Tim Tebow: Adjustments Tebow and Denver Broncos Must Make

The Broncos were thrashed 45-10 in a complete rout of a game on Sunday versus the Detroit Lions.

We all knew the Lions were a great team and it was highly unlikely that the Broncos would beat Detroit, but some expected the Broncos to make this a competitive game.

It was. For one quarter.

The Broncos offense started off great in their first drive, but quickly fizzled out thereafter. The defense was very good for a quarter-and-a-half, and then started wearing down as the half progressed due to the offense's ineptitude.

There weren't many positives to take from this game. It was certainly a learning experience for not only a young quarterback, but a young team.

Games like these build character for the long haul. One can only hope that this blowout accomplishes just that.

There are many things that the Broncos need to work on not only leading up to their game at Oakland next week, but as the season progresses.

Here are the adjustments that the Denver Broncos need to make.

Tim Tebow Needs to Work on His Timing

Although Tebow's statistics weren't impressive, his mechanics as a whole were a little better in this game versus the first 55 minutes of last week's game versus Miami.

His footwork was better, he showed better patience in the pocket, and he read coverage better as a whole.

However, despite those improvements in the past week, Tebow was still off on his accuracy; a lot of that has to do with timing.

On Tebow's interception, which was returned for a 100-yard touchdown by Lions cornerback Chris Houston, Tebow had Eric Decker open while he was running an out-route to the sidelines, only to completely miss his receiver by throwing behind him by a good few yards.

Brandon Lloyd had a little bit to say about Tebow's pass timing. This is an issue that needs to be rectified. With more experience as the season wears on, Tebow should be able to improve in this department.

If the Broncos are to take the step up from a bottom-dweller team into a competitive team, Tim needs to work on his timing on routes.

Less passes behind receivers and more passes on the marks.

Broncos Need to Run More Quick Passes

Tim Tebow got sacked seven times for the second straight week on Sunday and was under relentless pressure from Gunther Cunningham's defense.

Tebow has to improve in the accuracy department; the offensive line needs to improve their blocking. So why is coach John Fox running so many five- and seven-step drops that require, not only the offensive line to be adequate, but for the quarterback to be precise in his reads and decision making?

Former Broncos great John Lynch said it best during the telecast when he repeatedly stated that the Broncos should have been running more screens, passes to the flats, and three-step drops in order to get Tebow's feet wet.

With all of the attention that Tebow gets, it may seem like he's a seasoned veteran; this was just his fifth start, so it's not surprising that he struggled.

However, why do you think seemingly every coach in the league utilizes a lot of short, quick passing plays when they are starting a young quarterback?

Why John Fox did not do this throughout the game, save for the fourth quarter touchdown pass to Eric Decker, is beyond me.

Defense Needs More Playmakers

Remember how linebacker DJ Williams' strip and forced fumble of Matt Moore in the Dolphins game led to Denver kicking the game-winning field goal last Sunday?

Plays like that give momentum to a team and can completely turn the tide of a game around. The Broncos could not do that versus the Detroit Lions.

This is an area, similar to special teams, which has been a thorn in Denver's backside for years.

Yes, we already know the defense isn't good. And yes, we know they looked worse because the offense was bad, which left them on the field for long stretches of time.

However, the Broncos rank 28th in INTs and 26th in takeaway/giveaway differential. They didn't force a single turnover against the Lions.

For a team that isn't very talented, it needs all the big plays it can get. The Broncos simply don't have many playmakers on defense.

There Needs to Be Better Blocking

This directly correlates with Slide 2.

Outside of tackle Ryan Clady, this offensive line isn't very good. You'd have a hard time arguing that Chris Kuper, Zane Beadles, JD Walton and Orlando Franklin are in the top 16 at their respective positions.

Hell, if you ask most people, they wouldn't know who those guys are, but that doesn't excuse the offensive line for their terrible play.

Yes, Tebow played terrible—you can't really argue against that. Yes, some of the pressure that resulted in Tebow constantly getting knocked down was a result of the quarterback simply holding on to the ball or trying to keep a play alive for too long.

But let's be honest here—the O-line constantly allowed the pocket to collapse, and even when Denver would keep extra blockers, the Broncos were still no match for Detroit's defensive line.

The Broncos had one play where they kept everybody back and only had two players run receiving routes—and they still gave up a sack. That is simply a case of being outmatched, and that is an indicator that the opposing team is simply better than you.

Third Down Conversions Need to Be Converted

There was a graphic during the game showing how the Broncos rank 18th in the NFL in third down conversions with a 38 percent conversion rate.

In this game, they weren't close to even matching that number. They were 0-for-8 at one point and finished the game 2-for-14; that's a 14 percent conversion rate for those that are wondering.

If you want to be a great team in the NFL, you need to able to convert on your third downs. That is how you win games, that is how you prolong drives, and that is how you wear down defenses.

Tim Tebow and the Broncos were incapable of doing that, leading to Denver being easily defeated 45-10 in their Week 8 matchup.

Tebow absolutely needs to better position his passes to his receivers so they can move the chains on third downs. Likewise, his receivers need to catch the ball when he does target and pass more accurately.