What did we learn about Tim Tebow?

CINCINNATI — Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Tim Tebow made his highly anticipated NFL debut Sunday night in a 33-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Entering the game in the third quarter, the first-round pick produced a mixed bag. Tebow led the Broncos with 105 yards on 8-of-13 passing, but he definitely looked like a rookie still adjusting to the NFL game.



Here are five things we learned:



1. Tebow’s mechanics must improve. Tebow spent countless hours with coaches this offseason working to improve his mechanics. But his throwing motion looked similar to what we saw in college at Florida. Tebow held the ball very low at times and he still has a long, winding delivery. Tebow had some success Sunday against Cincinnati’s third-stringers, but he may have a difficult time against better competition without shortening his delivery.



“There are a lot of things I can get better at,” Tebow said. “I really went out there and tried to compete. We did some pretty decent things, but we still have a long way to go. I have a long way to go.”



2. The arm strength is there. Although his throwing motion isn’t textbook, Tebow displayed NFL-caliber arm strength. He displayed good zip and velocity. Sometimes it was too fast, as Broncos receiver Matthew Willis dropped a potential third-down completion along the sideline. Tebow also made a couple throws that were nearly intercepted, but Bengals defenders couldn’t handle his fastballs.



“He has a strong arm. It’s a different technique, but he gets it there,” said Jonathan Long, who was scouting Tebow and the Broncos for AFC West rival Oakland Raiders. “But arm strength doesn’t mean much if you can’t hit the wide receiver. You gotta have accuracy in this league … and that’s something he has to work on. But he can do it because he’s got a great work ethic.”



3. Tebow isn’t used to the speed and feel of the NFL yet. Perhaps the most telling play of the night occurred in the fourth quarter when Bengals safety Jeromy Miles put a big hit on Tebow at the 34-yard line. Tebow held the ball too long, and despite being lefthanded, he failed to see or feel the safety blitz coming from his front side and paid for it. The initial ruling was a sack and fumble, but the call was overturned and ruled an incomplete pass.



“It felt great,” said Miles, who was congratulated in the locker room by teammates for his big hit on Tebow. “I think he was just locked into his receivers. He probably saw something out there and just never really looked or seen me coming, and I just ran through him.”



4. Tebow is resilient. Following the big hit by Miles, Tebow didn’t get down on himself. Instead, he showed his toughness by coming back to lead a touchdown drive on the Broncos’ next possession. With 1:09 remaining, Tebow led Denver 73 yards and finished the drive with a 7-yard touchdown run. Tebow’s biggest play on the drive was a 33-yard strike to his right to receiver Britt Davis.



“It shows resilience, and I like him for that,” Bengals quarterback coach Ken Zampese said. “He’s got toughness, and he’s got the leadership skills, and he sure showed me something tonight after he got hit.”



5. The No. 2 quarterback job could be Tebow’s for the taking. Backup quarterback Brady Quinn, also playing in his first game with Denver, struggled. Quinn completed 6 of 16 passes for 68 yards and threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown. Tebow looked more sure of himself and the offense than Quinn, whose accuracy was off and was bothered by Cincinnati’s pressure. If this trend continues, Tebow could move up the depth chart quickly and become backup to starter Kyle Orton. AFC West blogger Bill Williamson agrees.