Tim Tebow: Why Broncos Star Will Become an Elite QB in 2012

Tim Tebow is working on his throwing motion with the coaches who helped make him a first-round pick and a viable starter in the NFL.

According to Peter Yoon of ESPN Los Angeles, Tebow is in L.A. working with UCLA offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone:

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Mazzone and his son, Taylor, have been working out with Tebow twice a day for a couple of hours at a time since last weekend, Noel Mazzone said Wednesday, hoping to improve upon Tebow's heavily-scrutinized passing ability.

"He just came out here to throw and work on a few things and see if we can just become a little more efficient in what he's doing," Noel Mazzone said, noting that the sessions will last through the weekend and maybe longer. "Throwing motion, footwork, everything I work on with all my quarterbacks."

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These workouts alone aren't enough to declare Tebow an improved and possibly elite quarterback in 2012, neither will the fact that Philip Rivers, Christian Ponder and Brock Osweiler are working out with him as well.

But there is something that will give Tebow an edge going into the 2012 season and possibly make him an elite quarterback: time.

When Tebow entered the league he was not expected to start immediately — he wound up starting three games, winning one, at season's end.

Then the NFL lockout hit and Tebow was kept out of his facility and away from his coaches along with every other player in the league. For a second-year quarterback, that time going into the second season is absolutely crucial for development.

He was sent down the depth chart all the way to third-string by the time the season opened despite constant fan pressure for him to be named the starter.

They couldn't keep him down long though. TebowMania ensued, and you know the rest.

Tebow goes into this offseason knowing he'll be the Week 1 starter. Tebow goes into this offseason knowing the Broncos are his football team to lead. Tebow goes into this offseason knowing that when NFL rules allow it, he'll be back with his coaching staff working as the starter for the first time in his career.

Although the leash may be short, the fact that Tebow has any leash at all is important for his development in the NFL.

His methods at the quarterback position may be unorthodox, but he gets the job done by any means necessary.

With time, coaching and an opportunity, Tim Tebow can be an elite quarterback. It may not be by the standards we've come to set for quarterbacks in this league, but he's elite when it comes to winning games.

We'll see that again in 2012.