I know there is quite a bit of Tim Tebow over-saturation out there, but I think it’s always fun to discuss how this story may relate to our local teams.
The two-time national champion and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback has become perhaps the most hotly debated NFL draft prospect in recent memory. Nobody can deny the success Tebow has had at the University of Florida, and most consider him one of the best college football players of all-time.
But no position is more highly critiqued then the NFL Quarterback, and Tebow is finding that out. The criticisms are aplenty: He has a long, looping throwing motion. He relied on his legs too much, and some believe he didn’t read defenses well enough. Some have pointed out that he has had his worst college games against teams with NFL talent on defense (Alabama and Tennessee in ‘09). Another mark “against” him is he took all of his snaps out of the shotgun (isn’t this happening in the pros a lot now?), in a non-NFL style offense.
With all that being said, everyone loves the intangibles that the left-handed quarterback possess. He has been described as an incredible leader and hard-worker by coaches and teammates, and he is about as clean of an NFL prospect (no character issues) that has ever come out. At the NFL Combine he solidified his “elite athlete” label when he produced a 38.5-inch vertical leap, which tied a combine record for quarterbacks. He also ran the 40-yard dash in 4.72 seconds, pretty good for 6′3″ 245.
So how does this all relate to Minnesota and Green Bay you ask? Well, in reality I believe Tebow could end up just about anywhere (in rounds 1-3) as a number of personnel people probably believe they can guide him to NFL success. That or they could devlope him and hold him as a trade chip down the road. Here is a breakdown of why I believe the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings make an interesting fit…
Minnesota: His old go-to buddy Percy Harvin is already in town, and likely has nothing but praise for his former signal-caller. Imagine running the “Wildcat” with Tebow and Harvin. Head Coach Brad Childress has shown he is attracted to “great athlete” quarterbacks who have had questions thrown at them about their overall game (Donovan McNabb in Philly, Tarvaris Jackson in Minnesota). Brett Favre may have one more year in him, and after that the team doesn’t have a quarterback they consider to be “the future.” Plus Childress has talked about picking out Tebow and breaking him down as a player even before the draft workouts:
— “I just think he’s been, taking everything else aside, as good a competitor as I’ve seen,” Childress told the media at the Combine. “I’ve heard about his leadership skills and abilities. But he’s as good a competitor as I’ve seen on the football field, and he competes in a different way and plays a physically-natured game.”
Green Bay: See: 2005 NFL Draft. When the Packers decided to take a slipping, top-level quarterback in Aaron Rodgers in the Draft 5 years ago it showed a lot of guts and confidence in the teams ability to work with a flawed QB and make him a success. Remember all the talk about the mechanical flaws, lack of competition, and athleticism regarding Rodgers that had teams running the other way? Well QB Coach Tom Clements and Head Coach Mike McCarthy worked on his setup and look what happened. Turns out he’s one heck of an athlete too. General Manager Ted Thompson, usually quiet on his analysis of players, added this at the combine:
—”"Based on his history, I think that would be a little bit premature to start criticizing him and doubting his ability to play.” Thompson told the media. “He’s been playing at a pretty high level for quite some time. Has to go down as one of the great college football players of all time, so let’s don’t sell him short just yet.”
McCarthy added to it saying “he would love the opportunity to work with Tim Tebow.” McCarthy also mentioned not being opposed to running the “Wildcat” formation, but doesn’t believe he has the right type of player (Tebow?) to run it. Now at this time of the year you can disregard anything a GM or coach says for the most part, but you have to believe there is some truth there.
So what I am saying is I think just about any team could go after Tim Tebow. I am not saying he would come in and start for the Packers or Vikings. He would be a project, and one that could pay off in a big way. Remember when Utah QB Alex Smith was drafted first overall in 2005 by a then-Mike McCarthy coached 49ers team? Smith took almost every college snap out of the shotgun and played in the very same offense Tebow played in, under the very same coach in Urban Meyer! It took a few years, but Smith will be the starting QB for San Francisco this year and has put it all together now it seems.
It should make for a great storyline when the NFL Draft begins on April 22nd! Would you like to see Green Bay or Minnesota go after Tebow? Let the debate begin..