OT: NFL Talk, V. Young and Tebow cut

[pRICE cUBE]

The difference between Young/Tebow vs. Wilson, Rg3 and the 49er qb is the latter 3 can read defenses and throw consistently and reliably.

[silvarios]

pRICE cUBE wrote:
The difference between Young/Tebow vs. Wilson, Rg3 and the 49er qb is the latter 3 can read defenses and throw consistently and reliably.

Of course. However, if RGIII doesn't learn how to slide, he won't be reading defenses for much longer.

[Carnos Jax]

And to think, he was a Heisman winner (then again most(?) of those guys don't seem to have much luck...but I've never seen one bomb as Tebow, but that's probably because I don't follow football that closely).

[silvarios]

Carnos Jax wrote:
And to think, he was a Heisman winner (then again most(?) of those guys don't seem to have much luck...but I've never seen one bomb as Tebow, but that's probably because I don't follow football that closely).

Andre Ware, Ron Dayne, Rashaan Salaam, Eric Crouch, Matt Leinart. There's a bunch of flops that won the Heisman. Eric Crouch is the worst of that bunch, refused to switch from QB and never played a down in the NFL (Edit: regulation game, he did play in the preseason). Crazy.

[sekker]

I think there's even more of a difference between NFL and college football than other sports with overt jumps like basketball. NFL players are just so much faster, and defenses are so much better coached that you see how even a great college QB gets overwhelmed.

I lived during the Mike White era at Illinois. He was amazing at coaching his college QBs into quality NFL prospects (was a poor overall college coach, but that's a discussion for another time). I've never seen the like - in my 9 years in Urbana, IL, I think IL produced 5 legitimate starting NFL quarterbacks (Wilson, Eason, Trudeau, George all come to mind, I'm sure there's another). Tebow would not have cut it with Mike White at IL - he wouldn't have been offered a scholarship due to his poor mechanics. I don't think IL has produced any since.

[Billybob]

sekker wrote:
I think there's even more of a difference between NFL and college football than other sports with overt jumps like basketball. NFL players are just so much faster, and defenses are so much better coached that you see how even a great college QB gets overwhelmed.

I lived during the Mike White era at Illinois. He was amazing at coaching his college QBs into quality NFL prospects (was a poor overall college coach, but that's a discussion for another time). I've never seen the like - in my 9 years in Urbana, IL, I think IL produced 5 legitimate starting NFL quarterbacks (Wilson, Eason, Trudeau, George all come to mind, I'm sure there's another). Tebow would not have cut it with Mike White at IL - he wouldn't have been offered a scholarship due to his poor mechanics. I don't think IL has produced any since.

Then no wonder Mike White never made it as a top-tier college coach! Why wouldn't he have taken Tebow? Isn't the goal to win college games regardless of whether his players subsequently have a pro career? After all, college ball isn't suppose to be the minor league for pro ball (few if any coaches get contracts extended solely for having former players start on pro teams).

You mentioned the difference between college and pro football, and you're absolutely correct. In addition, to a tremendous speed difference, the pro game is also stronger. So, whereas Tebow could always break the first and often the second tackle, that didn't happen enough in pro games. Moreover, those hits in the pros are much more punishing (ask Mike Vick and RGIII). Therefore, Tebow always had time to survey the field and pick apart a defense in College or run if no one was open. If he ran, there wasn't much of a price to pay when he was tackled. That time is cut in half or more in the Pros. It's not that Tebow can't read a pro defense, it's more that he doesn't process the data fast enough to be effective. Plenty of time to find an open receiver in College, not nearly enough time in the pros. Add to that Tebow's inability to "zip" passes in with sufficient velocity, and you have someone who was a phenomenal college player--and definitely deserving of his Heisman-- who can't cut it as a pro.

Thus, I doubt that you'd find many college coaches who wouldn't take Tebow, but it's hard to believe that any pro coaches will take him at quarterback.

[N-OS X-tasy!]

Carnos Jax wrote:
And to think, he was a Heisman winner (then again most(?) of those guys don't seem to have much luck...but I've never seen one bomb as Tebow, but that's probably because I don't follow football that closely).

Matt Leinart. Heisman Trophy winner, number one draft pick. Doesn't have a team.

[datbeme]

Charlie Ward won the Heisman, and while his NFL prospects were limited, he had the luxury of choosing the NBA instead. Was also drafted by the Brewers never having played baseball in college.

[ka jowct]

I'm a bit surprised that Vince Young got cut: he did pretty well in at least one preseason game. Who is the backup there? They cut Harrell also.

[mattkime]