Tim Tebow Ready for NFL

As I watched Florida quarterback Tim Tebow in Saturday’s win over Tennessee, I became more convinced than ever that he won’t be an NFL quarterback. Tebow is a great quarterback in Florida’s offense, but Tennessee defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin exposed real limitations, including an inability to feel pressure and a slow delivery, that just won’t work in the NFL.
But Tebow can still be a very good player in the NFL — on the other side of the ball.

The video above shows Tebow colliding with Tennessee safety Eric Berry, and although the person who posted it on YouTube labeled it as a “huge hit on Tebow,” it would be more accurate to call it a huge hit by Tebow: It was Berry (one of the best players in college football) who ended up worse for wear after that collision.

And it’s often the defensive player who’s worse for wear after collisions with Tebow. There aren’t many players in football who initiate contact more than Tebow does, and while that isn’t exactly a good thing for an NFL quarterback, it’s a great thing for an NFL safety.

Tebow wouldn’t be the first star college quarterback to play defensive back in the NFL. Scott Frost, who led Nebraska to a national championship, had a six-year career as an NFL safety. It’s a transition that makes a lot of sense for college quarterbacks who have the athletic talent but don’t have the sophisticated passing ability to make it in the NFL.

Admittedly, Tebow lacks the blazing speed of the prototypical NFL defensive back and would probably be one of the slowest safeties in the NFL. But at 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds, he would be one of the biggest as well. On Sundays next year, we may very well see Tebow continue to use that 235-pound body to dish out the kinds of hits he delivered against Berry. He just won’t be the one with the ball in his hands.

By Michael David Smith

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