Tebow Debate Rages on Despite Comeback Heroics

After Tebow's first start of the season on Sunday, the debate remains open for all but the most fanatical in either camp.

The Floridian combines a Johnny Unitas throwback hairstyle with a running back's physique, a winning smile and a take-home-to-Mom politeness, all wrapped up with home-schooled Christian values.

That makes him a marketing and branding dream for the Denver Broncos, the NFL, television and all manner of sponsors.

But there are those who think he might prove to be the NFL's version of Russian tennis player Anna Kournikova -- popular, attractive and talented but not cut out for the weekly grind of the professional circuit.

For three quarters of the game at the Miami Dolphins, the critics appeared right. Tebow's passing was poor, he needed too much time to read situations and he just never looked comfortable.

Then, with time running out, he took the game by the scruff of the neck and the Tebow that had delighted fans of the 2008 Florida Gators national championship winning team -- brimming with confidence and willing to improvise -- re-emerged and won the game for his team.

The passing yardage numbers only tell part of the story. In terms of his impact on the game, he simply went from zero to hero.

Two touchdown passes and a successful two-point conversion that he ran in himself, took the Broncos from 15-0 down to overtime, which they won with a field goal.

It was a Hollywood storyline and proof, if nothing else, of Tebow's remarkable character and confidence.

But did it show he is good enough to become a week-in-week-out, four quarters, every down, quarterback?

"He's got those intangibles that we see every time he plays," former Broncos Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway, now executive vice-president, told the Denver Post.

"When that clock is sticking down and something's got to happen, that's what triggers the competitor in him.

"He's a guy that as long as there's time on the clock, he's going to give us a chance to win. Those are things you can't coach," he said.

RANGE OF WEAPONS

Coaching work is evident in Tebow's game though -- his throwing action has been adjusted since his college day, even if it is yet to reach the smoothness of delivery and the premium accuracy that is required in the pro game.

His reading of blitzes was poor -- he was sacked seven times by the Dolphins -- and he looked slow at times 'reading' situations.

In Tebow's defense, his coaches took a conservative approach to play selection until late in the game. He also lacks a great range of weapons in the Broncos' receiving corps.

It will take much more than one game for a definitive verdict on Tebow to be reached.

"We said all along, you know, Tim is a work in progress," Broncos head coach John Fox told reporters on Monday as he looked back on the comeback victory.

"It was only his fourth start in the National Football League and he will just continue to get better. I think he'll tell you and I know I'd tell you, I liked the last five minutes better than the first 55. We feel like he'll improve."

Perhaps the Broncos will need to draw some conclusions from the way Tebow delivered so well in the latter stages. Perhaps they will need to go back to what made their quarterback so effective in college football.

"They are going to have to run the spread offense with this guy and run the running game out of the spread," ESPN football analyst Herm Edwards told the New York Times.

"If you want to win some games, let him play that way. If you put him in a conventional offense, he's going to struggle."

The debate may not be about whether Tebow can make it in the NFL. It may be a case of whether the NFL can make it for Tebow.

Does the professional league have enough room, enough coaching freedom and strategic flexibility to find a way to let Tebow be Tebow?

(Editing by Ian Ransom; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Blog debate: Stanford vs. Washington

Washington visits Stanford on Saturday in matchup of ranked Pac-12 teams, but what the Huskies and Cardinal most notably share -- other than quarterbacks putting up big numbers -- is a lack of quality wins.

One team will get one this weekend.

So seeing that the Pac-12 and Stanford blogs will be crossing paths on Saturday, it seems like a great time to visit and chat about this Pac-12 North Division matchup.

Kevin, give me the lay of the land at Stanford. What are the folks on the Farm happy with so far during six blowout wins? And is there anything that isn’t working well?

Kevin Gemmell: I think that any conversation regarding Stanford and their happiness has to start with quarterback Andrew Luck. His evolution in the pro-style/West Coast offense has been fun to watch. He really has a handle on it. The offensive line is progressing, the tight ends are scary good and Stepfan Taylor is running the ball hard and efficiently. Defensively, you can't ask for much more. The Cardinal have held their last 12 opponents under 20 points.

Now, the not so good. Notice I didn't mention the wide receivers when giving the offensive fly-over? I will say that Griff Whalen has stepped up his game significantly in the past two weeks. But Chris Owusu isn't having the season head coach David Shaw anticipated. And with Owusu's recent concussion, we're not sure how much of a contributor he'll be for the next couple of weeks. Outside of those two, none of the other wide receivers have stepped up. Luck leans heavily on his three tight ends and his backs. But I guess when you have three guys like Coby Fleener, Zach Ertz and Levine Toilolo, you can get by without a big-time wide receiver.

Stanford's pass rush is ridiculous -- averaging almost four sacks per game. Tell me about the Washington offense. Are they going to be able to keep Keith Price upright?

[+] Enlarge Steven Bisig/US PresswireBehind the play of quarterback Keith Price, Washington is averaging 37 points per game.Ted Miller: The midseason story with the Washington offense has been the meteoric maturation of Price, whom you might notice is nipping on Luck’s heels as the conference’s most efficient quarterbacks. Oh, and Price has more touchdown passes -- 21 to 18 -- so pffffft!

Price also has a good crew of receivers and an up-and-coming star at tight end in Austin Seferian-Jenkins, not to mention an A-list running back in Chris Polk, who makes his living after contact. The Huskies are averaging 37 points per game and have scored more than 30 points in each game this season. There’s good pass-run balance with an average of 246 yards passing and 174 yards rushing.

In fact, you might say that the Huskies want to play like Stanford: balanced and physical.

Ah, but that matchup up front is key. The Huskies' offensive line has been solid this year but it’s certainly not dominant. It yields two sacks per game, which is OK but not great. And the Cardinal will be coming hard for Price. In fact, the Huskies badly lost the battle up front in last year’s 41-0 defeat in Husky Stadium. The question is how much difference can one year make?

You know this Stanford defense -- you've noted the pass rush -- what should the Huskies do to attack it? And while we’re getting deep, is there any way to contain Luck and his tight ends?

Kevin Gemmell: If there is one thing Stanford coach David Shaw knows -- it's quarterbacks. He also knows how to exploit their weaknesses. This is a program that doesn't gauge its pass rush success by how many sacks it gets, but rather how many times pass-rushers put a hit on the quarterback -- regardless of the play's outcome. The Cardinal believe if they are getting a body on the quarterback, that will eventually wear him down over the course of the game. So to answer your question of what the Huskies need to do: play fast.

Price can't afford to sit back in the pocket too long because the Cardinal front will collapse it. They set edges very well -- almost like they are creating their own pocket for the defense -- and then Chase Thomas & Co. mop up.

[+] Enlarge Steve Conner/Icon SMIZach Ertz and his fellow Stanford tight ends have given opposing defenses fits this season.Now, containing the tight ends. Sure, you can probably contain one of them. But what happens when they put all three on the field at the same time? And then motion fullback Ryan Hewitt (a former tight end) out of the backfield and into the slot. Now you've got four receivers taller than 6-foot-5 who are just as fast a wide receivers and a lot stronger. I've said this before, Stanford is running some of the most innovative offensive schemes I've ever seen in football with those tight ends.

Let's get down to it, Ted. We're both going to be in Palo Alto for this one. How do you see this game playing out?

Ted Miller: It’s hard to get past 41-0, the butt-kicking delivered last year by the Cardinal in Seattle. Yet I think this is a much better Huskies team. And I’m not sure that Stanford is as good as last year.

That said, Stanford at home with Andrew Luck -- that’s just too difficult to pick against, particularly with Stanford's clear defensive superiority. I think this game plays out like a lot of Stanford games this year: close for a half, then Luck and the Cardinal pump on the gas. So I’m saying 42-24, Stanford.

What about you?

Kevin Gemmell: As it is in most Stanford games, the pass rush is going to be the key. One team can get to the quarterback, the other one probably won't. Stanford leads the nation in sacks allowed (two) while having one of the best pass rushes in the country. That's going to make the difference. Plus it's homecoming and the official word is Stanford Stadium was sold out by Tuesday morning and rumor is the rest of the season has been sold out. Folks in Palo Alto are excited. I don't see the Cardinal letting the down.

Stanford wins 42-17.

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