After months of speculation, the time has come to find out whether Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow can thrive at the NFL level.
But since the Broncos are on their bye, let’s consider more speculation before Tebow gets his first start in a meaningful game.
Former Florida coach Urban Meyer recently explained on WDAE in Tampa that Meyer believes Tebow will succeed. Asked why Meyer feels that way, Meyer elaborated. “Same reason he was in high school and won the state championship and the national championship in college,” Meyer said, via SportsRadioInterviews.com. “Football is still football, whether it’s the spread offense, whether it’s the West Coast or I-formation. Competitors usually find ways to win games. Tim’s going to be successful, no doubt. I just hope that the Denver Broncos have enough firepower and they just get better as a team. I’m a Broncos fan now and I want to see those guys do well and one guy doesn’t change a team. Tim Tebow had a lot of success at Florida because he had Aaron Hernandez and Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy and the Pounceys. He had really good players that played well around him and an excellent defense.”
In other words, Tim will succeed and, if he doesn’t, it won’t be his fault.
Meyer also was asked to address whether Tebow will overcome perceived deficiencies with his mechanics. You know, that long, loopy throwing motion that Meyer either didn’t try or wasn’t able to tighten up.
“It’s a question if the team will,” Meyer said. “I think Tim will. This whole thing that one guy in one phase of the game is all of the sudden is going to put the Denver Broncos in the playoffs, it’s always going to be this way that the quarterback gets far too much criticism and too much glory when they win. He’ll manage whatever deficiency he has in throwing the ball, it’s just a matter of if the Broncos can improve their play enough to win.”
Again, in other words, Tim will succeed and, if he doesn’t, it won’t be his fault.
We hope Tebow succeeds. But he needs to be fairly evaluated based on his performance, getting credit if he succeeds and blame if he doesn’t. Meyer’s remarks could be the blueprint for those out there (and you know who you are) who will never find fault with Tebow, under any circumstances. They’ll expect Tim to succeed and, if he doesn’t, they’ll find something to blame other than Tebow.
Even if Tebow deserves part or all of the blame.
