The cult hero, perhaps unlike any the NFL has ever seen, has helped the Broncos jump into playoff contention with a 4-1 record as a starter this season. His character — at least the majority of it — seems genuine. His fight and his grit are admirable. He's got sneaky running speed and dangerous power with the ball. And he's got great instincts, all of which were showcased during his 20-yard, game-winning touchdown run Thursday against the Jets, as he identified an all-out blitz with zero-coverage, evaded it with ease and flew into the end zone.
It was a wildly entertaining display from Tebow and the Broncos, who helped him out with a defensive touchdown, great pressure from the rest of the defense, very good special teams and an excellent coaching job from John Fox. As much as Tebow has gotten the credit, the Broncos beat the Jets because everyone showed up.
Tebow is a heck of a football player, and his never-say-die attitude would probably be a welcomed asset for any team in the league. For that reason, as well as the others already mentioned, he's been a very solid quarterback.
It just can't last. If the Broncos' run-first, option offense had staying power, other teams would have used it in this pass-heavy era. And if defenses weren't able to adjust to these things, the Dolphins never would have given up on the Wildcat, which is all but extinct just three years after its inception.
Unless Tebow finds a way to greatly improve his accuracy, defenses will catch up to him. Sure, he beat the Jets with a 95-yard touchdown drive, and it happened to be 95 of the most impressive yards of the entire NFL season. But don't put it all on Tebow. Eddie Royal made a play to avoid a safety, Demaryius Thomas hauled in a nice catch and Dante Rosario dove to the ground to catch a badly underthrown ball that would have gone for much more than 18 yards if it was remotely accurate. And don't forget that Fox coached his tail off.
I'm not a Tebow hater. Again, I think his story is absolutely amazing, and I can't get enough of it. He's got a great head on his shoulders, and he'll do a lot of good with his star power. What more can you want out of a professional athlete who has commanded such a stage?
Plus, the NFL is a better place when Tebow is doing well. People are talking about him, debating him in out-of-town markets. Look, the Patriots were less than a week removed from sweeping the Jets and all but locking up another division title, but Tebow is still one of the premier storylines in the Boston area right now.
But I'm not a believer. I don't think Tebow can do this forever — and by "forever," I mean 10 years. Heck, if his style fades as quickly as the Wildcat, it won't last the duration of his rookie contract. I haven't seen his mechanics change since watching him at Florida, and that strange arm motion causes slow, inaccurate throws.
Maybe he'll prove me wrong, and that's all well and good. I'm not rooting against him by any stretch of the imagination. But I'm also not willing to buy into Tebow on the blind faith that many use while debating his merits. Sure, there's something special about him, but there's not enough talent in that left arm for him to become an elite quarterback at the NFL level.
