Its Tebow Time Again

Somehow we knew it was coming again we just didn't know when. What? Tebow-mania. Yes its back in all of its glory. Football fans, coaches, sports analysts and non-sports fans all alike are caught up in the phenomena known as Tebow-mania. After almost a two year absence Tim Tebow is back in an NFL uniform playing for the Philadelphia Eagles stirring up a whirlwind of excitement and attention. No one in recent sports history has created such a furor of observation as Tebow. Why? Because Tim Tebow is a polarizing figure. With his unorthodox throwing style, non-traditional style of quarterbacking and ultra religious persona he is the embodiment of a headline grabber. Only one quarterback comes to mind that comes close to being the attention-grabbing machine that Tebow is and that is Joe Namath. The difference between the two is that Namath's behavior was a combination of marketing and genuine traits. Tebow's actions are purely natural. He is not trying to be a news magnet he just naturally is one. His all-American boy image, "aww shucks ma'am" attitude and honest,pure excitement in playing football make him a perfect candidate for news outlets looking for a story that will generate readers and viewers. The question is: "Is he here to stay this time around?"

When Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly signed Tim Tebow as a free agent in the spring of 2015 sports fans and sports experts were scratching their heads wondering what he was doing. They still are. After having jettisoned several talented players like wide receiver DeSean Jackson and running back LeSean McCoy, Kelley looked like he was having a mid-life crisis in picking up Tebow. Had he truly lost touch with reality or was he privy to something that the rest of us didn't know?

In his time away from the NFL Tebow had been working with former major league baseball pitcher Tom House on his throwing motion. They totally dismantled his throwing mechanics and started from scratch. Together they built a much quicker release and a much tighter throwing motion that produced a much more accurate pass. Kelly got wind of Tebow's off-field work and invited him in for a workout. He and his coaching staff were immediately impressed with Tebow's improvement and signed him as a free agent. With Tebow's already proven ability to run with the football, the added threat of him being able to adequately pass the football was too much for Chip Kelly to "pass" up. (unintended pun that actually fits perfectly)

The Philadelphia Eagles run a "hurry-up" offense which head coach Chip Kelly developed when he was coaching the Oregon Ducks in the NCAA. The offense is based on a sped up style of play with elements of the "read option" thrown in. This type of offense is perfect for Tebow who ran a read option offense when he was playing college football at Florida. Although the pace is much quicker than what they used at Florida and Denver the offensive formations and defensive reads that he will have to make are very familiar to him. Once he makes the adjustment to the speed of play and knocks off the rust from not playing for nearly two years he should be able to function well within the offense. So in most regards the Eagles offensive scheme is a perfect fit for Tebow.......at least in theory.

There is no question that Tim Tebow is a football player. He stands 6'3" tall, weighs 245 pounds, has a little better than average speed and is tough as nails. The question is "Is he a quarterback in the NFL?" That remains to be seen. I agree with Hall of Fame coach and player Mike Ditka who said "Tebow is good for football." Not only as a football player who brings excitement to the game but as a character role model who is someone that kids and even adults can model themselves after. I truly hope that Tebow can make it this time in the NFL. He seems to have a coach and a team that is willing to let him play the game the way he plays it.......a little unorthodox. I like Tebow. In many ways he is a maverick but in a good way. He does things a little differently but that's okay. Sometimes different is good.