Tim Tebow: Why He Should Not Start If Jets Struggle Early

The New York Jets are showing every indication they're going to struggle early in the regular season, but  Tim Tebow should not be inserted as the starting quarterback regardless of how poorly incumbent Mark Sanchez plays.

In what should be a very competitive AFC East division, the Jets have had the worst-looking offense of the preseason. Jets beat writer Jenny Vrentas of The Star-Ledger summed it up well in 140 characters:

"

Jets have gone 12 quarters, 36 drives and 173 plays without a TD this preseason.

— Jenny Vrentas (@JennyVrentas) August 27, 2012"

That's quite a long time to not put the ball in the endzone, and it's something Tebow has been known to do, especially late in games.

It is the preseason after all, and it is unclear how much new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano is opening up the offense. He's definitely not showing anything from Tebow's alleged special package.

The New York media is known to be brutal, and Sanchez could shoulder much of the blame if the offense can't get off the ground early on.

Thrusting Tebow in will not be the answer, though.

As a backup entering last season with the Denver Broncos, Tebow didn't get any reps with the starters until he was plugged into the lineup in Week 6.

For a player who was understood to be a project as a first-round pick back in 2010, Tebow has not had much in the way of time to develop his passing skills. It showed frequently last season, but somehow it all went out the window in clutch situations as the Broncos magically made the AFC Divisional playoffs.

I'm not a Tebow apologist by any means. He hasn't shown consistent accuracy on short to intermediate throws, nor the consistent ability to read a defense. Look no further than this interception last week against the Carolina Panthers.

I do admire how hard he works, how much he cares about football, and whatever he did last season was the most entertaining, inexplicable run of football I've ever seen from a quarterback.

I want to see more, and you probably do, too, whether Tebow fails or succeeds.

He deserves a fair opportunity, and in his current situation with the Jets, getting forced into the starting quarterback role in the middle of 2012 is not beneficial for Tebow as an individual or for the team as a whole.

This is now Tebow's third different offense in three seasons in the league. In his limited opportunities as a rookie, he was impressive as a passer.

Using a modified offense in 2011 and without any reps with the first unit, Tebow found a way to win Denver some football games and generate incredible buzz. At times, though, he was not impressive at all.

The only viable, proven receiving option on the outside is Santonio Holmes. Stephen Hill is talented but is still raw.

Beyond Dustin Keller at tight end making plays in the passing game, the Jets don't have many weapons. That will only inhibit Tebow's ability to succeed, along with Sanchez's.

It may be another disappointing year for Rex Ryan's swagger-filled squad, but dumping Sanchez after a five-year, $60 million contract extension is not the answer.

Tebow needs time to develop, and before he's even been given a chance to do so, the majority of outsiders have written him off as a passer.

It's typically unwise to write off Tim Tebow, but given his current situation in the Big Apple, conventional wisdom indicates that it's fine to do so for now.

Then again, when has anything about Tebow been conventional?