Tim Tebow: Mark Sanchez's Struggles Will Force Jets to Turn to Tebow in 2012

The New York Jets will be forced to start Tim Tebow at some point early in the 2012 season as Mark Sanchez continues to regress. 

The Jets got rid of Brian Schottenheimer this past offseason, much to the delight of Jets fans across the nation. In his stead, they brought in conservative curmudgeon and running-game specialist Tony Sparano. 

So far this preseason, Sanchez has been just awful, even when he does have time to throw. He is in danger of turning into David Carr without a capable pass-protecting line.

Through two games, he's completed 13 of 17 passes—seemingly awesome—for only 80 yards (4.7 yards per attempt). The second half of that equation is what's so depressing, and on top of that, he's thrown one pick and zero touchdowns. 

Tebow hasn't looked much better, completing only nine of 22 passes for 96 yards. He has also thrown one interception and zero touchdowns, but he has managed to move the offense a bit more consistently than Sanchez. 

Throughout their careers, Tebow is much more reliable than Sanchez at maintaining possession of the ball. 

Neither quarterback has done anything worth shouting about thus far in the preseason, and much of the problem can be traced to a porous offensive line.

All that does is make Tebow's case stronger, though. Tebow will protect the ball, move the chains and, at the very least, give the team plenty of opportunities to score field goals.

The team has gotten stronger on defense in 2012 with the additions of Quinton Coples and LaRon Landry. With a strong pass rush and a competent secondary, this unit should return to form.

If only the offense could move the ball...

If the Jets can't protect their quarterback (they can't), then the next logical step is to turn the ball over to their resident running quarterback. They need to implement a conservative read-option offense—much like the one Tebow ran for Jon Fox in Denver last season for the Broncos. 

Sanchez isn't the right man for the job given the sad state of affairs on the team's offensive line, and as a result, it'll be Tebow time sooner than later for the Jets. 

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