Tim Tebow: The Future Of the NFL?

If you had any doubts about how big a profile Tim Tebow has earned within football circles, have a look at this video from the sidelines of this year’s Super Bowl:

On top of that, at this point just about anyone connected from the NFL (who isn’t directly associated with a team) is getting asked about Tebow’s chances on the next level. The Orlando Sentinel had an opportunity to interview Jon Gruden now that he’s got some time on his hands, and the topic of college football and its most prominent player came up.

One thing Gruden said was that he’s going to take some time to learn the spread offense, and in particular Chip Kelly’s version of it that Oregon runs. When asked if the spread could become a base offense in the NFL, he said “no question.”

He was also asked about Tebow’s chances on the next level, and Gruden gave a response for the ages.

“…Tim Tebow is so interesting to me," he said. "He’s like Brandon Jacobs playing quarterback. He’s 250 pounds. He’s the strongest human being who’s ever played the position. Ever. He will kick the living [expletive] out of a defensive lineman. He’ll fight anybody. He is rare. Tebow is the kind of guy who could revolutionize the game. He’s the ‘wildcat’ who can throw. Most of the teams that have the wildcat back there, it’s Ronnie Brown, it’s Jerious Norwood, it’s whoever you want to say it is. This guy here is 250-pounds of concrete cyanide, man. And he can throw. He throws well enough at any level to play quarterback."

That wasn't it.

 

“He can play quarterback in the NFL," Gruden said. "When he was a high school senior, they played Armwood in the state championship game. I have tape. He has an 80-yard touchdown run that put them in the lead. When it flipped around, and Armwood had the ball, what position do you think Tebow was playing? He was playing nose guard — and he disrupted about 10 plays. This guy is totally different. He’s got Rich Gannon, Drew Brees, that kind of makeup as a team guy. What he said after the Ole Miss game, I said, ‘That’s my favorite football player I’ve ever seen in my whole life.’ I said, ‘I want Florida to win every game that kid plays from now on.’”

So as you can see, Tebow has a pretty big fan in Gruden.

Florida’s new quarterbacks coach Scot Loeffler was also asked about Tebow’s chances on the next level. In his years at Michigan, Loeffler worked with pro-style Wolverine quarterbacks from Tom Brady up through Chad Henne. He spent one year in the NFL with the Lions before taking the UF job.

His thoughts on Tebow as an NFL quarterback follow what many have been saying.

“You’re damn right he’ll be a good NFL quarterback," Loeffler said. "He’s got 'it'. There aren’t too many people across the country who have 'it'. You’re really only looking at five or six great NFL players. There is no question in my mind he will be an NFL player.

While Tebow might have to adjust, Loeffler sees there being no issue.

"There are several different styles out there, some base fundamentals you have to do," he said. "Does he have some things he has to work on? Certainly. Of course. It’s very similar from a guy coming from high school to college. There’s a transition you have to make. But can that kid play in the NFL? Absolutely.”

It is pretty well known that Tebow has some things to work on before going to the next level. I have a post already written up that I’m saving for later illustrating how long his delivery is compared to Sam Bradford’s compact windup. Bradford, as you know, is expected to be a top-five draft pick in part thanks to his mechanics.

It is also pretty well known that Urban Meyer thinks that Tebow is great just the way he is. When asked about the words of wisdom that Meyer imparted to his new quarterbacks coach, Loeffler says all he gave him was “don’t screw him up.”