I just don't get all this ridicule of Marrone for benching a QB whom everyone can plainly see is struggling with the fundamentals of professional football. Lets look at the facts of how EJ is playing.
Fact 1 - He is missing wr's that are wide open, either not seeing them or seeing them and throwing a utterly un catch-able ball. (inaccurate)
2. - He almost never plants his feet when he throws. If he look at his foot work he's almost always on the balls of his feet or on his heels when he throws.
3. - most of his throws are a "touch pass" throws instead of a planted foot throw that has real velocity on it.
4. - Not able to read defenses (yet).
You add all these up and it's plain to see, he's not ready.
He was a "project" QB when he was drafted. They knew when they drafted him he would need time to develop which was why they signed Kolb. He was supposed to sit and watch a vet play.... not start.
If benching him now give him time to watch and learn how to be a Pro QB then do it. Orton has been around a while. Is he the answer to QB, HELL no, but EJ can carry a clip board and learn from Orton, who performs better than EJ in the areas EJ struggles (accuracy, planted feet throws, defensive reads ect..).
I think long term, EJ could be a great QB. He has many attributes that great QB's have, size, strength, escape-ability under pressure (sometimes), and he's smart. He just needs time to fix the issues with his fundamentals. Just not while he's playing as a starter.
BigPappy