Being a sports journalist is tough at times. With all the traveling and time away from home, deadlines, angry fan mail, and coaches’ temper tantrums; it can wear a man down. Which makes it that much nicer when a player does your job for you. There has been talk recently of the Jaguars drafting Tim Tebow this year as a way to generate fan interest. I have discussed Tebow’s draft status with my fellow writers and friends and I have heard everything from him being the first QB taken to him going undrafted. While I think he will get drafted, I don’t think it should be on Day 1 or even in the first 5 or 6 rounds. This is when offensive lineman Uche Nwaneri made my life easier and gave an analysis with which I mostly agree. According to the Florida Times-Union:
Nwaneri posted on the Jaguars’ Web site that, while cashing a check, a bank teller started talking about how Tebow will save the Jaguars.
So Nwaneri posted his five points on Tebow, with capital letters:
"1. He can't throw, PERIOD.
2. He can't read any coverage other than probably cover 2 or man.
3. The QB Wildcat WILL NOT WORK IN THIS LEAGUE. PERIOD.
4. He doesn’t know how to take a snap from center.
5. HE CAN’T THROW, and that’s really something you either have or not."
While this is a harsh assessment, I must agree with his assertions. Due to the ESPN love affair with the SEC and Florida, I was privy to watching every single goddamn snap the guy took every Saturday night on Sportscenter. And first off: No, Tebow can’t take a snap from under center. Trying to say that he will learn how is a purely optimistic assumption, and while people who say he won’t are assuming just the same, at least there is tape at this point to prove that claim. Taking a snap in the shotgun means you get to see everything on the field right when you get the ball, while being under center means you will have to turn your back on some plays and have to make a split decision when you turn back around. In watching Tebow, he doesn’t think quick enough. His QB style is essentially to wait for his excellent receivers to get open and then gun it as hard as he can right at them. There is no touch on his throws and no anticipation of either his receivers’ routes or the coverage.
Tebow has also been on a great team and sheltered by a great line. Colin Cowherd made an excellent point a few weeks back that I will paraphrase as best I can: Most of the top quarterbacks weren’t on unstoppable #1 teams. Those players tend to be spoiled and not know how to take a hit or throw to receivers in coverage. They tend to not react well to pressure, and they tend to make rash decisions in those pressure situations. And we all know mistakes in the NFL will kill you much faster than not throwing for TD’s. Mark Sanchez could be an exception to the rule as he had excellent protection at USC, and looks like he has potential. But then look at Leinart and Booty before him. Think about the QB’s that didn’t play behind amazing O-lines in college: Flacco, Ryan, Mcnabb, Warner, Favre, Brees, Rivers, Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Cutler, Romo, Schaub. Even QB’s who were on pretty good teams like Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, and Tom Brady didn’t have close to the protection that Tebow had. Getting hit and losing are learning experiences that greatly improve a QB’s makeup.
Tebow does have intangibles. He is a leader, he is a genuinely good guy, he will never be a negative distraction, and from what we know at this point, he won’t be out drinking and sleeping around the night before games. He is also tough. He can take a hit (and no this does not contradict my statement above as what I meant above is that he can’t deliver a pass while getting hit). He is the most athletically gifted QB to come out since Vince Young. But like I said about Vince Young before, he will never be a star QB in this league. Young’s feet give him a great weapon just like Tebow’s will, but feet alone don’t win Super Bowls. The NFL is driven by passing. The rules have been changed to protect receivers and quarterbacks. The wildcat phenomenon works for some teams as a change of pace, but it will never become a mainstay or true offensive scheme and no team will run a 2-minute drill in that formation, which means Tebow’s running ability and strength won’t help him as much as you’d think.
I just don’t believe Tebow has the tools and head to be an impact quarterback in the NFL. He has the chance to be a solid backup or a Pat White type, or even a RB of some kind, but I still have doubts about that. While I’m no Tebow fan, him being good would be a positive for the NFL. Especially if he brings fans like his ex-girlfriends with him:
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