Tim Tebow Comments on Florida's Struggles, Leadership

Former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow thinks he knows what's missing from the current group of Gators, who are 2-3 in conference play (3-3 overall) through Week 8 of the 2014 college football season.

In a radio interview Tuesday with 1010 XL in Jacksonville, the SEC Network analyst commented that he doesn't see the same type of fight and determination that existed when he was helping lead the program to a pair of BCS national championships.

He said the Gators' blowout loss to Missouri in Week 8 was "tough to watch," but also noted they aren't completely out of the SEC East race quite yet.

When the conversation shifted to what needed to change, Tebow focused on two areas where he excelled during his storied collegiate career: heart and leadership.

The station passed along his thoughts about Florida's overall issues:

He also touched on the Gators' offensive struggles:

Tebow was never the most natural quarterback. His inability to refine his throwing motion is a major reason why he's currently an analyst rather than still playing in the NFL somewhere.

But Tebow is essentially the king of intangibles, which helped him win a lot of college games, so his words hold weight when he talks about a lack of heart or leadership. He was able to play a key role in generating a winning atmosphere during his time at Florida—a dynamic that's begun to fade over the past few seasons.

Will Muschamp took over from Urban Meyer ahead of the 2011 season. He led the team to a bowl game in each of his first two seasons and posted a Top 10 finish in 2012. Florida went just 4-8 last season, however, and is off to a 3-3 start this year.

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Any time a program like Florida stops winning on a consistent basis, criticism comes from all angles. The focus must be on finishing the season strong. There's a chance to make a major impact with games against Georgia and Florida State on the horizon.

The Gators could use another player like Tebow. Those types of talents don't walk through the locker room door very often, though. It's up to somebody in the room already to step into a leadership role during the bye week to provide a spark before a key clash with the Bulldogs on Nov. 1.