Tim Tebow: 5 Bold Predictions For Tebow's 2011 QB Debut

Denver Broncos fans have been chanting for it, and it appears their wish is finally going to come true in Week 4 against the Green Bay Packers. Second-year quarterback Tim Tebow is going to see time at quarterback in this week's game.

The news, which was reported by the Denver Post, should not come as a surprise to anyone because starting quarterback Kyle Orton has struggled so far this season and Tebow was a first-round draft pick, so at some point the team will have to see what he can do.

Plus, the Packers defense, particularly the secondary, has been struggling to stop quarterbacks all season long. Putting Tebow in against this team will be good for his confidence, and it should have a positive impact on him the rest of this season.

But what should fans expect from the former Heisman trophy winner when he lines up under center on Sunday afternoon in Green Bay?

Here are five bold predictions for Tebow as he makes his first appearance as a quarterback in 2011.

Wildcat Formations

I don't believe that John Fox trusts Tim Tebow to throw the ball, which is why he has been third on the depth chart for most of this season.

If that holds true in this game, expect Tebow to be used as more of a running back than a quarterback.

Tebow had success last year running the Wildcat offense, but it does not help his development if he is not given the opportunity to throw the ball.

It might be more exciting to allow Tebow to run around and make a play, but eventually the gloves will have to come off and he will have to be allowed to throw the ball.

Conservative Passing

In keeping with the idea that John Fox does not trust Tebow to throw the ball, he is going to make sure that his second-year quarterback does not have a chance to make a mistake by being conservative with the passing game.

One thing that Fox has always been criticized of is his conservative play-calling. He did this constantly in Carolina, even when he had Steve Smith putting up MVP-caliber numbers, and he will continue to do it as long as he is a head coach.

Expect Tebow to be doing a lot of three-step drops when he is in the game.

It would be better for Tebow—and the Broncos offense—if he is allowed to air it out, but nothing in Fox's past should lead you to believe that will happen.

At Least One Turnover

As much as Broncos fans want to believe that Tebow is the savior for this team, it is important to remember that he is only in his second season and has only started three games in his career.

In the last two regular season games he started in 2010, Tebow threw at least one interception. The Packers defense has not been great at stopping opposing quarterbacks from getting yards against them, but they have managed to intercept five passes so far this season.

At some point, Tebow is going to have to take a chance down the field because the Packers are going to put up a lot of points on this defense.

The Packers still have a great defensive line that can put pressure on any quarterback. Tebow is going to feel that pressure and be forced into making a mistake.

Tebow Will Make at Least One Spectacular Run

For all the talk that I have done about Tebow's arm and how he won't be passing for a lot of yards in this game, he still has the ability to make a play with his feet. He showed that in the three games that he started last season and during his four years at Florida.

Tebow is going to be quick to tuck the ball and run if his first option isn't open, and that will force the Packers defensive line to try and tackle him. Considering that he is built like a linebacker, tackling him is not going to be an easy thing to do.

Last season, Tebow had a touchdown run of 40 yards against Oakland in which he broke two tackles inside the 10-yard line.

Tebow has the ability to make a spectacular play, as he showed at times last season, and he will do that again in this game against the Packers.

Tebow's Performance Will Force John Fox to Play Him More

Look, I like Kyle Orton and think that he is a good quarterback. But Tim Tebow has the potential to be, at least, a good factor back, to borrow a term from Merril Hoge, in the NFL. He just has to be given a chance to play.

Tebow is not going to be Cam Newton, though some analysts can't resist making the comparison. Not that he has to be, so just let him be who he is. If he is a good scrambling quarterback, which it looks like he might be based on the small sample size from last season, then John Fox needs to put him in when the team needs a change of pace at quarterback.

No one is disputing that Orton is a better pure quarterback than Tebow, but Tebow deserves a chance to play more than he has this season.

Being placed third on the depth chart was a slap in the face to Tebow. It actually felt like Fox's way of telling everyone around him that he is in charge and no one is going to tell him what to do.

After Tebow's performance in this game against the Packers, regardless of how much or how little he plays, Fox is going to be forced to put him into more games this season.

It's not like the Broncos are going to the playoffs this season, so what difference does it make if they lose a couple more games with Tebow taking 40-45 percent of the snaps?