Between the two "mediocre players" brought in by Denver sports teams (who have magically transformed into reliable pinacles of success), which one is a bigger surprise... Is it.
Kyle Orton:
6 GP 6 W 0 L
1,465 Yards
9 TD
244.2 Yards/Game
100.1 QB Rating
1 Interception
--OR--
Craig Anderson:
8 GP 6 W 1 L 1 OTL
0.935 S%
2.09 GAA
1 SO
Wow, this is actually a good comparison thread. Both positions that pretty much mean the most to either team. Good idea.
Personally I'm just more happy for Anderson. He's a great story, especially if he keeps this play up. Just, incredible.
But Orton might be the bigger surprise. I honestly had never heard of the guy before. And pretty much everything was looking down for the Broncos offense.
Edit: Then again, I just don't know. I think it's crazier and a bigger surprise for Anderson actually. Just because the Avs have had NOTHING in the way of goaltending in six years now. At least the Broncos had Cutler and were stupid and dealt him.
1) Orton just seems to be a product of the system. I don't think Orton's skills really progressed that much as a player.
2) I think Anderson has a lot more pressure than Orton does in the team's philosophies. Orton just has to manage the game; Anderson has had to make great saves to keep the team in it.
3) If you had to ask me what the keys were to each team's early success, I would say that the Avs are because of Anderson, and the Broncos because of their defense.
1) Orton just seems to be a product of the system. I don't think Orton's skills really progressed that much as a player.
2) I think Anderson has a lot more pressure than Orton does in the team's philosophies. Orton just has to manage the game; Anderson has had to make great saves to keep the team in it.
3) If you had to ask me what the keys were to each team's early success, I would say that the Avs are because of Anderson, and the Broncos because of their defense.
Orton. He's not the more valuable to his team of the two, but he's been the bigger surprise. The Bronco's are 6-0, and he's only thrown one pick (to Randy Moss!) - which came on a Hail Mary in the dying seconds of the half (in other words, he wasn't picked off due to a bad decision). No one thought he'd be as good as he's been after throwing three picks against the 49ers in preseason.
Anderson on the other hand has just been doing what he's done every chance he's had the last three years, which is stand on his head. He's way more vital to the Avalanche's success, but Orton is the bigger surprise imo.
1) Orton just seems to be a product of the system. I don't think Orton's skills really progressed that much as a player.
2) I think Anderson has a lot more pressure than Orton does in the team's philosophies. Orton just has to manage the game; Anderson has had to make great saves to keep the team in it.
3) If you had to ask me what the keys were to each team's early success, I would say that the Avs are because of Anderson, and the Broncos because of their defense.
Agreed as well. Orton is playing behind one of the best, if not THE best offensive lines in football, and also gets to throw to one of the deepest and most athletic receiving corps in the league. It doesn't hurt that the team's running game continues to excel. Anderson on the other hand has done a lot to cover up the Avs' flaws, of which there are still many.
I will give Orton credit in that he has played very smart thus far and hasn't *knock on wood* tried to force it like Cutler always seemed to do under pressure. I severely underestimated Orton's ability to manage a game. Yeah, less flash, but he's getting the ball where it needs to go and letting the receivers and backs do the work. Can't complain at all about his performance thus far.
Craig Anderson was considered mediocre before the season started? He was a guy who had a ton of success as a backup and nearly beat out a $6M goalie for the starting job.
I think the better question is: who is more surprising? Avs or Broncos.
I personally think the Broncos start is the most surprising. I don't know much about football, but I know enough to know that the Broncos had, like, the worst off-season in NHL history. Something along those lines. A 6-0 start from them is absolutely baffling.
As for which player... well I wouldn't say Orton is doing anything magical. The team is just playing real well, which is damn surprising. Orton having success is a surprise, but his play isn't exactly blowing my socks off. He's tenth in passer rating and eighth in passing yards. I guess he was pretty impressive vs. the Pats.
Anderson, on the other hand, IS the avs success. I expected greatness, but not greatness of this calibur. Anderson os top 5 sv% and GAA (or was very recently/will be shortly)
Well put.......I'm just ecstatic that we got Anderson so CHEAP. That's pretty much one of the best contracts the Avs have had in.....maybe franchise history???? A little bit early, but a solid #1 that you can count on night in and night out to at least give the team a chance at $3M is awesome.
Well put.......I'm just ecstatic that we got Anderson so CHEAP. That's pretty much one of the best contracts the Avs have had in.....maybe franchise history???? A little bit early, but a solid #1 that you can count on night in and night out to at least give the team a chance at $3M is awesome.
Try just a touch over $1.8M a year. Which is an absolute steal so far.
Eeh.. Anderson was surprise? I heard only good things about him from florida fans and even all those guys said he was great, but was just playing behind vokoun.
I vote Orton as well. The guy has proven to be able to work well within the new system. He's a decent QB, but can't put a team on his back like Elway did. But he's not going to lose a game for the team either.
