Category: College Football (Page 226 of 296)

      Can Tim Tebow be an NFL quarterback?

      October 8, 2008 /

      Last year, Florida QB Tim Tebow became the first underclassmen to ever win the Heisman Trophy. His blend of size and athleticism make him one of the best football players in college football.

      But is he an NFL quarterback? Gregg Doyel of CBS Sports doesn’t think so.

      Meyer isn’t screwing up Tim Tebow. While it’s true that Meyer’s spread offense isn’t conducive to producing an NFL quarterback — how has 2005 No. 1 pick Alex Smith panned out? — it’s also true that Tebow doesn’t have what it takes to play that position in the NFL. Not if his coach was Urban Meyer. Not if his coach was Pete Carroll. Not if his coach was David Cutcliffe, Norm Chow or Grantland Freaking Rice.

      Now then, a slight digression. If the NFL continues its meandering toward the single wing, with direct snaps to versatile backs, Tebow could have a future. So could Vince Young, for that matter. Because Tebow can take a shotgun snap and make a decision and then run or pass or hand the ball to someone else. He can do that.

      What he can’t do is drop back five or seven steps and throw a 30-yard laser with pinpoint accuracy. He can’t, and it’s not because Urban Meyer won’t let him do it. It’s because his genetics won’t.

      Again, don’t misunderstand this column. Larry Bird couldn’t jump. Manny Ramirez can’t catch. Deion Sanders couldn’t tackle. Those are still great players, great talents.

      Same with Tebow. Great player. Possibly even a great NFL player. I can see him at tight end or fullback. Maybe linebacker. And I can see him being some team’s third-string quarterback, good enough to run the scout team and provide behind-the-scenes leadership and mentoring. But start at quarterback in the NFL? Sorry. I can’t see that.

      What I see is a great college quarterback who can complete a high percentage of the (mostly easy) passes Meyer asks him to throw. I see a quarterback who can run for tough yardage. I see an inspirational leader whose quotes after the loss to Ole Miss had me fired up to hit somebody.

      But I don’t see an NFL quarterback. Never have, never will, and it has nothing to do with Urban Meyer and everything to do with the fabulous athlete with the average arm named Vince Young Tim Tebow.

      I’m not an NFL scout, but I agree with Doyel on his assessment. Tebow is going to have a future in the NFL because he’s a tremendous athlete. But he’s not a true NFL quarterback in the sense that he’s going to be able to dissect a defense and run a traditional pro-style offense. Some team will probably draft him a round or two higher than he should go, but he should still have an impact at the next level because simply put, the kid can play football. If I were Tebow, I’d stay at Florida as long as possible and give pro teams plenty of time to evaluate his skill set and figure out how it translates into the NFL.

      College Football

      LSU lineman: ‘We’re going to try and take Tim Tebow out’

      October 7, 2008 /

      Not that the LSU-Florida rivalry needed any more wrath, but it got it Tuesday when LSU defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois said on Tuesday that if he and his teammates get the opportunity, they’re going to take out Gators’ QB Tim Tebow.

      Ricky Jean-Francois“If we get a good shot on (Tebow), we’re going to try our best to take him out of the game,” Jean-Francois told the Orlando Sentinel. If LSU can get in such a hit, Jean-Francois added, the effect will be like “a car wreck without a seat belt.”

      Jean-Francois did extend props to the Gator quarterback, saying, “With his size and his heart, it’s hard to get a clean shot.” But Jean-Francois, who has been hailed as Glenn Dorsey’s worthy successor at LSU, made it clear there will be no regrets if Tebow gets sidelined.

      Said Jean-Francois: “If he does get hurt, there’s a trained medical staff at Florida, so you can go to the training room on Sunday.”

      In fairness to Jean-Francois, he’s not saying that LSU is going to take cheap shots at Tebow, but still, letting it be known that you’re out to physical hurt an opponent isn’t very intelligent. Florida is coming off an embarrassing loss to Ole’ Miss two weeks ago and didn’t play that well at Arkansas last Saturday – why give them any extra motivation to re-focus? Why hand them bulletin board material days before the game?

      College Football

      Ten Most Infamous Sports Criminals

      October 7, 2008 /

      In the wake of O.J. Simpson being convicted for robbing a sports memorabilia dealer over the weekend, Real Clear Sports.com ranks the 10 most infamous sports criminals.

      O.J. Simpson#1 O.J. Simpson
      Was there any question about who would be number one on this list?

      His career was the most successful of anyone that earned this dubious distinction; his celebrity status the largest; and his crimes among the most heinous…

      #2 Tonya Harding
      Tonya Harding became infamous in the minds of America on January 6, 1994. It was on that day when fellow-skater and competitor Nancy Kerrigan was attacked following a practice section at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Kerrigan was struck in the knee with a metal baton by Shane Stant, who was hired by Harding’s ex-husband Jeff Gillooly and friend, Shawn Eckardt…

      #4 Michael Vick
      By 2007, after being linked to a marijuana distribution incident, carrying marijuana hidden in a water bottle through airport security, holding up both middle fingers to a home crowd in 2006 and taking on the unfortunate nickname of Ron Mexico, Michael Vick’s image as the most electrifying player in football was just starting to wane. But in 2007, the former number one overall pick in the NFL draft was indicted on charges that would change his public image, possibly forever…

      #8 Maurice Clarett
      At one time, Maurice Clarett was a promising freshmen running back at Ohio State who led his team to a surprising national championship victory over an “unbeatable” Miami team. Unfortunately, that would be the highlight of Clarett’s football career…

      It’s absolutely amazing how some athletes have so much and yet still find ways to commit the most brutal crimes. Just goes to show you that even though we think we do because we watch them on the field, ice or diamond, we have no idea who these athletes really are as people.

      College Football, General Sports, MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL

      Vanderbilt college football’s new Cinderella

      October 6, 2008 /

      After they beat Virginia Tech and West Virginia earlier in the year, many thought that East Carolina would be college football’s Cinderella team this season. But apparently the slipper fit better on Vanderbilt.

      Thanks to a huge win over conference rival Auburn on Saturday, the Commodores are 5-0 for the first time since World War II. And only are they ranked 14th in the nation now, but some even believe they can win the SEC this season.

      Vanderbilt1. That Vandy could win the SEC East.
      I know, I know. You’re going to say I’m getting “caught up in the hype,” perhaps hypnotized by what had to be the headiest set of signs in GameDay history (“What’s worse: Auburn’s offense or the economy?”). Yes, the Commodores barely squeaked by an Auburn squad with that aforementioned anemic offense. Yes, they only gained 263 yards of their own (albeit with their backup quarterback leading the way.) But have you seen the rest of Vandy’s schedule?

      The ‘Dores are 3-0 in the SEC and play at least two more teams — Mississippi State and Tennessee — they should beat (when’s the last time you could say that?) The other three are Georgia, Florida and Kentucky. Vandy’s probably not going to win in Athens — but Georgia’s probably going to lose another conference game. The Kentucky game is a toss-up. That leaves Florida in Nashville. The ‘Dores nearly beat the Gators in both 2005 and ’06, and this team, unlike those Vandy squads, doesn’t fold, outscoring foes 58-10 in the second half. Anything’s possible.

      It has been an amazing ride so far for Vandy and personally, I hope it continues. For years they’ve been the whipping boys in the SEC and finally they’ve given their fans a contender. Sure, a lot of their success has come because of a very opportunistic defense (they lead the nation in turnover margin), but good teams find ways to make their own breaks. They’re exciting to watch and it’ll be interesting to see if the Commodores are really this good or if it’s all hype.

      College Football

      Ohio State’s Pryor proves he’s more than ready for prime time

      October 5, 2008 /

      ESPN’s Mark May might not think so, but Ohio State freshman quarterback Terelle Pryor is clearly ready for the big stage of college football. Pryor certainly proved that last night in the Buckeyes’ 20-17 victory over Wisconsin.

      Terrelle PryorForced to pass in those final six minutes with OSU trailing, 17-13, Pryor threw to Brian Hartline for 19 yards, again for 27 yards, and finally hit Ray Small for 13 yards. On the long one to Hartline, who fumbled to teammate Brian Robiskie after the last of a night of savage Wisconsin hits, Pryor went to his third receiver. Coach Jim Tressel loves that kind of poise.

      Pryor also made plenty of mistakes, “young” plays as he said. In the first half, he once threw deep for Brandon Saine, covered the way the tabloids cover Britney and Jamie Lynn Spears. Wisconsin plucked it like a ripe grape.

      He got turned the wrong way on a maximum blitz and had nowhere to put the ball. The result was a 16-yard sack, the second such huge loss he has absorbed in three games.

      This is what good teams do to young quarterbacks. They mix it up. They hit him where he thinks they ain’t. They burst the bubble. He seemed caught in an agony of indecision at times, pump-faking, not finding open receivers, then eating the ball for losses.

      In the last 90 seconds of the first half, deep in his own territory, Pryor could not find wide receiver DeVier Posey over the middle, although he was as open as a drive-thru window late. The three-and-out gave Wisconsin time to drive for the field goal that gave the Badgers a 10-7 halftime lead.

      He could not get it into the end zone in the third quarter from first-and-goal at the 2. A field goal gave Ohio State a 10-10 tie.

      The stage had dwarfed the freshman. What did you expect?

      How could anyone reinflate a popped bubble?

      He trotted onto the field, 80 yards from the touchdown he needed to steal the game. Camp Randall Stadium was rocking, seesawing from side to side on its foundations, as the Buckeyes reeled.

      “Big drive,” Tressel told Pryor.

      Big finish, too.

      Pryor has been outstanding in his development so far and what’s even better is that he’s a fierce competitor. He’s motivated by what guys like May say about him, but not in a detrimental way. (At least not yet anyway.)

      People expecting Ohio State to eventually take a step back, forget it. This kid is going to have the Buckeyes competing for a national title for the next couple years. Would have loved to see what he could have done with a full game against USC. OSU still might have lost, but I doubt it would have been the massacre it wound up being.

      College Football

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