Locals believe in Tebow

By Mari Pothier | gargoyle@flagler.edu
Photo by Mary Elizabeth Fair

Local high school football coach Craig Howard believes Tim Tebow will have great success in the NFL.

As Tebow’s former football coach at Allen D. Nease High School in Ponte Vedra, Howard has watched Tebow progress as a football player and when asked if Tebow has what it takes to be in the pros he said, “without a doubt.”

Many people in the sports world are focused on Tebow’s elongated throwing motion which swoops down below the waist. It is this throwing motion that has caused many to believe Tebow may have trouble making it in the pros as a quarterback.

ESPN reporter Mark Schlaback echoes these concerns.

“NFL scouts and general managers love Tebow’s production and leadership skills, but some have long been alarmed by his slow and sometimes unorthodox throwing motion,” Schlaback said.

But Howard thinks Tebow will prove these doubts wrong.

“There are a lot of quarterbacks who are not as good as Timmy,” Howard said. “He’ll work night and day to correct it.”

The St. Augustine Record reports that Tebow has been working with David Lee, the quarterbacks coach for the Miami Dolphins, to improve his throwing motion. In 2003, Lee helped Tony Romo develop his throwing motion back.

“I really feel Tim Tebow has an excellent opportunity to be in the pros,” Dr. Allen Bohl, an adjunct professor at Flagler College, the former assistant athletic director for Ohio State University and the former athletic director at the University of Toledo, Fresno State and the University of Kansas, said.

Bohl said Tebow has great physical strength, has had to play against some of the toughest teams in college football and is an accurate thrower.

Bohl also believes Tebow will make it as a quarterback.

“The guy knows how to be a quarterback,” Bohl said.

Tebow has great athleticism in the game of football.

“Tebow has thrown for more than 6,300 yards with 67 touchdowns and has never thrown more than six interceptions in a season,” Schlaback said. “As a sophomore in 2007 Tebow became the first player in NCAA history to run for at least 20 touchdowns and pass for at least 20 in the same season.”

But not everyone feels Tebow will be successful at the national level.

“He is a great leader and heck, he’s Tim Tebow — a household name,” Brooks Stapleton, a junior at Flagler College went to Nease with Tebow, said. “Yes he can run the ball like no other – I’ve seen that since high school. But in the NFL he cannot run the ball 20 times per game and be successful.”

Howard hopes Tebow will be drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars, but knows the prospects are unlikely. He believes Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots are likely to draft Tebow.

Bohl also thinks New England is a good possibility along with the San Diego Chargers and the New Orleans Saints.

“Coaches like people who are coachable,” Bohl said. “He’d be happy to be a back up. He makes everyone else he is playing with play at a higher level.”

Tebow also has great character off the field.

“Tebow is a Christian soldier,” Bohl said. “He will play hard and honor the Lord.”