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Football Diner brings you:
The TIM TEBOW Tracker
by Jody Jamieson
25/10/2009
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Tracker:
30th November 2009 I found it interesting to watch Dennis Dixon play under centre in his first NFL start. For me with the obvious exception of size and running style (Tebow will run you over while Dixon will make you miss) there are a lot of similarities in the challenges that Tebow will face in the pros that Dixon faced on Sunday Night Football against Baltimore. Both have an elongated delivery and show a rather unimpressive leg kick on release. Both have quick feet in the pocket, but slow feet in their delivery.
The Ravens struggled with Dixon at first when they brought pressure as he was confident in his ability to evade the rush and throw a safe but catchable ball in man coverage. The trouble Dixon had was when the Ravens brought four and played a base zone, Dixon didnt know where to go. When Dixon knew he had man coverage he got through his reads fairly well, but didnt seem to pick up the zones at all. The Ravens then dropped defensive end Paul Kruger in a zone blitz and Dixon completely missed it and threw the decisive pick to set up Baltimores overtime win.
Dixon ran the same offense at Oregon as Tebow does at Florida. Tebow may be a Heisman Trophy winner, but dont forget Dixon was never too far away from the award himself, and he was drafted in the sixth round.
25th October 2009 It’s obvious watching Tebow that he still isnt 100% after his concussion. That being said Urban Meyer keeps running him out there. I’m OK with him playing, but could Meyer not at least let Tebow be more of a pocket passer to protect him? It’s really nonsensical to have Tebow running dives and draws up the middle with his head down when hes just back from a head injury. Also, when is Tebow ever going to get to run plays from a pro set like he was promised in the off-season? Urban Meyer infuriates me. I know its his job to win football games for the Gators, so if he feels the need to run his entire offense from the spread, then so be it. I have no idea how tempted Tebow was to declare early, but I get the impression Meyer gave him some very hollow promises to stick around for his Senior year. Luckily for Meyer, Tebow isnt the type to speak up about it, but I think he’s been really let down by his Head Coach.
30th September 2009 Against Tennessee Tebow had more carries than passing attempts which was troubling, but against Kentucky on Saturday a more troubling outcome. Tebow was taken to hospital after being clattered by Kentucky defensive end Taylor Wyndham with concussion. The Gators have a bye week this week, and this will likely give Tebow the time to get ready for their next game against LSU. Just because hell be available doesnt mean hell be 100%. Trent Edwards of the Bills started like a house on fire last year then suffered a concussion in Arizona and was never the same in 2008. Tebow has to guard against a similar drop off.
13th September 2009 Being completely honest, as an NFL prospect I’m seeing very little in the first two weeks to make me feel any better. Everything is still from the shotgun. He still has really happy feet in the pocket even when there’s no pressure. The arm strength is still there, but the accuracy is still sketchy. Only thing I’ve seen thus far is that while his release is still too long, it’s getting slightly quicker. Right now I think Tebow is a late first/early second round pick due to the appeal but the more I watch him this year, the more it becomes obvious his performance at the Senior Bowl in January is going to make or break his stock more than what happens in college.
3rd September 2009 – I’ll be updating this article regularly throughout the season with Tebow’s status and how he is transitioning under a new QB coach. I know every team loves a laugher on their schedule, but do the Gators really need to start against Charleston Southern? The opponents being 73 point underdogs and all. This weekend will be a good indication of what Tebow will be running in 2009, but hardly a good indicator of his progress.
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 What will become of Tim Tebow in the NFL? Tebow is not only the biggest name in college football, but is the biggest debate for the 2010 Draft.
Opinion ranges wildly on Tebow. Some believe hes going to be an upper tier starter in the league, while some think hell end up a fullback or a tight end. Sitting well and truly on the fence here, I have belief that Tebow will one day be a competent NFL starting quarterback, and Ill get to why later. I struggle to believe hes going to be a great NFL QB right now, but he certainly has potential.
Technically this will become Tebows scouting report for the 2010 Diners Draft Kitchen, and will be updated as the season moves on as he handles the transition from the shotgun to a more pro style. Part of the conditions of Tebow staying in school for 2009 was his desire to be showcased in a pro offense. The Gators have promised him that they will make every effort to let Tebow play under centre in an attempt to make him more NFL ready when his name is called at Radio City Music Hall.
The Gators may consider trying to overhaul his mechanics this year to go along with tweaking their offense. His release is long and his footwork is sketchy. I think with his arm strength he can improve his release a lot quicker without losing any fire on his fastball. Urban Meyer doesnt want a complete change in his style, but more a refinement. Scott Loeffler has been brought in to work with Tebow. Loeffler has previously worked with Tom Brady, Brian Griese and Chad Henne.
One of the reasons I believe that Tebow can be a starter in the NFL is one that many overlook when it comes to college prospects. You dont have to come out of school as a franchise quarterback. You just have to be one of the Top 32 in the league. Lets be honest, while there are some elite all time quarterbacks currently in the NFL, there are enough teams who arent set with their signal callers, that even if Tebow becomes a reasonable starter on Sundays, hell be an upgrade for a lot of teams over what they have right now.
He has the arm strength required in a starter. I wouldnt say he has Jay Cutlers arm, but no-one will find any concerns in this area. Accuracy is the main issue, but a lot of that boils down to his dodgy mechanics. His footwork isnt good and his accuracy suffers. JaMarcus Russell and Byron Leftwich have fairly similar problems with their precision and general technique, but that didnt stop both becoming top 10 picks, with Russell being the first overall pick in 2007. Both are likely starters in Week 1.
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