos. Simms played in 3 games (1 start) for the Broncos and he completed 5 of 17 passes (29.4%) for 23 yards with 0 TD passes and 1 INT (15.1 QB Rating). He also carried the ball 3 times for -4 yards (-1.3 ypc) for the Broncos.
There you have it, the Broncos’ starting QBs through my eyes and where they ranked.