The Tim Tebow Debate

I'm going to start this first by saying I believe Tebow is one of the best college football players I've ever seen but not even close to one of the best quarterbacks. Tebow is the perfect quarterback for Urban Meyers spread option system and I don't think we'll ever see anybody run it better. Now, at the end of his amazing college career he's ready for the next step but several questions remain about his NFL prospects. If he an NFL QB? Where will he be drafted and by who? Should he play another position? Well I'm going to give my thoughts on all of this and then leave it to you to tell me otherwise.

Tim Tebow has publicly said that all he wants is the opportunity to play QB in the NFL. If he is given that chance and it does not appear it will work he'll move to another position. I have never been high on Tebow as an NFL QB and always thought he should switch positions.

I've seen several Florida games over the last few years and have seen plenty of Tebow. I've seen a guy who runs the option well and for the most part doesn't make mistakes. It wasn't until the Sugar Bowl I really saw Tebow open it up a bit and pick apart a defense with his arm. He made some very nice deep throws and even fit a few throws through a tight window. He showed me he is more accurate then I thought and can go over the top if need be. Tebow has done everything he's needed to do to earn the chance to play QB at the next level. I no longer think he should be viewed at any other position then QB.

People will say he has too much to work on and he's a project who might be 2 or 3 years away. If you make him a TE or a H-back how far away is he from making an impact? Probably 2 or 3 years and he might never get it. At least we all know he can actually play QB, we have no idea if he can catch, run clean routes, or even block.

He most likely won't ever be the kind of guy who is going to go out and win you a bunch of games and make the pro bowl every year. He can manage a game though and he's maybe one of the best leaders we've ever seen in the college game. He'll keep the offense on schedule and avoid making mistakes. If need be he can make some plays with his feet and has underrated arm strength to make plays down the field.

So now that I have him playing QB the question comes up who should draft him and at where in the draft. The notion that the Jaguars are going to drat him in the first round to sell more tickets is ridiculous. He's not a first round QB and the ploy won't work if he's sitting on the bench or they're losing games. So let's just end that talk right now, it's a dumb idea. Tebow is talented enough to be looked at maybe towards the end of the second round but I think he's slotted in the third round. He's going to be a game manager and you can't take a guy like that any earlier. SO I have him slotted in the third round, now the question is what team or teams should be looking at him.

Tebow should go to a younger team with young skilled players around him. He also needs to go to a team with a QB already in place so he can sit the bench for a year or two and learn. With the young skilled players they can all go through the growing pains with Tebow in practice and learn on the field. This way when Tebow is ready to take the field he has the players around him where he isn't going to have to go out there and make all the plays. He can allow his WR's and RB's to take the pressure off of him. I also think a younger coach would benefit Tebow. A guy with a lot of enthusiasm to work with Tebow. So what teams are we looking at then? Here's a few that I think would be a good fit in no particular order.

Arizona Cardinals

But what about Matt Lienart? I like Lienart and I think he can succeed in the NFL but I think his time in Arizona is done. Warner looks like he might be around for a few more years and with the way he plays there's no reason to think he can't play at a high level. Lienart is shown the door and in comes Tebow. Warner is one of the best QB's in the NFL to learn from and is always willing to help. They have one of the most dangerous young WR groups out there and an up and coming young RB. They can use a first round pick on a guy like Gresham or a second round pick on Aaron Hernandez. That gives Tebow, when he's eventually ready, 2 or 3 talented veteran WR to throw to, a RB who should be demanding respect from opposing defenses by that time, and TE he can grow with. It's a long shot but it makes sense.

Denver Broncos

McDaniels is very good coach when working with QB's. Brady had his best season ever under McDaniels system and Cassell was given nearly $70 millions after working with him. Denver has a young RB who can do a lot in the passing game as well. They'll most likely lose Marshall but given their draft position they may have a chance to land Dez Bryant who can grow with Tebow until he's ready. Orton, while nothing special, can play in the NFL and play well. He can hold the spot until Tebow is ready to go. Orton is also a game manager and Tebow can learn a lot from him about not making mistakes and being careful with the ball.

Minnesota Vikings

Who knows what Favre is going to do over the next couple of years. He could be back for a couple more years, he could retire after season, and then unretire, and then retire, OK you get it. Rodgers seemed to learn a lot sitting behind Favre so who says Tebow can't. Vikings have arguably the best RB in the league (Chris Johnson makes it an argument now) and Rice is looking like the real deal and he's really young. They have a talented TE who plays similar to Hernandez did for Florida. I think they'd need to add another threat in the passing game for this to really work. Childress is an offensive minded coach who Tebow should be able to develop under.

So there you have it. My thoughts in the Tim Tebow situation. I have wavered on this a lot over the last few years and might change my mind again. But for today, this was I thought about while in the shower. (That's so cheesy I just may need to use it all the time)