Tim Tebow to compete in Senior Bowl

by Jeremy Bolander on Jan 12, 2010 8:20 PM MST

Tim Tebow has decided to accept an invitation to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, making him the most decorated college player to ever compete in the annual event which serves as a yardstick for measuring how well many young players are able to learn new things in short amounts of time, how well they respond to coaching from a pro staff, and how well they prepare and play when surrounded by an unfamiliar situation.

“I’m very excited,” Tebow said of playing in the Senior Bowl. “It’s something where I get an opportunity to play with a lot of great players and get coached by a lot of great coaches in the NFL and an opportunity to work in an NFL system and do things that a lot of people haven’t seen me do like go under center and take the drops and be in a pro style system.”

Players of Tebow's caliber don't often take a chance on the extra reps offered by the Senior Bowl, on the premise that every rep is a chance for a major injury setback. Also, if you have a stellar resume, playing more adds little, but could cost a lot if a player didn't perform well. Still, Tebow's competitiveness is refreshing, despite a resume that is quite impressive, starting with being the first sophomore to ever win the Heisman Trophy Award, a two-time winner of the Maxwell Award (Collegiate Player of the Year) and the owner of numerous NCAA, SEC and school records. His trophy case is filled with every major college football award in existence---Heisman (2007), Maxwell (2007, 2008), Manning (2008) and O’Brien (2007) and he is the only player in NCAA history to ever rush and pass for more than 20 TDs in a single season (2007).:

“One of my reasons to play (in the Senior Bowl) was because I love competing and I love what it takes to be a football player. There are a lot of things in training that you do but you are not playing football. This (the Senior Bowl) is the only thing where you are playing football and showing football skills. That’s why I think something like the Senior Bowl is very important,” Tebow said.

Of interest is that he will be getting coached in the Senior Bowl by Tony Sparano and his Miami Dolphins staff, the same Dolphins that brought the wildcat offense back into the NFL spotlight.

But what will be of even more interest to most observers is whether Tebow can run the bread and butter of the NFL passing attack, the standard dropback. The Senior Bowl could provide an opportunity to address some perceived issues such as his long release, and his ability to read the field quickly and deliver the ball to the right target. For me, the latter will be the most important skill I would like to see him demonstrate. He has the accuracy to place the ball well, and working on his mechanics will help there, but if he makes poor decisions when dropping back, he simply won't last long in the NFL.

As a senior, Tebow was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Year, the SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year and a first team All-SEC selection (AP & Coaches) after throwing for 2,895 yards and 21 touchdowns. He added another 910 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground. He was a second team All- American (AP, Walter Camp, Sporting News) and for the third consecutive year a Heisman Trophy finalist. He also took home the William V. Campbell Trophy (formerly known as the Draddy Trophy), which goes to college football’s top scholar-athlete. For his illustrious career, the left-handed quarterback threw for 8,803 yards and 85 TDs and rushed for an additional 2,947 yards and 57 touchdowns. He helped the Gators win two SEC championships and was part of the winningest senior class in conference history.
The 2010 Senior Bowl Week begins January 25th, and continues through the week, with kickoff scheduled for 2pm MST on January 30th.

Poll

Do you think Tim Tebow could be a special player in the NFL?

Yes, but it is wrong time, wrong place for the Broncos.

82 votes

Yes, especially if it was for the Broncos.

86 votes

No, he can't make the transition.

44 votes

212 votes | Poll has closed

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

Tweet Comment 21 comments | 5 recs |

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Comments

Thanks

I appreciate that Teabow is accepting the challenge, should be interesting, but I voted no because I think his mechanics are horrible and he is not going to be able to be a running threat in the NFL for long, he will get injured pretty quick and I can’t see him making the transition to a pocket guy.

"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman
"Good, bad, I'm the guy with the gun" - Ash from Army of Darkness
"H.I., you're young and you got your health, what you want with a job?" - Evelle from Raising Arizona
"It happens sometimes. People just explode. Natural causes." - Agent Rogersz from Repoman

by Broncoman on Jan 12, 2010 8:26 PM MST reply actions

+1

Been saying the same stuff for a long time. Tebow isn’t going to succeed as a QB in the NFL

"Precipitation, which side are you on?
Are you on the rise? Are you falling down?
Let me know, Come on let's go, yeah
Got some if you need it!" -EV

by sadaraine on Jan 13, 2010 9:03 AM MST up reply actions

I agree Broncoman

I said the same thing about Sanchez too though. =)

Character may be manifested in the great moments but it is made in the small ones -- Philip Brooks

by KaptainKirk on Jan 12, 2010 8:46 PM MST reply actions

Somebody is going to get a big, smart, tough, physical, Team leader-football player!!!

I am not going to under estimate what this kid is capable of doing…There have been many great QB’s that “lacked” the prototypical mechanics that everyone seems to be looking for…His intangibles and upside will make up for percieved deficiencies…

Is he the right pick for the Broncos, this year, in this system, with all of our other needs? There are many here at MHR much smarter than me, and are sure to have the answers to all the pros and cons…He WILL be successful, somewhere!

-Richee
-Stick to the fight when you are hardest hit - it's when things seem worst that you must not quit!

by BroncoSense72 on Jan 12, 2010 10:53 PM MST reply actions

I would take him in the 5ht round in a heart beat Rich

but a coach would have to break his legs and reset them to the NFL level and I am not sure McD would be interested in doing that. Maybe Del Rio in Jacksonville would take a chance on him in the second rd. He might put a few more butts in the empty seats down there.

by bfree2bronc on Jan 13, 2010 11:57 AM MST up reply actions

Don't misunderstand my comment bfree...

I agree with most everyone here at MHR that he is not a good option for our Broncos (unless as you say, he falls to the mid rounds) at this time, considering our current/projected roster, and our needs at other positions…I am just saying that I would not under estimate the potential for him to prove everybody wrong in their (common) assessment of his adaptability to the NFL game…Consider all the players that were supposed to be sure fire, cold hard locks that ended up to be absolute busts…I see Tebow as a player that has a tremendous opportunity to show that he is the exception, rather than the rule, of common opinion.

BTW, wasn’t NFL darling, Tom Brady a 6th round pick…What round did Kurt Warner get drafted (oh yeah, he didn’t get drafted)…How about Terrell Davis, 6th round and the 21st runng back taken…And there have been others as well…How could those same “experts” miss so badly on so many great players??? I guess sometimes, you never know!

Just my opinion my friend…Guess we shall see…I wish him the best!

-Richee
-Stick to the fight when you are hardest hit - it's when things seem worst that you must not quit!

by BroncoSense72 on Jan 13, 2010 4:14 PM MST up reply actions

Wasn't implying Rich that he won't succeed is someone's offense.

I just have to scratch my head at why the great Urban Meyer had to build an offense around him and let him continue his bad habit play technique. Seems to me that Urban could have taught him better and that’s basically where I was headed with that…Geez…There I go again, making lead-on comments. It’s the brain telling me one thing and the mouth telling the fingers what to type…Yippee!

by bfree2bronc on Jan 13, 2010 4:38 PM MST up reply actions

No worries Cuz...Looking forward to seeing how it all works out!

-Richee
-Stick to the fight when you are hardest hit - it's when things seem worst that you must not quit!

by BroncoSense72 on Jan 13, 2010 5:01 PM MST up reply actions

My respect for him just went up 10 fold...

I have never been a fan, but DAMN I love a kid that will compete…..I would almost be happy Denver taking him! Way to go Tebow…thats what a gamer does is step up to challenges!

Those that cant coach, compete!
Failing to plan is planning to fail.
All I want is 53 Rod Smiths. Is that asking too much????
"Peyton Hillis didn’t rip the sleeves off his jersey, they flew off out of fear."
Calijoefornia.

by boydy2669 on Jan 13, 2010 7:17 AM MST reply actions

I'm glad he's competing

I wrote a post about his running the wild horses with Denver a few months back, and I’d still love to see him replace Brandon Marshall as the #15 on the Denver Broncos. He is a great missionary to this league, and I can’t wait to see what he brings to the next level.

by Sayre Bedinger on Jan 13, 2010 8:09 AM MST reply actions

Tim Tebow is going to get injured in the NFL if he plays the way he did in college.

He’s got a heart the size of the moon, but he is a complete project in the NFL and not one a team Denver has the time/existing talent to absorb and nurture.

I’m sure he’ll work very hard to become a decent NFL player, but it will take a long time and he’ll have to unlearn a lot of what he mastered at Florida.

I'm so angry at the Broncos right now.

by McGeorge on Jan 13, 2010 8:31 AM MST reply actions

NOOOOOOOO

If we draft Tim Tebow prior to the 3rd round, I’ll film myself drinking a glass of tobasco sauce and post it right here on MHR. This is ridiculous. TT was a GREAT college football player. He might be able to transition as a utility-type qb/hback/TE etc. However, this guy is NOT the qb of the future IMO and in the opinion of just about everyone who studies the draft. His mechanics did not improve this year as I hoped they would. He has a slow delivery and he will not be able to run the spread option in the NFL. I mean . . . he’s got an average arm and decent accuracy and his intangibles are off the charts – but the guy is like a bigger, stronger, slower version of Kordell Stewart with a worse arm. To spend a pick in the first 2 rounds on him would be a mistake IMO.

by GJcontingent-rAd on Jan 13, 2010 9:34 AM MST reply actions

A worse arm than Kordell Stewart..

Surely you jest! LOL

" May the bandwagon jumpers bark their shins!"

by hairybear on Jan 13, 2010 8:31 PM MST up reply actions

Depends on where he goes...

if he’s drafted by a team like Jacksonville, he will have huge expectations to be a franchise QB immediately. I would prefer to see him go to a team where he could go the Kordell Stewart route, work on his mechanics, be used creatively on offense (Wildcat) and then get his chance a couple of years down the road.

"Never attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by stupidity."

Unknown, Hanlon's Razor

by bcfunk on Jan 13, 2010 10:12 AM MST reply actions

Urban Myers built the scheme and offense around Tebow.

That’s what an NFL coach would have to do, I don’t believe he has what it takes to adjust to nfl style play. I’m sure he’ll land somehwere because the guy does have heart and is a tough competitor. Just not sure if he will survive.

by bfree2bronc on Jan 13, 2010 11:50 AM MST reply actions

I agree with you, Jeremy

Also, if you have a stellar resume, playing more adds little, but could cost a lot if a player didn’t perform well. Still, Tebow’s competitiveness is refreshing, despite a resume that is quite impressive,

That’s what makes it so good to see. I’m not a huge fan of his as far as the NFL goes, but he has always gotten a lot of respect from me for his competitive drive. Very refreshing, in this (or any) day and age.

I tend to believe that he sees this also as a way to let the scouts/coaches/etc see hiom a last time as a QB, and that may yet play to his advantage. All the best of luck to him.

Moreno/Buckhalter in '09

by Doc Bear on Jan 13, 2010 5:48 PM MST reply actions

I kind of see it that was too, the last part anyway.

by bfree2bronc on Jan 13, 2010 6:09 PM MST up reply actions

I love certain parts about Tim Tebow...

1) His dedication and commitment to things he’s passionate about. His football achievements speak of that. His religious commitment is also something I respect highly.

2) His drive to be better all the time. It seems like so many Heisman winners see winning the award as the ultimate grail of their work. How many Heisman winners have gone on to do anything of substance in the NFL in the past 30 years? Not many.

3) He is a likable guy. I never see a photo of Tebow and get a bad feeling about him. He seems like his heart is in the right place with what he does.

4) He’s a competitor. You don’t become arguably the best college player ever by slacking and settling. He’s a fierce competitor and I respect that.

5) All of Tebow’s problems with translation into the NFL are fixable. I’ve never ever seen an NFL quarterback that doesn’t need coaching to be great at the next level. In fact, no NFL player ever has gone into the pros as an immediate super star. Even the great John Elway needed coaching when he first started.

John Clayton is the head Dean at Fail University (known as F.U. in short)

Formerly known as Calijoefornia

by Joe Medina on Jan 13, 2010 5:49 PM MST reply actions 1 recs