One of us is. 
- Edit 1
- Edit 1Before modification by Joel at 11/01/2012 05:15:01 AM
I was just a bit annoyed with Random Thoughts' shot at me. Look, I think the jury is still out on Tebow. I think he is a good athlete, he has heart and nobody can question that. I don't even have a problem with his faith although I would prefer he take the approach of many of the other Christian men in the league who don't feel the need to thank Jesus ion a press conference or on the after game field interview. I always point to John Kitna as a man who I think handles his faith and football well. Even here in Detroit where pessimism rules the day John was liked and there was never any heat for him being vocal about his faith because he was at the appropriate times. But, when I look at Tim Tebow, with all the positive I do see i him I also see that he has glaring deficiencies and I just don't think they are things he can changes at this point. And sorry, his fans can clamor all they want about the playoffs but it has already come out that Fox was ready to bench him for Quinn if anything even went remotely wrong. Elway has bit his tongue and been respectful all year about it but you can see it all over his face, Tebow isn't the guy. Does he have a role in the NFL? I do think so, but what that role is I am not sure. But, I feel comfortable in saying it is probably not as the every down starting QB on any team. I think he could be a great role player, maybe he could take some carries or they could run some wild cat like plays where at the last moment he resets from the QB position up to tight end as a blocker or a catching TE. I think there are things he can do that would make him a bigger force to be reckoned with but playing starting QB just isn't one.
Elway is on record that "Tebow's not going anywhere." The only people saying Fox was going to put Quinn in at half time if Tebow came out flat was Pro Football Talk, who beat that "story" into the ground from the day before the game right up until kickoff. Did you hear Simms and Nantz repeatedly say they watched all of Denvers Friday practice and Quinn took a grand total of TWO SNAPS? Do you honestly think Fox was going to send a guy who has been on the bench two years into a playoff game after TWO SNAPS ALL WEEK in practice? This came up on Broncos Forums, and every time someone posted a "confirmation" it was always another link to PFT; it got so bad I posted the below link. Makes me think of that Simpsons episode where they parodied The Prisoner.
Homer: Nelson has never steered me wrong. Nelson is gold!
Bart: You know, it might have been Jimbo.
Homer: Beautiful, we have confirmation.
Tebow is not there yet. However, he has the arm strength, the accuracy, the intelligence and the work ethic. What he lacks are teachable things; footwork, getting through progressions at game speed, anticipating the speed at which NFL receivers break and NFL defenders blitz. If what he is missing can be taught, and he is a smart guy with a good work ethic plus access to Elway, there is no reason he cannot be a good, perhaps even great starter. There is no guarantee he will be either, but the stars are aligning.
No, he does not need to proselytize on the field, though I see nothing wrong with him beginning his post games by giving credit where due, then moving on to football. Christ is the most important part of his life and the reason he has the gifts and opportunity he does; he would be remiss to not acknowledge that. He just does not need to beat people over the head with it, and the impression I sometimes get that he (like so many fundies) thinks that makes him bullet proof or infallible does grate a bit. If we ever met I might be tempted to sit him down for an impromptu catechism class, because too many fundies act like being born again inures them to sin rather than initiating a life long process of improvement and resisting sin with Gods help, one that does not end this side of the grave.
I am glad he recognizes the responsibility inherent in the number of kids who inevitably see him as a role model; I do dislike the sense I sometimes get that he thinks his athleticism ENTITLES him to be a role model. He is a football player, and a pretty good one, but entitled to lead nothing more than a football team or Sunday school class, and personally I think he still needs some growth before he will even be fully ready for either of THOSE jobs.
As far as being a starting QB though: 15 starts. This weekend he will have as many career starts as Cam Newton; if we make the AFCCG he will match Andy Dalton. Look at his season averages (totals are misleading because he does not throw many passes and only started 11 games) and they are pretty good for a second year QB. I am not saying he is the next Brady, but if you compare Bradys averages in 2001 and Tebows in 2011 there is not much difference. His TD and Int percentage is better than Roethlisbergers RIGHT NOW, but no one calls him a role player who should be replaced with someone more competent.
Tebows completion percentage needs to come up, but that is a bit misleading, too, because about the only time we let him throw is 1) third and long, 2) when down a lot late or 3) both. Those are not exactly ideal passing situations, and to top it off, a higher percentage of his attempts are 20+ yards than most other QBs, which also tanks completion percentage. I actually prefer that over the West Coast dink and dunk that gives up so many pick sixes, but it requires more skill and experience than a team this young has. After McGahee, the "old" guy on our offense was sixth year Chris Kuper (though his replacement Russ Hochstein is nearly as old as me.) There are 3 more guys in their fourth year, but everyone else is either a rookie or second year. You cannot expect much consistency from a group like that, and it is hard to be sure who will and will not turn into a star (I would bet against C J.D. Walton and LG Zane Beadles, though they played well against Pitt.) That is the bad news; the good news is 10/11 offensive starters could play for another decade, and I strongly suspect Tebow will be one of them. Time will tell.