Well it’s about time I waded in on the Tim Tebow debate, and if there hasn’t been enough words spilled about one NFL player who is just starting his career, well here’s 1,500 odd.
Full disclosure
I’ve loved Tim Tebow as a player ever he launched himself on the National stage in 2007. In that year he was the first College player to ever rush for 20 touchdowns and pass for 20 touchdowns, he also won the Heisman Trophy as a Sophomore (another 1st). The following year I backed his Florida Gators to win it all, and Tebow obliged going 13-1 and winning the BCS National Championship. In his Senior year of 2009 the Gators also went 13-1 but lost to Alabama in the SEC Championship game, can’t say I was happy about that result.
Why is he so polarizing?
For those who don’t know, Tebow has polarized the Nation and the NFL World. Its seems most people either hate him or they love him. If it suits your own personal opinion, you might love his Anti-Abortion ads with his mother and how he starts all his interviews with “I’d like to begin by thanking my Lord and savior, Jesus Christ”. Like the Oakland A’s Manager Billy Beane (Moneyball) I personally like a person who sticks to their convictions, I don’t have to necessarily agree with them, but as long as those convictions aren’t evil or directly hurt other people, you have to appreciate people who stick to their guns, especially when the rest of the world wants to tell them they are wrong or can’t play.
As a NFL player or Quarterback, the debate pretty much goes along the lines that he can’t play and isn’t very good. “He’s a very good Running Back” (Brian Urlacher, Chicago Bears) who throws the ball on occasion and even when he throws the ball he often misses his target. Missing not just by inches or a foot, but my miles, especially when the target is wide open. Those in the pro-Tebow camp suggest that he’s a winner and everything else doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter how bad you play, as long as you win and his record of 7-1 is the only thing that matters.
So where do I stand?
If you backed the Denver Broncos for $100 for the win (money line) in week 9 and parlay’d the winnings through their 6 game winning streak, you would have $37,200 to bet on the New England Patriots this week.
Personally I’m not in the middle but rather at both ends.
What about the idea that both camps are right? I would go so far as only looking at his NFL starts and suggesting that nearly every game proves both camps right. So many of the games he plays right into the hands of his detractors, playing three quarters and sometimes even up to 55mins of “poor” football or poor quarterbacking. Yet those that call him a winner, in the belief that nothing else matters are also right!
On the side of being a winner, I will say that every podcast which features his fellow Denver teams mates, they all agree. He’s a born leader and his own willingness to dive head first, to never give up, and lead by example truly rubs off on his team. He makes his team winners across the board. Let me give you an example. In Week 13 and Week 14 the Dallas kicker had a chance to win the game and tie it up on kicks of less than 50 Yards. But before the Dallas kicker got iced by his own coach and then by the opposing NY Giants coach, you just knew this team were going to find a way to loose. You could sense it, and if I had live betting up they would have been 15-1 to make either of those kicks, because they are the Dallas Cowboys of 2011 and it’s like the team is led by a group of “losers.”
Compare this to Denver in week 14 and as Tebow is making his usually comeback drive (6 4th quarter comebacks in his first 11 games) and though he left his kicker a 57 Yarder to tie the game, and then a 53 yarder to win the game in overtime. You just knew they were going to go over! There was no doubt in my mind, that those kicks were going over! As if Tebow was kicking it himself, and his embodiment would make these kicks sale over with ease.
Obviously the NFL is a team sport and though the Quarterback is the most crucial position (just ask Peyton Manning and the Colts) Tebow wouldn’t be able to do it by himself. During Tebows run the Denver defense has played at a phenomenal level, and players such as rookie Von Miller isn’t just rookie defensive player of the year, but close to Defensive MVP overall. It’s almost impossible to measure the effect of a good QB on the defense, outside the fact that the longer offense is on the field, the better rested the defense will be. But what about the psychological effect? Even if we can’t measure this influence, it’s significant that his team mates are happy to attribute it to him.
Though I feel Tebow is getting better every week as a passer. One thing he doesn’t do is turnover the ball, just twice this season. This is where I will suggest that missing his passes by miles, isn’t such a bad thing, as it doesn’t allow for intercepts and pickoffs. His passes in the slot and held, and since there are no close passes, it means his passes don’t allow for tips, reach in intercepts and so on. And his other passes are miles off (Yes even to open receivers) but doesn’t allow for “unlucky turnovers.”
Why the Disparity between the 4th quarter and the rest of the game?
A lot of the commentators seem to focus on the opposing teams going soft and changing their defensive schemes in the last quarter. Though this happens, and though it’s often completely different to what has been working for opposing teams in the 1st three quarters, the real reason isn’t defensive co-ordinators going soft, but…
During the 1st three Quarters John Fox the Denver coach, calls a very conservative game which means a lot of runs plays and no real deep balls. He allows Tebow to keep it close and play himself into the game and have Tebow as a “Game manager.” It’s only in the 4th quarter that they go to a College style spread offense and let Tebow do his thing. His thing isn’t just about completing passes in the 4th quarter, but finding running lanes, making opponents run out of bounds like Marion Barber (Bears) and then fumbling the ball, 2pt conversions to force overtime and just getting it done.
My point here is that it’s not just about the opposing defense , changing their schemes. But rather its about John Fox opening up the Tebow led offense and running the spread offense Tebow can do his thing. I would love to see how Tebow and the Bronco’s go if Tebow was allowed to line up like this most of the game.
A tip
So if your only reading this for a tip, I do think the Denver Broncos will make the playoffs, mainly as the Oakland Raiders are going in the wrong direction and the San Diego Chargers have left any chance of their run too late. Obviously the New England Patriots will be a great test, and Tebow hasn’t really been tested having to come back from a big deficit. Though I think they can beat the Patriots since they are at home, I do feel they will win in the last two games against Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs. Winning their division means they will have a home Playoff game and though it might be Baltimore or the Pittsburgh Steelers, I do feel that Denver’s Defense can keep this game nice and close and should be a real big chance. I see could see them in the AFC Championship game, but that’s about as far as Tebow Magic will take them.
