QUOTE: “If you don't have enemies, you don't have character.” -- Paul Newman
Can we let Tim Tebow practice before jumping to conclusions?
I know and understand that everyone would love to reach a quick conclusion on quarterback Tim Tebow. My first rule of scouting, however, is: “Never begin with the end in mind,” which means we should allow Tebow some time to grow and develop before any rush to judgment.
Tebow is no different than Hall of Famer Steve Young, who left BYU and went to the USFL. Young was known as a runner first; he couldn’t read coverages, and it was felt he would struggle in a pro system. He went to the Bucs and failed to become integrated into their offense. He was literally given to the 49ers in a trade. The Bucs were convinced, as all of America and most of the 49ers organization were, that Young was never going to be a pro-style passer.
When coach Bill Walsh asked his staff if they were in favor of making the trade for Young, there were no yes votes. I kid you not. Today, there will be revisionist history, but I was in the room, and Walsh had little support for making the trade other than his own instincts and vision for Young. This is what made Walsh brilliant. He was not hoping for Young to be a good player, he had a plan to make Young a good player. He saw the path and couldn’t have cared less if anyone else saw it. He was never afraid to stand alone in his opinions.
Tebow might not be as fast as Young, but he is more powerful, and although they had different styles, both were effective runners. The style of offense from BYU to Florida is vastly different, but both men were looking to run with the ball. Young was viewed as a runner, not a quarterback. He was a failure in Tampa because they tried to fit him into their offense, not develop an offense around him. Tebow will be a success if he goes to a team that has a head coach who has a vision for him and, most important, a plan for his success.
Jets and the disease of me…
The Jets had an amazing season, and their outlook is bright, especially considering the way quarterback Mark Sanchez played in the final game. He was poised, he was tough and he was confident. All those areas are what made him an attractive player in the draft, and for once, the Jets have a quarterback to around. But they must be proactive and not take the approach that since they were close, all they need is to get Kris Jenkins and Leon Washington back and they’ll be fine. They must look at the Colts game and understand that had the Colts starters played them for the entire game in Week 16, they wouldn’t have made the playoffs.
Their success was wonderful, and based on how they performed in the playoffs, they should realize that they’re close -- if they make the right moves and the team doesn’t want new contracts. Success is the hardest obstacle to overcome for any young team. Teams must learn how to win, and they must learn how to handle success. If the Jets aren’t careful, they’ll have a team filled with players who want new deals and want to be rewarded for their efforts.
The best approach for the Jets is to embrace the reality of their playoff run but remind everyone that it wouldn’t have happened if the Colts needed the Week 16 game. They need to use the Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo theory from “The Godfather” when he tells Tom Hagen: “I'm the hunted one. I've missed my chance. You think too much of me, kid. I am not that clever. All I want is a truce.” The Jets are not that good, they are not that close. They need to go back and find the hunger, make the right changes and avoid the disease of me, or next year they’ll end up like Sollozzo.
Dean Pees off to Baltimore…so what happens in N.E.?
As we first reported Sunday, Dean Pees is heading off to the Ravens as a linebackers coach and to help defensive coordinator Greg Mattison with game planning duties. Pees had several teams interested in his services, but without being able to get a defensive coordinator job, his best landing place was with his friend, John Harbaugh. Pees, along with secondary coach Chuck Pagano, will help Mattison prepare game plans.
So with all these jobs being filled, what will happen in New England? The Patriots have always been a team that wants to use their farm system of coaches to keep their program moving along. This favors current linebackers coach Matt Patricia for the job. Since Bill Belichick is involved in every area, he wants someone who will be able to listen to what he wants and hear every detail. Working for Belichick can be rewarding since he increases your responsibility based on performance, so the more you can do, the more you get to do.
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@Murder, why would a team want one of Meyer's assistants? They failed to develop him as a throwing QB for 4 years, now you want to give them more time with him? No thanks.
They weren't trying to develop him as a throwing QB. They were trying to win games. He threw well enough for them, in that system, to do that. I wouldn't be surprised if a team that needed a short yardage runner took Tebow for that purpose right away, then allowed him to develop into more of a complete player.
I agree with Mike in his assessment of Tebow and how he would be best used. I think instead of expecting perfection right away with Tebow you need to perfect your expectations. I certainly don't see Tebow as having worse mechanics or being a worse passer then Vince Young, and Young showed this year he can win games in the NFL. It just took a system where Young was asked to manage games not win them. I think if a team asks Tebow to come in and manage a team and not lose games he can be a good NFL Qb. It's like the old story about Belichick in a scouting meeting saying they weren't going to ask players to do things they weren't good at so quit harping on the negative and see how he can help you. So instead of looking at Tebow and saying he isn't Brady/Manning or Brees see who he is and how it could make your team better.
You just compared Young and Tebow. You should be ashamed. The arms and ability to throw the ball were never the same at any level. That's the difference. You need to apologize to save any credibility.
I've been thinking for a few weeks that if a team is willing to work with Tebow and develop his skills, many of which weren't asked of him at the college level, that his willingness to work on his game and physical size plus intangibles would work out.
Of course, you can't use a top 10 pick on a guy like that either...
where would you take a player you are waiting to develop for a few years? i would have to think that most teams would require their 1st or 2nd pick to make an impact sooner and only a handful of teams could afford that luxury. especially with the dollars paid to a 1st and 2nd round pick...
Walsh also had the luxury of a starting HOF quarterback, and as you note, he risked practically nothing to get Young. He was also the preeminent QB developer of his generation. Beyond all that, Young carried no expectations -- he'd already flopped in Tampa, so Walsh wasn't going to be blamed if Young didn't pan out. How many GMs today will want to incur the criticism of fans and the press by using a pick (particularly a high pick) on Tebow and then can spend two-three seasons teaching him how to be an NFL quarterback?
It's going to be really, really interesting to see how Belichick replaces Pees, on many levels. As you say, Belichick has always placed a premium on uniformity and consistency, but the teams they have to beat -- particularly Indianopolis -- seem to have figured out how to attack them, particularly through the air. It also seems that offenses have gotten more creative over the last few years, reducing the competitive advantage that Belichick's own creativity always gave them. So... it'll be interesting to watch.
MIke,
I've got to take exception to your comments about the NE defensive coordinator opening. I know you admire Belichick and like him, but in other columns you urge teams to bring in new blood and ideas and not doing so harms the organization. New England has had this kid-in-training program going on for several years and they are getting stale, predictable, and teams have figured out their schemes. How in the world does promoting another kid in Patricia bring in new ideas and schemes? Isn't that more inbreeding?
NE's defensive scheme is a bend but don't break philosophy that "catches" everything instead of "attacking" the offense. Why not bring in someone who can get these guys fired up and attacking instead of sitting back on their heels all the time?
Good article on Tebow, but you get an incomplete.:) You now have to give us your thoughts on what system you think he would be best in. I agree that whatever team drafts him should sit him for at least the first year. I could see JAX drafting him for ticket sales. Unfortunately, they would probably try to get him on the field to quickly.
As for NE, why didn't they try to bring back Romeo?
Agree 100% Sonny L. The other issue is that BB defensive chops were honed under a vastly different set of rules than exist today. (D Holding / CB Contact rules etc) It seems he has not adapted very well since the Cols Polian got the leauge to emphasis contact rules in the secondary. I watch a LOT of football, and cant remeber one game where a big Pass Interfernce call was not made
I agree with you on the Jets. They are not a bad team but they can easily slide backwards if they fail to draft well and if everyone gets fat and happy. Already, Braylon Edwards has criticized the playcalling in the AFC Championship Game. I think that Tebow has some skills but in REAL FOOTBALL where the BCS won't kiss his rear end and let him play for mythical championships, he has to hone his skills and be dedicated to improving himself. Steve Young was a tireless worker but those who play at Florida and are ranked #1 and get to play for a "national championship" without working for it are soft until proven differently. Young, at BYU which is not a favored program learned his work ethic under the watchful eye of legendary LaVell Edwards so his success only required finding a coach that could tap into his vast potential. Tebow's problems are more multi-faceted. In short, screw the BCS, it hurts NFL draft prospects. Overall, though, Lombardi good job.
I don't think Rex is the kind of leader that will let the Jets get too fat and happy.
As for Stonehands I mean Braylon, maybe if you made wide-open, in the numbers TD catches instead of dropping them the coaches would trust you more. And maybe if you showed yourself to be in some way, shape, or form a team player. You're not the LeBron of the NFL.
Totally agree with Lombardi on Tebow, but unfortunately that doesn't jibe with the revolving-door media cycle. I expect two and a half months of philosophizing from a multitude of NFL writers on the subject, and then at least five months more, whoever drafts him.
Michael,
I think a bigger error in scouting than making your mind up early is to fall into the trap of stretching to find comparisons in a questionable talent to a successful player in the past.
Too often I hear/read during a prospect analysis how they are the "next so-and-so". And while comparisons can be helpful to some degree to classify play style or body type, taking it too far can be dangerous.
I think comparing Tebow to Steve Young is a stretch to try and justify your "hope" Tebow ends up a good professional player rather than grade each part of Tebow's game correctly and stick to that evaluation. The tape doesn't lie. I even question his so-called preacher leadership at the next level. I don't think professional athletes will like his sermons and his strong religious views could be devisive, not team oriented. Just my 2 cents on that.
The biggest question mark on Tebow is his arm and ability to throw a tight spiral and accurate pass. As long as I've watched him in college, his arm does not seem NFL caliber to me. Maybe his workout season will change my mind. Maybe I'll see something at the combine during workouts. But no amount of comparing Tebow's ability to grow into a system to Steve Young is going to magically improve his ability to throw a football.
Brilliant article in that you combined NFL analysis on the Jets with a comparison to Virgil "The Turk" Sollozzo from "The Godfather ( My favorite movie) great casting and great acting. The Jets need to remember those two items - great casting and great acting on the field next year if they want to improve over this year. Derrell Revis is as good as it gets at cornerback. If you look up blanket coverage in the dictionary, Derrell's picture may be there.
Enjoyed the Sollozzo reference, but I'm not sure I see the point of comparison. You're saying that the Jets are in danger of getting knocked off if they're not pro-active? ...or ...what? You seem to be using that quote as a cautionary tale, but I don't get what you're saying the Jets should do.
After all, Sollozzo was really doomed as soon as the Godfather didn't die. "Six bullets in him and he's still alive...! Well, that's bad news for me... and bad news for YOU if Sonny doesn't make that deal." But, of course, Tom, Sonny and Michael were never going to make the deal with the Godfather alive, so...
And, as we all know, Bill Belichick is a superstitious man, and he's going to blame some of the people in his division. His team got bounced from the playoffs, but he's got the draft picks he needs settle all the family's business.
Okay, this is too fun...
Anyway, we can all agree that the Bills are the Fredo of the division. "I'm SMAHT! Not like... everybody says... like, dumb! I'm SMAHT! ...and I want resPECT!"
Steve Young was a much better passing QB than you are giving him credit for. His last two seasons in college he threw for almost 7k yards. Tebow is a fullback, if you want to compare his body type, he's more like Ben Rothlisberger. Young was a scrambler running for his life in Tampa Bay. In the 19 games he started he was sacked 68 times. Despite all the sacks he still managed to rush for 658 yards.
BYU also ran a WCO (West Coast Offense) and Holmgren had been on the staff at BYU, so it's not quite like he was an unknown quanitity. Tebow is a fine person, but he's never shown the passing or running skills that Steve Young had. Oh, and if the news that Irving Fryar was ineligible (Fryar had taken money from an agent). Young would have won the Heisman.
Stop kissing Belichick's butt!! He'll never hire you for the GM position. How long are you going to tell us how you worked w/ Walsh & Belichick? Mention something that you have done.
Young had impressive passing stats at BYU. Look it up
It is a rare occurence when the majority of national sports pundits generally agree with one another on an issue. Even less common is when they're all right. This is one of those once-in-a-century times. It's simple. Tim Tebow is not an NFL QB. He's a special teamer as a rookie for sure and who knows what his ideal role in the NFL will be? Just get him in the draft, someone will snag him in the 6th round, get him in camp, and have him start returning kicks and punts -- toss him on the hands team ... that should be about the extent of his NFL service as a rookie.
jax has an offense fit for tebow's ability. i think tebow is the type of leadership and spirit that jacksonville could use.
it would be good for team togetherness as well as ticket sales
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Jan 26, 2010
11:01 AM
That is quite a comparison to make, Steve Young took some time to develop. Tebow is indeed a work in progress. Mike is right, the coach who gets him must have a vision for his playing style and a plan to make it part of the game plan.
Any chance of a pro team getting one of Meyer's assistant coaches to do that?