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Broncos not panicking over struggles

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — From armchair quarterbacks to Hall of Famers, everyone has an opinion on how to fix Tim Tebow’s recent funk.

Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy has heard it all, even receiving advice from his wife, but insists it’s not the time or place to reinvent the offense — again. He wants to build off what has worked so well up until a recent three-game slide: A run-oriented scheme with passes sprinkled in from Tebow.

That strategy was successful during the team’s six-game winning streak and McCoy thinks it can be the right formula against the Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) in a first-round playoff game Sunday.

Provided, of course, the Broncos (8-8) can get Tebow back on track.

The unorthodox quarterback has at times looked flustered as the team floundered down the home stretch, backing into the playoffs. Broncos boss and Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway recently weighed in on the erratic play of Tebow, saying he wanted to see a more aggressive approach in the passing game.

McCoy couldn’t agree more.

“Without a doubt. And it’s not just Tim,” McCoy said. “Tim has made his mistakes, but it’s not one guy. We have 11 guys on the field and we’re all accountable for that, myself included. I could help him. I wish I knew certain coverage was there at times, and I’d call the game different.”

Noticeably absent from the passing attack in recent weeks have been short passes to the running backs and quick, timing routes. Completing a few of those types of throws early against Pittsburgh might bolster Tebow’s confidence.

Or so the theory goes.

Tebow completed six of his first eight passes at Buffalo two weeks ago, only to finish 7 of 22 the rest of the way in a 40-14 loss that shook his confidence the following week in a 7-3 loss to Kansas City.

“It’s the flow of the game,” McCoy said. “We’re going to do whatever we think is the best plan against a certain opponent, and sometimes those may not be quick passes. So we put the game plan in what is best for the football team.”

These days, everyone around the Mile High City has thoughts on why Tebow has struggled. That’s become the hot topic on talk shows.

And many point the finger at McCoy.

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