What We've Learned About Tim Tebow so Far This Preseason

While his jersey color and number may have been different, New England Patriots quarterback Tim Tebow did very little to change the overall perception of his skill set during the first preseason game of 2013.

Out was Tebow's No. 15 green-and-white garb, and in was a navy-and-grey No. 5. But over his extended stint against the Philadelphia Eagles last Friday, the new-look Tebow continued to be just as shaky of a pocket passer as he was with the New York Jets in 2012.

His persisting inaccuracies and difficulties reading and reacting to an NFL defense were both readily apparent over his 31 snaps as New England's third-string quarterback. 

Tebow entered his first game with the Patriots, who signed the gadget quarterback in early June, with just over a minute remaining in the first half and New England up 24-14. The problems began on his first snap.

On first down, the Patriots ran an otherwise simple spread look out of the shotgun. Tebow was awarded ample time in a clean pocket, but despite stepping into the throw, his attempt to an open Aaron Dobson along the sidelines was low and wide. He also double-clutched the throw, likely as a result of both indecision and a lack of timing with the rookie receiver. 

His second throw—to rookie tight end Zach Sudfield down the middle seam—was much better in terms of timing and decision, but the ball placement wasn't ideal, and Sudfield couldn't haul in a diving attempt. 

On third down, Tebow failed to recognize a pre-snap blitz look from the Eagles and was sacked with relative ease by a gang of green. 

The night didn't get noticeably better for Tebow—at least in terms of throwing the football—during the second half. 

He finished his night completing just four of 12 passes, which included two screens and one quick dump off. His lone completion on a pass traveling over 10 yards in the air was a result of a broken play when Tebow smartly scrambled outside the pocket and found Kamar Aiken for a first down. 

His 55 total passing yards on 12 attempts equated to a yards-per-attempt average of just 4.58.  

According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Tebow completed only one of his five passes over nine yards and was credited for one of the three sacks he endured. 

On a play-action bootleg in the second half, Tebow missed an open Sudfield in the flat and took an unnecessary sack. Later, he was late coming off his primary read and then had to deliver a wild attempt in the face of heavy pressure. 

In the fourth quarter, he was nearly picked off on a third-down throw along the far sidelines. The ball was put on the front shoulder despite the cornerback playing inside technique. 

Overall, Tebow would finish with a passer rating of 49.0. Only three quarterbacks who played 25 or more snaps in the first week of the preseason were worse, per PFF (subscription required). 

To his credit, however, Tebow did rush for 31 yards on four carries. He picked up a first down on a designed quarterback draw in the third quarter before running a read-option keeper off left tackle for a 14-yard pickup and another first down in the fourth. Also mixed in were a couple of interior runs out of the Pistol formation. 

Without much doubt, Tebow is still a capable runner who is difficult to bring down in the open field. 

However, the same Tebow who has struggled with consistent accuracy and the reading of defenses—even second- and third-string units playing simple schemes—still defined Friday night's performance. 

Taken altogether, it's difficult to say much of anything was learned about Tebow in the preseason opener. He appears to be the same quarterback he was upon entering the NFL in 2010. 

Over his first three NFL seasons, Tebow completed just 47.9 percent of his passes and was sacked 41 times, which equates to a ridiculous sack percentage of 10.2. On Friday, Tebow completed 33 percent of his attempts and was sacked three times on 15 drop backs (20.0 percent). 

Mechanical issues will always keep his completion percentage well below the NFL standard, while his inability to grasp the mental side of passing the football will ensure he's still sacked at a high rate. Both problems have followed him from Denver to New York and now to New England. 

With three preseason games left, Tebow still has plenty of time to cement his roster spot with the Patriots in 2013. But those expecting to learn something new about the third-string quarterback were likely let down in the preseason opener. This is still the same Tim Tebow we've grown accustomed to with both the Broncos and Jets in previous seasons.