January 29th, 2013 
BuzzyBuzzard Tim Tebow gone, not forgotten: What separates him from quarterback?
Why did Colin Kaepernick find a place in the NFL, while Tebow still sputters?
By Jeff Legwold
The Denver Postdenverpost.com
Today’s question about the Broncos comes from Bill Green in Gillette, Wyo. To submit a question for consideration, send an e-mail to The Denver Post’s Jeff Legwold.
Q: I have talked to a limited number of people who are football gurus, but no one seems to be able to tell me what is wrong with Tim Tebow? I have listened to those experts on CBS and FOX pre-game shows, but no one says why he can not be a quarterback. He started with Denver as a rookie, in a shortened season, with no practice with the new team, and had to start cold, but then all I hear is Tim is no quarterback. … So I will attempt to ask you the question everyone else seems to know but me. What is wrong with Tim Tebow?
A: Bill, talk to people in the NFL, including teammates of Tebow’s and those who have coached him, and often it’s like they are discussing two different people.
There is Tebow the person, the guy away from the field. He is well liked, his work ethic is respected and folks see nothing but good intentions and admirable traits.
That he’s genuine and means what he says.
The other side of the equation is the football side. And from the football side of things there are fundamental, technical issues people in the league, people who have studied players for decades, say Tebow must repair if he is going to try to continue as a quarterback.
His throwing mechanics are flawed. His arm swing and his footwork don’t match when he delivers the ball.
And even in a read-option offense in the NFL, the quarterback is going to have to throw with consistency and accuracy. Colin Kaepernick was a 62 percent passer this season, Russell Wilson was 64 percent. Robert Griffin III was 66 percent.
It mostly has to do with the fact Tebow often lifts his back foot before he has released the ball, causing him to diminish
Tim Tebow (Denver Post file photo)his ability to use his lower-body strength to deliver the ball.
As a result, he’s often trying to muscle a throw, with upper-body strength only, with a motion more suited to baseball, and the ball often sails or dives so he has difficulty maintaining any kind of accuracy. He has worked on this, at times, with Denver-based strength and conditioning coach Loren Landow, as well as with the Broncos coaches, but it continues to be an issue for him.
He also often varies his release point, which also impacts his accuracy. And when he makes changes in his delivery, he does not always hold the changes when under stress in games.
It wasn’t as big an issue when he threw in college because receivers were open by two or three steps at Florida. In the NFL, with the far tighter throwing windows, it’s also why many of his biggest plays were deep against single coverage when he could throw out over the receiver or on routes that crossed in front of him, with the receiver facing him.
Teams understood that, however, and played coverages to take those routes away more and more as the 2011 season wound down.
Tebow’s other issue, at least among personnel people, is the swirl he brings with him these days. Tebow isn’t necessarily the problem. But his advisors, the people who make marketing and other business decisions for him, want him in the public eye as much as possible.
Some personnel people see him as potentially divisive because his off-the-field
Tim Tebow (Denver Post file photo)popularity doesn’t always match his on-the-field performance. That was especially true in New York when the Jets rarely used him and he was still the only backup quarterback in the league with his own media session.
Those types of things are often a problem in the locker room. They really become a problem for a team that has other struggles along the way. And there are some people in the NFL who watched what happened with the Jets this season and say they would be nervous about signing Tebow because of it.
On the field, Tebow faces a decision heading into this offseason. He can continue to be a quarterback and hope a team will give him a chance. Most teams will hesitate until they see some progress on the mechanics. Or he can openly say he will try another position and go about trying to make a roster through that avenue.
But most believe the Jets will set him free, either by trade or release, at some point and that Tebow will be looking to play for his third team in the last three years with his hometown Jaguars having already said they’re not interested.
Jeff Legwold: jlegwold@denverpost.com or twitter.com/jeff_legwold
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Thanks for the post, Buzzy. Legwold seems like one of the more honorable newsers from Denver, even if his insight is limited.
I wonder how many days Tim wasted gaining 15 lbs. for Rex last year, as opposed to developing muscle memory on his passing motion. It’s been great to see him working out with Greg Rutherford and track Olympians this year.
The Olympians are true athletes, as distinguished from many of the spoiled hammer-heads who populate the gridiron. (Cromartie, Revis, Santonio) Working with the Olympic athletes is inherently quieting and centering.
Has anyone ever seen Tebow’s 47-percent pass-completion rate from 2011 broken down relative to down and distance? All I remember is being infuriated by the play selection that constantly put Tim in 3d-and-long situations. My thinking is that few people have a 60+ ratio in those scenarios.
The writer discusses the fact that Tebow’s advisors want him in the public eye as much as possible. As a fan, I did not like the “public eye ” they put him in last off season. But, it seems to me that Tebow has put a stop to that sort of thing. I understand he is speaking at a Church on Sunday in Arizona, so I assume we will not see any stories about him partying with celebrities in New Orleans for the Super bowl. I will feel really good if he does not go to the Grammy’s or the Oscars. He is not a singer nor is he an actor so I see no reason for him to be hob nobing with these folks instead of training. I heard from someone “who knows someone” that he is really worried, in spite of what he says to the contrary, about his future. As a Christian, I know that we are to trust God for our future, but we also know that we need to do our part and I think that is what Timmy is doing. He knows he can not be perceived as someone who seeks celebrity at the cost of honing his football skills. I think that happened last year, whether it was true or not. I’m liking what I am seeing so far this off season.GBPT2!
I agree with Tisa’s post 100%.
I realize I’m probably very much in the minority on this. (I’m used to that.) But I want Tim Tebow in the public eye ALOT. I think he should take The Vatican up on its request to help them clean up Pro Sports; which obviously would put him even more in that eye.
But I’ve said on numerous occasions, I have an agenda. The Vatican is frustrated with the rampant commercialism of Pro Sports and feels that is a big contributing factor in the amount of nonsense Pro Athletes get themselves into and how much the public tolerates it. My issue may be more basic. WHO do these Pro Leagues and Athletes work for? They’ve convinced themselves and, far worse, much of the public, that they work for themselves and Fans are a necessary evil.
I think it absolutely MUST be the other way around. Want to clean up Pro Sports and the Athletes’ image and example to kids? Make sure they know they work for the Fans. Not the other way around. The NFL has never had the “World’s Most Popular Athlete” be one of its own. The excuse that’s been used for “holding” Tim back has been his best style of Play doesn’t fit in the NFL. Well, that’s obviously a fallacy. In fact, the league is rapidly heading to a dominant style being right in Tebow’s wheel house.
So now the primary “argument” is…”Tim’s a great guy. But what team wants to take a chance when he comes with so much baggage from his following”? IMO, nothing sums up how upside down we’ve allowed things to get in Pro Sports than that right there. The problem with Tim Tebow is that he is “too popular”? Who’s minding this nuthouse?
Rather than feed that egotism, I’d rather see Tim and his Following right out there up front as often as possible. MAKE the NFL come right out and say “We don’t want Tim’s Fans”. I want to see the league backed into that corner and say their “Insiders” are more valuable to them their Fans are.
Then we can be done with the charade that pro Sports are anything more than an organized abuse of their customers. The flip-side is…No League can afford to say that. Being backed into that corner would force the League to find a REAL Home for Tim Tebow and his Fans. JMO
Brandi, you are very miuch big picture on this- pro athletes as a whole. We are just Tebow fans interested in his well being. I appreciate reading your articles and your posts here and on Twitter. Following T from the Gators to the NFL has certaining opened my eyes to a lot I had never considered and your posts certaily add to that. Professional athletics is so much in the forefront in our culture that we do need to bring pressure on the prevailing attitude that these guys should be revered just because they play this game. They wouldn’t have a job if the fans didn’t purchase all the tickets, merchandize, cable programs, you name it. Just as an example, I think DirectTV should give Tebow a stipend because of all the people in Florida that bought NFL Sunday Ticket so they could watch Tebow stand on the sidelines and watch Buttfumble. I switched from cable to them just because of Tebow and I am not the only one in Florida that did so. At least with the Broncos Tebow eventually was given a chance to play but this season I spent the entire season eagerly watching, hoping that this would be the Sunday that something would happen that would force the Jets to give Tebow a chance.Maybe we should let the NFL folks be aware we’re not buying NFL Sunday Ticket until we know he has somewhere to play as the QB with a chance to compete for QB. Because I won’t be.
I see MSN is trying to find any Tim Tebow story out there, the latest that Hannah Storm and Mark Schlereth didn’t realize they were on live and trashed talked Tim about being a tightend/ HB, Mark Schlereth has always hated on Tim I wonder what Tim ever did to him? I get so tired of these so called anylst running their egotistical mouths.
I am praying so hard that Tim finds a team who believes in him and what he does and back him all the way. If this happens only good will come of it and I cannot wait to see the haters eating crow. Although I am sure they will still find a way to bash Tim.
The NFL long ago before Tebow even arrived said “heck with the fans”.Thursday Night Football where fans go to watch a game at night in frigid weather just so the NFL can make big money from the TV networks.Super Bowl halftime shows showcasing celebrity singers who can’t sing.Boy do I long for the days when halftime activities were done by the local high school bands.I don’t watch football much in the first place and if Tebow leaves I probably won’t watch it at all.I’ve been disgusted with the NFL way before Tebow.
Andrea: I believe he is the ONLY BRIGHT SPOT!! Never watched either before TT!