Tebow to last another season

There were several themes to the 2011 NFL season that made headlines every week; from the Packers near perfect regular season, to the numerous NFL records surpassed.

One player stood out above the rest and made headlines every week--Tim Tebow. Tebow went from a fourth string QB on the Denver Broncos roster during the pre-season, to earning his place in the national spotlight weekly with his headlines in every major sport outlet. The question remains on most everyone's mind; Is Tim Tebow here to stay or is he is just in the midst of his fifteen minutes of fame?

 Many experts would argue that Tebow does not fit the bill of a prototypical NFL passer. The simple fact of the matter is that those experts are right. In a passing quarter backs league, where an average quarter back passed for 239 yards a game, Tebow managed just 124 per game (stats according to ESPN.com).

Others make the argument that Tebow has all of the intangible skills such as leadership, drive, and that clutch gene to be successful in this league. Despite his lackluster stats, he was able to take a 1-4 Denver Broncos team and rally them to an 8-8 record, AFC West Championship, and win over the defending AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round. Most experts argue that the great play by the Broncos defense and the support of the run game had much more to do with the success, but nearly all of those things remained consistent as the Broncos were 4-14 over their last 18 games prior to starting Tebow.

Tebow's 8-5 record, including the playoffs this season, proved that he could win football games in the National Football League. But can his style of play be consistent enough to get a team to the Playoffs consistently?

Tim Tebow has the tools to be successful in the NFL and has lasting value as a quarter back. A system like the one in place in Denver, which relies heavily on the run and playing good defense, definitely fits Tebow's skill set. Tebow manages the game extremely well and during a seven game stretch in which the Broncos went 6-1 mid-season, he only committed two turnovers. This proves huge when it comes to staying in football games. His teammates kept him in the game and he delivered when it mattered most, the fourth quarter. Tebow inherited a below average team at best and was able to make them great at stretches in the season.

Another thing most people forget is that Tim Tebow was in only his second season and has yet to even play a full season as a starter. If Tebow gets a full offseason to work with the offense and is given a "real" game plan (not just one scrapped together mid-season), Tebow can lead Denver back to the playoffs again next season, and possibly beyond, if the proper pieces fall into place.