When time expired on Friday night to signal the end of the Sugar Bowl it was more than just the end of a game. It was the end to arguably one of the greatest careers in college football history.
For Florida quarterback Tim Tebow it was an almost perfect way to cap off the season and also his final year at Florida by demolishing the Cincinnati Bearcats 51-24. When interviewed after the game Tebow had this to say, "Just a great game. It was exactly how you want to go out with these seniors and these coaches in your last game and your last time together. It just really doesn't get any better than this."
But with the final whistle Tebow was transformed in an instant from a living legend to a question mark.
Throughout his entire collegiate career Tebow has heard nothing but doubts about whether or not his game will carry over into the NFL. Tebow made his career in the NCAA by being a great running quarterback who could pass when needed. Every year he was a starter he led the NCAA in rushing touchdowns for a quarterback and every year the doubts grew and grew.
“I’ve heard it since high school. People didn’t think that I could throw at Florida. I did O.K. at that. Going to the next level, I am going to try and prove people wrong. It’s going to be fun. I just want an opportunity to be a quarterback at the next level and to get that chance.”
But will he get that opportunity?
The experts seem to think no.
Brian Billick who was in the broadcast booth for the Sugar Bowl discussed Tebow's future all game and didn't seem optimistic at all. “I don’t know how you take a kid in the first round, who you are going to have to change absolutely everything he does, his drop, his delivery,” Billick said. He added: “I didn’t talk to anybody who had him in the first round. Maybe late you take a flier on him.”
Billick isn't the only nonbeliever however. In a recent article Michael Lombardi wrote, "The biggest obstacle is that there’s no mold you can look to and say, ‘This guys reminds me of X, Y, Z player.’ And you’re going to have to build your offense around him. The biggest question that I have is that so much of his success was based on his run skills and competitiveness. In the N.F.L., that won’t work.”
I am inclined to agree with Lombardi and Billick because when it comes to rushing quarterbacks in the NFL it just doesn't work. The quarterback who is currently leading the NFL in rushing is Aaron Rodgers and that is only because he is always running for his life due to his pathetic offensive line. Ever since Michael Vick left teams have shied away from run oriented quarterbacks.
Just last year West Virginia quarterback Pat White entered the draft and wasn't selected until the 2nd round by the Miami Dolphins. White, who was a run oriented quarterback like Tebow, now plays for the Dolphins, the team that runs more rushing plays for its quarterback than any other team in the league, and barely plays. White was an amazing quarterback in college but his game didn't transfer well to the NFL.
I don't see Tebow being any different.
Who will take him in the 1st round with so many better options available? Guys like Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy, Jimmy Clasuen and Dan LeFevour are all pocket passers who have the arm strength and the accuracy that NFL scouts prize. Tebow on the other hand doesn't have the pure passing skills, the accuracy or the ability the throw the ball vertically. Also his mechanics are suspects and his throwing motion could be described as awkward at best.
It is hard to believe that one day you can be considered a legend and the next day people question whether you will be successful as you move forward. That must be a hard pill to swallow for Tebow as he must now try and prove a whole new set of critics wrong as he prepares for the NFL draft in April.
One thing he does have going for him is his leadership, heart and winning attitude/background. He is undoubtedly the best leader in college football and no one works harder or plays with more passion than Tebow. He is also a winner and knows nothing but success in his life which is always a benefit. His attitude is always positive and obviously there are no issues with his ego or any sort of off the field concerns.
Will he be successful in the NFL? I don't think so but if he ends up in the right situation with the right coach who knows. He will more than likely need to revamp his game in order to adapt to the NFL but he seems like the kind of guy who would be OK with that.
He will be picked in the 2nd round because there is so much potential upside in him that I think some team will take a flier on him.
I used to hate Tim Tebow and I thought he was a real douche but over the past year I have really begun to respect him. How can you not right? The amount of effort he puts in and the passion he shows for the game make him easy to like. I wish nothing but the best for him but clearly the deck is stacked against him.
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