He's been called the Second Coming, Superman, the Savior, The Franchise, and The Anointed One. Tebowmania has swept the country in a matter of weeks. At this point, this story has turned from intriguing to downright annoying. This is why I feel it is the right time to discuss this craze. I'm hoping sooner or later, everyone forgets about this man. This journey that he is taken us on is being analyzed and discussed in every media outlet. The act of Tebowing has replaced Planking and Owling. Never has the issue of Religion been so prevalent in sports media. As a catholic, I am all about someone being religious, but if you are so devout become a goddamn priest and stop playing a game that entails, partying, gambling, and gluttony. That is all I’m going to mention about the religious portion of his persona. Either one, I can’t be there is so much hype for one player who might end up being a third stringer in 3 years. So what the fuck is the big deal?
The reason why this craze has taken the NFL by storm is that he is winning with luck and will without being any good. Tom Brady won 11 of 14 games his first year as the starter and even won a Super Bowl and Ben Roethlisberger went 13-0 as a rookie until losing in the playoffs. Neither received the attention that Tim Tebow has drawn. They all had solid defenses and were not considered the starter at the beginning of their first seasons at the helm, but all were thrust into action. In fact, what Rapistberger and Mr. Hollywood achieved is far greater than what Tebow is doing. Ben did it as a rookie and Brady did it as a 6th round draft pick. People are forgetting that Tebow was a 1st round draft pick. HE IS EXPECTED TO WIN. People are getting excited because a shitty QB is winning games, but the biggest question is why. There is logic behind the W's and it barely has to pertain to him.
1) Best Coaching in the NFL. Unlike Big Ben or Brady who showed amazing promise with mechanics, understanding coverage, and winning, the only thing that Tebow has proven is that he can win a barn burner. His mechanics are terrible, his ability to read defenses is abysmal, but he makes teams pay at the end. In one of the Broncos’ victories, he ran 22 times. This is unheard of by a QB. The transformation this team undertook to exploit his real skill set which is strictly running should account for their head coach, John Fox, winning the coach of the year and their offensive coordinator Mike McCoy getting into the head coaching discussion. They completely revamped an offense around a new style which is difficult, especially mid-season, and are using it to win.
4) Their defense and special teams is playing lights out currently. I think a 10 year old girl in a wheelchair could win with this defense. If you watched their most recent victory against the Bears, the defense caused a fumble and recovered it in OT. In 6 of his 7 victories (besides the Vikings game) their defense has average 14.8 points allowed per game and even with the Vikings game, a little over 16. Their margin of victory in these games has averaged 5 points. They have also caused huge turnovers at the most opportune times and have absolutely suffocated teams.
3) Matt Prater. Yes a kicker is more of a reason a team is winning than the QB in this situation. Matt Prater kicked a 52 yard game winning field in OT during Tebow’s first game. Against the Chargers, Prater accounted for 9 points including a 37 yard field goal to win it also in OT and also kicked a field goal in that same game to send it into OT. Against the Vikings, Prater kicked a game winner with 1:25 left to beat the Vikings and finally, this last weekend, Prater kicked a 59 yard field goal to send it into OT, then kicked a 51 yard field goal in OT to get the win. I haven’t seen a kicker this strong under pressure since Vinatieri.
Now the big question is how to stop Tebow.
First, you need to wrap him up. I am not saying that he is a terrible athlete; he is just a terrible QB. You can’t arm bar him or go for the big hit since he is fullback size player. Sure he will get a yard extra, but wrapping him up low decreases the chance for a big game. Second, put 5 in the box and your fastest linebacker or even biggest safety as a QB spy. Keeping him between the tackles equals WIN. He is not a pocket QB and is at his best when scrambling. Make sure he does not get outside which is achieved by playing contain defense and playing disciplined. If he does break out, which he will, make sure you have someone fast enough and big enough to take him down. Finally, just simply be a good team. I know this sounds pretty fucking obvious, but if you analyze the teams he has beaten, none of them are much of a challenge. The teams he has beaten are a combined 39-55. Now while there are a few teams with winning records, let’s analyze each team he has defeated. After reading, you will notice that he has not faced a layoff caliber team yet.
-Miami Dolphins (4-9) - So bad, they fired their coach mid-season
-Oakland Raiders (7-6)-Talk about a team that has imploded. They started off strong, but have proven over the past few weeks that they are not play-off worthy. Carson Palmer appears to be a bust
-Kansas City Chiefs (5-8)-Same situation as the Dolphins
Jets (8-5) - They have the best record of any team that the Broncos beaten, but they are a group of underachievers. After predicting a Super Bowl, Rex’s team might not even make the playoffs in the competitive AFC.
Charges (6-7)-They have looked good the last two weeks, but before this, they looked like one of the worst teams in the NFL. The Broncos had the pleasure of playing against Rivers when he was playing the worst football of his career.
Vikings (2-11) - They are one of the worse teams in the NFL flat-out
Bears (7-9)-They started off with hope, but the Broncos got to face a team without their two best weapons, Forte who leads all running backs with yards from line of scrimmage, and their QB, Jay “I look like a Giant Baby” Cutler.
Now, let’s continue to watch as this season progresses. This week, Tebow plays a sure fire playoff team in the Patriots. Once they lose this game, I am thinking Tebowmania will slow down. By playing in one of the weakest divisions in the NFL, AFC West, it’s almost impossible not to make the playoffs and after this week’s test against the solid Pats, they play an endangered Buffalo Bill, and a dead Chief. If/When the Broncos do make the playoffs, the Tebow miracle will be put to sleep in the first round, I guarantee. After this year, Tebow will go the way of the Wildcat or a rookie pitcher. Once the other teams have scouted him long enough, he will be dominated and then succumb to a bench warmer.
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