Tim Tebow gets the white-hot spotlight and all the hype. But while the polarizing Denver Broncos quarterback is watched by the world, an ex-University of Utah QB has guided his ascension.
Almost 17 years ago, Mike McCoy led the Utes to a 16-13 victory in the 1994 Freedom Bowl, persevering against Arizona?s Desert Swarm defense to unearth a last-minute victory via a fourth-and-goal desperation touchdown toss.
Today, McCoy walks the sidelines as Denver?s offensive coordinator, alternately barking in Tebow?s ear and making tactical in-game adjustments that have propelled the Broncos to the No. 1 rushing attack in the NFL (163.1 yards per game) and on the verge of qualifying for the playoffs.
?I?ve been fortunate that I?ve been able to work with some great people and very good football coaches, and I?ve learned a lot,? said McCoy, prior to Denver?s 41-23 home loss to the New England Patriots last Sunday. ?I?ve always been someone to say, ?Hey, you?ve got to make the most of your opportunities,? and I think that?s what I?ve done.?
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?Total turnaround ? So have the Broncos.
Denver (8-6) holds a one-game lead over Oakland and San Diego in the AFC West with just two weeks left in the regular season. The Broncos can clinch a playoff spot Saturday with a victory at Buffalo and losses by Cincinnati, Tennessee and the New York Jets.
On Oct. 9, Denver?s year was a disaster just five weeks into the season. The Broncos were 1-4, then-starting QB Kyle Orton wasn?t cutting it, Tebow chants poured down from the stands and new coach John Fox was limping toward the chopping block.
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Then Denver made a change. Tebow was promoted, Orton was released and McCoy worked with quarterbacks coach Adam Gase to quickly adapt the Broncos? struggling offense to the run-first, pass-second QB who previously was more of a popular debate topic than a prime-time player.
Victories in seven of eight games followed ? several featuring thrilling late-game comebacks won in overtime ? Tebowmania spread like wildfire and Denver climbed from the doormat to a darkhorse AFC contender with McCoy calling many of the shots.
?[McCoy] and Adam Gase have done a great job of changing around what we do to kind of make sure that we?re using our best abilities that we have on offense,? Broncos receiver/punt returner Eddie Royal said after the loss to the Patriots. ?Tim?s able to run the ball, so we?ve mixed that in a lot and they?ve done a great job of doing that.?
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QB and OC ? Tebow offered his own praise. The energetic, spiky-haired QB took 30 seconds out of a postgame news conference last Sunday to discuss how McCoy has tailored Denver?s offensive schemes to fit the second-year player?s unique assets.
The Broncos still keep it simple, using a balanced run-pass attack that?s as old school as it is new age. But McCoy acknowledged adding a ?wrinkle or two? each week that?s aided Tebow?s evolution. And the Heisman winner and two-time national champion at Florida said his OC has utilized everything from power runs and play-action passes to unbalanced sets and option-tosses to send Denver skyward.
?There are a lot of different recipes [that defenses] have to prepare for,? Tebow said.
The variety and the victories haven?t stemmed the tide of Tebow haters. If anything, critics have risen to the occasion to meet the Christian QB head on.
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