Tim Tebow: Lots of Luck Needed To Carry Denver Broncos

Tim Tebow was just named the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos.  

Tebow will need to say several Hail Marys to get him through his trial run as Broncos starting quarterback.  This will be rough for Tebow.

Tebow has been hailed by Broncos fans as the savior of the team.  Many have clamored for him to be named starting quarterback for the Broncos for a long time.  Some fans had gone so far that they decided to buy billboards to build support for Tebow to take the starting quarterback job.

Apparently, these fans don't understand that billboards are spaces used to rally political causes, such as Focus on the Family, for whom Tebow appeared in a Super Bowl commercial.

John Fox had faced inordinate pressure to put Tebow in the starting job.  Fan pressure was immense. Pro-Tebow signs dotted the stadium.  Fans booed Kyle Orton, who has seen enough unwarranted adversity in his career.

Perhaps the pressure was too much for Fox—he caved in.

Nevertheless, Tebow has his chance now.  Tebow can affirm his fans.  Tebow, who didn't practice with the first unit in training camp or during regular season practices, has a bye week to prepare before his first test.  Tebow will be able to get his first-team repetitions.  He will be able to establish some rhythm with the starters.

His first game against will be against the Miami Dolphins.  That won't be too bad.  

The Dolphins are 0-4 and have the No. 24 scoring defense.  They have a good defensive end in Cameron Wake.  Wake, who has three sacks this season, could get in Tebow's face.

Nonetheless, facing the Dolphins won't be like being thrown into the lion's den.

That'll come the following week, when the Broncos play the Detroit Lions.  Tebow will need a bunch of Hail Marys leading up to that game.  Ndamukong Suh will give him great trouble.  Suh, the defensive tackle of a generation, is as ferocious as they come.  He will be on Tebow much of the day.

The Broncos offensive line hasn't done a terrific job holding up for Orton.  They've allowed nine sacks.  While that isn't bad, it isn't good either.

Tebow won't help the offense do its job.  He isn't prepared to start.  

Tebow doesn't snap the ball very well, since he's still getting used to taking the ball from under center.  In another problem transitioning from the spread offense in college to his current system with the Broncos, Tebow struggles to make the turn after the snap.  This is a natural turn for most, but for a former spread-offense quarterback it's a problem.

Moreover, Tebow's accuracy is a glaring issue.  Tebow's accuracy held him down last season.  

He was 50 percent passing last season.  That kept him from winning a couple games last year.

On Sunday, he was no better.  Tebow only completed four of 10 passes.  That was no help, despite all of his heart and effort.  Despite his nice runs, Tebow still threw the ball poorly.

In any game, throwing the ball will be more important than a scramble or bootleg.

Then, one adds Tebow's weak arm.  Tebow doesn't have quite the arm that Orton has.  This could leave Brandon Lloyd and others a bit disappointed.

Don't forget the factor that Tebow can't control, no matter how hard he prays.  The Broncos defense is awful.  

Even while Von Miller has started his rookie year superbly with five sacks, the Broncos are among the worst defensively.  The Broncos are 30th in scoring defense.  The defense won't help Tebow at all.

Tebow could be facing deficits—even large ones—at many points during his starting run.

Fox will have his hands full.  Tebow will steer through some rough rides.  In his second year, Tebow has many kinks to work out.  Fox might have to put handcuffs on Tebow, keeping him from making too many mistakes.

Tebow may not last long as the Broncos starting quarterback.  Fox may have to switch back to Orton after a few games.  While a switch might displease fans, it may be for the better.

Tebow needs an extraordinary amount of luck to succeed as starter.  He's not developed yet.  

This might not be the charm for which Broncos fans have wished.