Tim Tebow: 4 Realistic Expectations for Denver Broncos QB vs. Miami Dolphins

Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow is taking over his team's offense today, getting his first 2011 start against the winless Miami Dolphins.

While his supporters have been waiting for this moment for some time, and have only great things predicted for the young Tebow today, the reality is that the team will likely be more conservative than take major risks this afternoon.

In the following slides, I will detail how Tebow will be involved in the Broncos' game plan against Miami.

Expect to See a Lot of Hand-Offs

Regardless of whom the quarterback is, it's generally a safe bet to assume that when he's new to the starting offense, he won't be asked to do much.

And considering the Denver Broncos have a competent running game thanks to Willis McGahee, the handoff will be Tebow's best friend this Sunday.

The Dolphins boast one of the overall worst defenses in the league against both the run and the pass, which means that Tebow will have his opportunities to throw today.

Nevertheless, expect a conservative approach by head coach John Fox, with Tebow doing what all replacement quarterbacks generally do in their first start—give the ball to the running back.

Tebow Will Look to Make Plays with His Feet

As a corollary to the handoff, quarterback Tim Tebow will likely get ample opportunity to run with the ball himself.

Whether that comes as a result of a designed play or a breakdown of protection, Tebow's clearly got a strength when it comes to running with the ball.

While there are still concerns about Tebow's throwing motion and accuracy—as well as questions about how well he has meshed with Denver's receivers—this isn't going to be a pass-heavy outing for the quarterback.

Luckily, the handoff isn't the only way Tebow can be involved with the Broncos running game—look for him to have a number of runs himself, and probably one that results in a touchdown.

The Dolphins Defense Will Try to Bring Pressure

"Try" being the operative word.

Miami is 0-5 due to a wholesale collapse of both offense and defense, which gives Tebow a lot of opportunities this Sunday.

Against a more difficult team, he'd be significantly limited. But that doesn't mean that the Dolphins defense won't bring as much pressure as possible.

While the Dolphins' success will certainly be limited, if their previous five games are any indication, it's clear that any defense is going to look to confuse a young quarterback.

Luckily, Tebow's ability to run with the ball will mitigate a lot of that pressure. But that doesn't mean that Miami won't attempt to shut Tebow down on every play.

The Denver offensive line does have some issues regarding protection and Tebow won't be able to run away from every blitz the Dolphins send his way today.

Tebow Won't Be a Hero

He might be competent, he might be effective and he might win the Broncos the game, but he won't be displaying any heroics this Sunday against the Dolphins, simply because that's not how Denver has set up their offense for him.

His fans may want to see him air it out, but he doesn't have a premier target now that the team has traded away Brandon Lloyd.

His much-talked-about throwing motion, while not the major liability everyone might claim it is, is still problematic.

And he's still young. John Fox installed Tebow as the starting quarterback because Kyle Orton wasn't getting the job done, but that doesn't mean he expects Tebow to transform into Aaron Rodgers just because he got the nod.

What Fox wants from Tebow is a game manager, a quarterback who won't lose a game for his team, who will propel them toward a win without having to take on more than he's asked to do.

No, there won't be heroics from Tebow today, even if he plays well.

The Broncos need consistent play from their quarterback more than anything, so expect Tebow to play conservatively and intelligently and not take unnecessary risks in the pursuit of victory.