Bill, the negative effect of the sack yardage would be included in Tebow's 4.3 yard average the same as it would be included in VY's 6.8 yard average that MCG dug up. VY's significantly higher per attempt average is indicative of two things - both of which Crable correctly, imho, alluded to - 1) VY is much more of a home run threat than Tebow - I don't know what Tebow's longest run from scrimmage was but VY and Dixon both could and did take it to the house from 70 and 80 yards. VY was more elusive, as big and strong but had an extra gear that Tebow does not. 2) Tebow is used much more extensively on the goal line and in short yardage situations than VY.....of Tebow's 20+ TD's, how many came from outside 10 yards? That said, I agree with you. All three are a load to defend against and when it comes to defending, the ability to run and pass are both significant. Don't get me wrong, Tebow is a fine, fine player but he just is nowhere near the threat running the football that VY is.....VY can do everything that Tebow does - he's as big and strong - but Tebow can't do everything that VY does....nor can anybody else for that matter. Crable is correct, VY is a freak - he's not dissin' Tebow, he's just speaking the truth about VY.
Terry, I do not know for sure how many of his TD's were over 10 yards but I do know several of them were, probably more than you think. However none were over the 20-30 yard range, that is true. Tebow doesn't have the speed of those other two, but let's also not forget that Tebow did set a record for TD's. The criticism of him because many of them were shorter yardage isn't valid either unless one just concedes the Gators get more chances from close than other teams. I think there is something to which we all agree, it was a stupid thing for Grable to say.
Bill, I found this on scout.com. I don't know how accurate the numbers are from this source. http://recruiting.scout.com/2/708888.html
Thanks PJ, I think that article is pretty accurate. Ten of the TD's were 5 yards or over with the longest being 23 yards. If I read the numbers right that means he gained about 700 yards rushing that didn't go for touchdowns, that is pretty significant for a QB. That was a good article.
I think the real factor at play here Bill is that the other teams hand the ball to their runnning back inside the 5 yard line more often than did the Gators...11 of his TD runs were 3 yards and in....alot of coaches don't like to have their QB get beat up that much by having him play fullback. Perhaps if he wouldn't have taken some of those hits, he would have been healthy for the Georgia game? While Tebow will never, imho, be the running threat that VY is, I do think that at this stage of his development, he is a better passer that was VY as a soph. Perhaps TOK disagrees, but from my perspective, VY really didn't become a great passer until his Jr/Sr years.....then he became a first year starter and rookie of the year in the league.
I think Tebow's tougnness and ability to overpower would be tacklers is just important a football skill as dancing around and making people miss a la Vince Young or Troy Smith. Chris Leak last year was a pretty good Qb and won the title game MVP award but he sure wasn't ever going to be the guy taking it up the gut for a TD on 3rd and 2 at the goal line and neither are most Qbs in the NCAA.
No question about that....however, Tebow is no bigger and stronger than VY at 6-5, 243 and believe me, I still have personal nightmares after having witnessed firsthand VY shaking off a linebacker - a first round pick now starting in the NFL - like a dog after a bath and firing a strike 40 yards downfield to rally his team. Crable's point about VY is that he can and does have the toughness and ability to overpower but also has the shake and bake and the jets to take it to the house from anywhere on the field.....that is what makes him "freakish". imho, you guys are seeing ghosts trying to find something to rally the troops....Crable's not dissin Tebow, he's just speaking the truth about VY.
Tebow had an incredible year and is no doubt a great college QB...Vince Young had an incredible career and won a Nat'l Championship, took his team into Ohio and beat a terrific Buckeye team, then beat a great USC team for the Nat'l Championship. He has skills that Tebow does not have, but that doesn't diminish Tebows stature as a great college QB. But if I'm starting a college team, I'd take Vince over just about any QB he just had <b>IT</b>, some thing that transcends all the skills. If his defense gave up 30+ points, then Vince made sure his offense scored at least 1 point more. So far it's early but Tim hasn't been able to do that with his UF team, but next year he might just show us that quality, who knows!! The next guy I'd take would be Joe Montana, another guy who just had <b>IT</b>, maybe James Street (Texas QB who won NC) who also had <b>IT</b>. Jay Barker of Alabama had <b>IT</b>. Just guys who were flat out winners without having all the physical skills of other guys, VY had both!!
TOK, I agree 100%. I can still remember VY rallying his Longdoggies from behind in the 4th quarter that Saturday night in front of a jacked up Buckeye crowd and a very stout Buckeye defense. I then remember you and I standing up virtually alone in front of our west coast brethren and the rest of the doubters and saying not only would Texas cover, but that they would win outright.....and while I'm not sure about you, but from my perspective, they were going to win because they had VY and whatever it took to win that ballgame VY could and would do.....and that is exactly what happened. That does not diminish Tebow in any way, shape or form. He is an outstanding football player....he may well lead his team to a championship but he's not Vince Young.
I think the point that has been missed here isn't that Tebow isn't Vince Young, but he isn't just another QB either. Look for Tebow's TD production to go down next year as we will have several running backs that should be able to run near the goal line.
I didn't realize that VY had that kind of size......he is freakish. I agree with Bill that we take it from Crable that he thinks Tebow is more average than freakish.