Tim Tebow: 5 Pieces Broncos Need to Build a Winner for Mile High Messiah

Now that the dust has settled in the wake of the Denver Broncos' 41-23 loss to the New England Patriots, we can all take stock of what it's really going to take for this team to win with Tim Tebow likely entrenched under center for the foreseeable future.

Yes, the Broncos are better than most expected they'd be in Year One of the John Fox Era, following a dismal 4-12 campaign in 2010.

And yes, as the game against the Pats showed, Denver was as much the benefactor of good fortune as it was of clutch play by its quarterback and its defense during the now-defunct six-game winning streak.

Glad we got that out of the way.

So, while the Broncos are busy fighting for the AFC West title and the home game in the playoffs that comes with it, John Elway and his front-office masterminds will be huddled in a bunker somewhere outside of Las Vegas, putting together a holiday wish list that, invariably, will have to wait until spring to be addressed.

Here's what inquiring minds would likely find scribbled on Elway's notepad.

A Reliable Wide Receiver

It'd be easy to look at Tebow's passing numbers—a 48.6-percent success rate on passes attempted, 108.5 yards per game, 6.7 yards per attempt—and, after chuckling in disbelief, conclude that the guy can't throw the ball and may be better suited to playing fullback.

You wouldn't be entirely remiss in your evaluation, though I'd encourage you to direct at least some of your attention to the people he's throwing the ball to.

Namely, Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas. The two have combined to catch just 68 of the 144 balls sent their way this season by Tebow and Kyle Orton, not all of which have gone sailing over their heads. Both would be solid second or third receivers, but hardly check in as No. 1 material.

That distinction once belonged to Brandon Lloyd, who was sent to the St. Louis Rams at the trade deadline—just in time for Tebow's takeover.

What Tebow needs is another receiver like Lloyd, someone who can actually pull the ball in when it hits him in the numbers and who can make the incredible grab when he has to. That way, Tebow and the Broncos wouldn't have to wade through quite so many 3-for-16 first halves as they have this season. 

A Versatile Tight End

Along those same lines, the Broncos could use a big target at tight end to give Tebow something of a safety blanket to throw to when the intended play invariably breaks down.

It seems like just about every other play that Tebow is left to scramble when he can't find his receivers down field and has nobody to throw to underneath.

Not surprisingly, Daniel Fells, Denver's top tight end, has managed but five catches in games that Tebow has started this season and has been left off the stat sheet entirely on five separate occasions.

Fells has never been a high-volume pass catcher—he posted career highs in catches (41) and yards (391) last season with the Rams—and doesn't figure to suddenly flip a switch anytime soon. As such, the Broncos would be wise to find another big body who can catch and run as well as he can block and protect.

A Pass-Catching Running Back

Are you detecting a pattern yet? Let me give you another hint, just in case you haven't: Tebow needs receivers!

Especially out of the backfield, of which the Broncos are even more devoid than they are of wide outs and tight ends. Willis McGahee has had a surprisingly effective season running the ball, but would never be mistaken for Ray Rice or Darren Sproles.

In fact, McGahee has caught exactly one pass from Tebow this season—a two-yard dump against the Bears.

Lance Ball, McGahee's backup, has been a bit more prolific in that regard, with 11 catches for 122 yards during Tebow's reign. Still, he doesn't quite check out as a great receiving back.

Knowshon Moreno would've fit the bill a bit better, but injuries and a lack of favor from John Fox have left him out of the mix.

The Broncos could sit back and wait for Moreno to have a bounce-back season in 2012, or they could be proactive and find someone with hands that can catch and legs that can run. 

A Bulky, Blocking Full Back

If the Broncos want Tebow to last more than, say, three years as a pro, they'd do well to invest in some protection for him.

And no, I'm not talking about anything made of Kevlar or latex.

If Denver's not going to tell Tebow to stop running the ball, then the team might as well make sure that he doesn't get crushed every time he takes off. A big backfield blocker, preferably a full back, would do wonders to keep Tebow out of harm's way and moving forward with the ball on a regular basis.

And, of course, it wouldn't hurt if said full back was capable of catching the ball hither and thither, either.

A Miracle Worker Quarterback Tutor

What would help Tebow and the Broncos the most, though, is someone who can work with Tebow, who can teach him the mechanics of successful NFL quarterbacking.

Elway has already circuitously offered his services and would, in theory, be the perfect person for the position. After all, who better to teach Tebow how to play quarterbacking in Denver than the man who did it better than anyone else ever has?

As herky-jerky as Tebow is under center, it's not as though he's a lost cause as a passer. The guy's shown the ability to chuck the ball more than a few yards at a time and, more importantly, is as diligent a worker as you'll yet find among the young quarterbacks in the league today.

Tebow's got all the tools to be a competent signal caller, at the very least. All he needs is some guidance and some time to put it all into practice.

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