Tim Tebow... Can He Go Pro?

[Haynie]

Just curious what you guy think about Tim Tebow's pro prospects. I don't see any way he can be as good in the pros as he is in college, and I doubt even the most diehard Gator fans would argue with me there. Some people even think he's not capable of being a pro QB at all, but I don't know if I can go that far. He certainly has NFL size at 6'3" and over 235 lbs. He's athletic enough and I think he throws pretty well. You add what he can do as a scrambler and he's at least got the potential to be a Jeff Garcia, if not better.

What you think?

[Enlightened27]

Well, if you want my honest opinion.........Hes a product of the spread offense. Hell be another Jared Lorenzen in the pros. Hes all hype and when he gets to the pros (if he doesnt join his parent's ministry) hell flop. If I were a coach looking at this kis Id make him a TE. Sorry, I just dont get the hype on this kid.

You can say that Im just saying this as a UGA fan, which I did witness UGA completely shut this kid down in 2007, but thats not it. Even if I didnt like UGA, how can you stand the fact that you have to hear this guys name every 5 minutes during the college football season. I cant wait to see this guy bomb. Just like Danny Wuerfful, Chris Leak, Rex Grossman, and all the other UF QB busts. I cant wait til the NCAA community can move on from this kid. Thank God there is only one more year left having to hear his name all the time.

[DCfan60]

Well IMO I think he will be drafted for playing with heart.. but will end up like 2/3 of the college QB's a backup or 3rd string for a while. Then he moves on with his life or becomes a 15 year backup.. I do not see him as a true NFL QB.

[Haynie]

I think he's a little different from the other Florida QBs because he didn't play for Spurrier and he also has more athleticism than any of them. Like I said, he'll never be an All-Pro but I think he can at least be a Garcia or maybe, at best, Jake Delhomme in his prime.

[DCfan60]

Haynie you may be right.. I think I am still a bit of anti Tebow. I am not on the ban wagon if you will..

[Enlightened27]

I think he's a little different from the other Florida QBs because he didn't play for Spurrier and he also has more athleticism than any of them. Like I said, he'll never be an All-Pro but I think he can at least be a Garcia or maybe, at best, Jake Delhomme in his prime.
Ummmm, Chris Leak was a Ron Zook man :D

Facts are the spread offense DOES NOT produce NFL QBs. Name one QB to come out of the spread and succeed in the NFL. Look at Graham Harrell, 70% completion of all his passes last year, 600+ passing attempts, only 7 INTs, NOT DRAFTED, hes still a free agent. Spurrier failed to produce an NFL QB, Zook failed to produce an NFL QB, and now this will be Urban Meyer's first failed attempt. Face it.

Now, leave me alone while I watch a real QB, *turns on the Lions game*, GO STAFFORD!

[bluestar]

Tebow... no freaking way he is not going to do anything in the NFL. Does he still telegraph the direction he is throwing the football, lol if so he would get picked off in the NFL.

[Enlightened27]

Bluestar, you and I need to stop agreeing like this ;)

[SmilesAustin]

The Tim Tebow hype (and no I'm not a college football fan at this point in my life... work and school only leaves me enough time for NFL football) is all about stats, IMO. Every article I've read that classifies him as one of, if not the best college quarterback in history, compares him statistically to the other great college quarterbacks.

My problem with using this type of information to discuss whether a guy would be good in the pros is simple: Look at the other guys who are statistically the "best" college quarterbacks of all time. I can't remember all the names, but I can tell you that Vince Young, Matt Leinart, and Ty Detmer are 3 of the names in the top 10.

I think a lot can be said for "system" quarterbacks in the NFL. I will admit that Eric is the first person I've personally heard throwing that phrase around (again I don't pay much attention to college players), but I think it has a lot of validity. In college and the NFL, a quarterback is often only as good as the supporting cast around him, and the system that he plays for. Give an average quarterback a good system that fits him, a good supporting cast, and you've got Ben Roethlisberger :)

That's why I just don't think you can use stats to describe a college quarterback. That guy might have had an outstanding system and an outstanding team, and thus his statistics are not an accurate description of how good of a QB he is. What is his 40 time? How accurate is his long ball? How quick is his release? Does he scan the whole field before he throws or does he focus on his best receiver from the moment he makes the snap until he makes the throw? How good is his footwork? How does he respond to pressure? Can he stay calm in the pocket and make an accurate throw even when it is collapsing on him?

So my answer to that would be: Let's see who drafts him. He has done some impressive things in college, and "statistically" can't even really be compared to most of the guys who preceded him. I agree with Haynie that he might be able to be a solid backup quarterback in the NFL... or a guy who could be a transitionary quarterback for a team who is between QBs or just hasn't found the right guy yet (like Garcia did with the Bucs).

He'll probably float around like Garcia, Tim Couch, Joey Harrington. Teams will try to squeeze some production out of him, and they might get lucky one season and he might do well, but I think the concept of a "system quarterback" is definitely something to consider for sure.

[bluestar]

Vince Young has more ability as a pro than Tebow will ever have. Look at how he throws its a tell tell for any cornerback in the NFL. Tebow sticks his hand out to the direction he is throwing before he throws. WATCH FILM MAN.

[DCfan60]

Only if he can clean out the cobb webs he is feeling today lol.. what a hit put on him.

[Enlightened27]

He got the shit knocked out of him, I hope hes still out when UGA comes to town. Either way, with him out there goes UF's title hopes.

[bluestar]

this guy will be a backup and in two years he will be better off living overseas with his folks doing philanthropy work in the philippines.

[ronmexico]

after watching his performance against Cincy, he definitely has the arm strength and accuracy along with the size to produce at the next level. anyone check out his girlfriend? WOW