Tim Tebow: Why the Broncos Quarterback Hasn't Proven Anything Yet

Tim Tebow is arguably the most polarizing athlete of his generation. A quarterback who does not have the tools to be the prototypical passer in the NFL, Tebow was one of the greatest college leaders and winners of all time. He is either loved or absolutely hated. However you perceive Tebow, the facts are all we can judge him by right now because intangibles are immeasurable, and those intangibles are what the Tebow lovers point to when claiming how he can become a franchise quarterback. 

Last season Tebow produced mixed results. In sporadic playing time, he completed barely 50 percent of his passes and was 1-2 as a starter. Sure, he led the offense down the field with some consistency and scored points, but that is far from being proof he can or will be the man to lead a franchise to the promise land.

Flash forward to Sunday afternoon. Kyle Orton was completely ineffective in the first half and yanked in favor of Tebow. Down 26-10, and having just witnessed an atrocious quarterback performance, just about anything Tebow did would be perceived as effective.

Let's analyze just how wildly everyone seems to be jumping to conclusions about Tebow after one half of football.

First of all, he completed four passes. Four. He is a quarterback, in case people forgot. His job is to throw the ball, first and foremost. He grossly failed at his primary job. Four completions on 10 attempts.

To go even further into that number, consider the first completion was for a grand total of zero yards. The second completion was a screen play that Knowshon Moreno turned into a touchdown. The third completion was a horrible throw that was an obvious incompletion if Brandon Lloyd didn't make one of the greatest catches in recent memory. And the fourth completion was a 30-yarder to the tight end when the Chargers were playing prevent defense at the end of the game.

Four completions in 10 attempts in one half of football.

Outstanding, I guess. 

Secondly, analyze the last play of the game. Tebow was so erratic in the pocket that at one point he did a spin move with nobody around him, turning his back completely toward the end zone in which the Broncos were trying to score. He then scrambled toward the rush, then away from the rush, and was forced to throw across his body to the end zone. His disciples will argue it was a testament to Tebow making something out of nothing. Those who understand football will note when a play is run from the 29-yard line, it isn't exactly a Hail Mary that requires a great deal of time to complete. 

Finally, look at some of the simple plays Tebow failed to make: an easy sideline throw to a wide open receiver skipped to the feet of the target, two bobbled exchanges under center.

He may be athletically, emotionally and physically ready for the NFL, but he is far from ready to be a quarterback that wins games.