BTSC Steelers Daily Six Pack- Tebow = Roethlisberger Edition?

by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Mar 31, 2009 2:33 PM EDT

IX- The SB Nation Site for the Florida Gators has a post with an interesting You Tube video from the Super Bowl and in the process compares Tim Tebow to Big Ben. I don't know if I am in the minority but I don't see their styles of play as even remotely similar. I guess it wouldn't hurt to post your thoughts on why or why not in their comments section (remember to be nice).

X- Two team reports from Sporting News and Yahoo that summarize what has been going on in Steeler Nation in the past few weeks. One interesting nugget from Yahoo was a confirmation that the Steelers are definitely not interested in Tory Holt.

"They now will count on Limas Sweed, their second-round draft pick last year, to handle that job. They are not interested in former Ram Torry Holt because he does not have the speed they are looking for there."

XIII- In draft news, Louisville Center, Eric Wood, has a private workout scheduled with the Steelers, and is expected to be taken somewhere in the second round of the upcoming draft. Although a lot of people felt SteelerBrazil was off the mark on his take of the Steelers taking the consensus best tight end in the draft, they might be looking to grab a Tight End early than many fans think. Jared Cook, a Tight End out of South Carolina worked out for the Steelers' Tight End coach recently and his workout numbers are very impressive.

XIV- It remains to be seen what impact the departure of Dan Rooney from the NFL will have on the long term stability and progress of the league. Throughout his career he has provided guidance to commissioners' and advisory boards and has been a progressive voice that has been able to create unity between owners and players. Ron Cook of the Post Gazette has a very bleak view of the NFL without Rooney in his article.

XL- The chances of the Steelers moving up in the draft to target B.J. Raji are slim and none, but he is one of the most debated players coming out in this years draft due to his physical attributes and some of the character questions that are surrounding him. The SB Nation site for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Big Cat Country, conducted an interview with Raji recently and pulled no punches in their questions. After reading the interview and the analysis of the interviewer, I doubt that Raji will be doing a follow up piece, and doubt even more that the folks at Big Cat Country would want him

Bj_raji_medium

XLIII- I can never get enough news about the Steelers being positive role models in the community or donating their time for a good cause. This time a group of Steelers that included James Harrison participated in an event at Heinz field that supported the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

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Comments

Big Ben and Tebow

Both are big, moblile guys that have a heart of a champion and 2 championships!

by steelersfan86 on Mar 31, 2009 2:40 PM EDT reply actions

I think that is about where the comparisons end...

Tebow has yet to run a pro-style offense in college and until I see that I won’t buy in. Tebow’s first instinct in trouble is to run, Ben’s first instinct is to extend the play.

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Mar 31, 2009 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions

That doesnt make much sense

Ben’s first instinct is to run, in an effort to extend the play.

By Tebow running, is he not extending the play as well?

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Apr 1, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah, I think what he really meant was that Ben is more likely

to terminate a play with a throw. Tebow is more likely to bull rush to the end zone. Lets see how long he can do that in the NFL.

by SteelersVT on Apr 1, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks VT...

that is what I meant..

extending the play could be run, pass, avoid a pass rusher and throw the ball away, depending on the situation…just trying to make it work.

run first is run first and not think about anything other than rushing for a first down or touchdown.

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Apr 1, 2009 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions

I tried to search for a comment I made about this a while back, but coudln't

I do think they play similarly. I think Tebow has a chance of being the next big QB with a run threat. I would be dumbfounded if he doesn’t go in the first round next year.

Watching him play, he seems to have a good football head- but I do see the concerns that wiser people than myself bring up: namely that a QB will never run in the NFL like they do in college, and whatever DYMS means by ‘pro style’ offense. If Miami is using the wildcat, then hell, any college system could conceivably be used in the NFL.

He does a lot of heavy lifting…

by SteelersVT on Mar 31, 2009 3:09 PM EDT reply actions

Tebow highlights

I tried to look up some Tebow highlights ~~-because I couldn’t get my mind to remember many big long range plays he made during the season~~- but all I get are compilations of him running the ball.

yawn

by 40s on Mar 31, 2009 3:30 PM EDT reply actions

by pro-style

I mean one where the recievers actually run routes and the quarterback has to try and read through different progressions.

But like you said with Miami using a wildcat offense a lot it could happen where a QB like Tebow can run something un-conventional, but that would make him very different then Big Ben. Which would confirm my original argument that they are not similar QB’s.

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Mar 31, 2009 3:31 PM EDT reply actions

That is exactly what Florida does. They run a spread option offense, but the plays are designed, and the QB still has to go through his progressions. Spread Option offenses aren’t some gun-and-run, and hope for the best, type of offense. It’s an offense that is packaged designed for deception and maximizing the choices for the QB, both running and passing.

I think it’s a faux pas that spread option QBs can’t play in a pro-style offense because they didn’t in high school or college. Anyone coming in is going to have to learn the playbook, and adjust to that team’s style of play. I think NFL coaches should be good enough to teach anyone how to play in their offense.

It’s spelled "S-H-U-x-x-x-x-x"

by JShufelt on Apr 1, 2009 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Could you name one quarterback that has run a spread style offense in college that has won a super bowl?

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Apr 1, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Does he have to be the starter? If not, I recall a particular Steeler that ran one of the more prolific offenses in cfb history in 2007. :-)

But I know you’re talking about starters. Regardless, that’s not evidence of anything.

First.
Second.

Spread option is still relatively new, and only the last few years has it had any significance. You’re asking how many were QBs in a spread style offense in a sample size of 0.8% NFL QBs. In addition, not every QB is a Ben Roethlisberger, and can win the Superbowl their rookie year, or even within their first four years. It took Trent Dilfer 7 years, Peyton Manning 8 years, and Brad Johnson 12 years – and that’s only going back 8 years. Now I have a sample size of 0.4% over the course of 8 years.

Some of the most prolific passers in college football are coming from spread option offenses. Of course, the spread option isn’t going to be effective in the NFL, but that really only deals with the running aspect of the offense. If a QB has the motion, the release, and is a smart enough player, I see no reason why an spread option couldn’t win the super bowl. A quarterbacks ability to run isn’t a negative.

It’s spelled "S-H-U-x-x-x-x-x"

by JShufelt on Apr 1, 2009 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions

very true...

I applaud you for your research as you are spot on. The spread is very new so that wasn’t a very fair comparison…saw you were a duck fan and should of thrown in a few jabs about dixon, even though I do like him.

Although the Quarterback ability to run isn’t a negative, if that is their first instinct and they aren’t able to pick up blitzes or to get rid of the ball quick enough it surely will become a negative at the NFL Level. I’m sure in the near future a few of these QB’s that have run spread Offenses in college will be successful in the pro’s, but not without drastically changing their game. But like you said if the guy has the talent they will find a way to make it work.

Also not to nitpick but Ben didn’t win it all until his second year.

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Apr 1, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions

True. I did get that mixed up with Ben. My memory the second shortest thing I own. I just remember his remarkable rookie year, and got it confused.

While I agree with your assessment of first instincts. But that’s something that should be solved by good coaching – hopefully a lot at the college level. There are lots of athletic college QBs, that they just won’t succeed in the NFL. Pat White is probably a good example. He’ll be a better wideout. He would snap in half if Jared Allen were to him him blind side.

Tebow is a good QB, with a good arm, and is smart. In my opinion, he’s probably the best player in college football in the last 10 or so years. He’s big and sturdy. He isn’t going to out run any defenses like Dixon did preseason, but Tebow will power out of tackles, and won’t be easy to take down. I think he can be groomed into a Steve Young, Mark Brunell, David Garrard-type player. I don’t think he’ll be NFL ready on day one, and nobody should expect him to be the starter his rookie year, but he’s got lots of potential, and he should be able to survive the best of them. His release time needs work though.

It’s spelled "S-h-u-f-e-l-t"

by JShufelt on Apr 1, 2009 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions

That interview/analysis with BJ Raji is quality. Nice link.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Mar 31, 2009 4:04 PM EDT reply actions

ya it was interesting to say the least...

It was written in a style to make Raji look pretty bad, (ahh’s and umm’s included, and comments that may have been off the record (like how much longer is it gonna take).

But at the same time a player in his position should be watching his p’s and q’s.

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Mar 31, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions

In his “analysis” the interviewer points this out. Basically everything a player does is PR and if they can’t behave for 10 minutes on a phone call this ought to tell you something. Unfortunately, interviews like this will make players less likely to deal with “unprofessional” interviewers in the future.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Apr 1, 2009 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions

Raji came across fine

I thought Raji expressed himself fairly well and said some insightful things about team play, efficiency on the field, workout habits, coaching styles, the need to learn more at the pro level. I like that he couldn’t remember his best plays or wouldn’t bring them up. He handled the so-called tough questions honestly, admitting he took a swing at a guy and that he should have handled the classroom work better. Saying he liked Warren Sapp is not a “red flag” for his character. Saying he wants to take care of his family is definitely not a red flag. His answer to a silly question about what it would take for him to make it to the Hall of Fame was just fine. No wonder he asked how much longer the interview was going to be. Really sounded like the writer and a few of his readers are predisposed against him.

by steeler.lifer on Mar 31, 2009 8:54 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed.

Questions were kind of bush league. “What is your number one goal in life?”…get real. IMO, your job as an interviewer is to get a guy to open up about a few topics and not try to cover everything with a bunch of canned questions. Maybe dig deep into his life growing up…ask some follow up questions and get some narrative answers. There’s no continuity in that interview and every topic is covered with a one sentence question and a one sentence answer.

by HoustonPA on Mar 31, 2009 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions

To be fair the interview is mostly comprised of community questions. I think the interviewer could have chopped them down more.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Apr 1, 2009 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah...

Could be similar to our annoyance with Hub Arkush or whatever that dude’s name was. Some guys aren’t going to be good communicators and when you’re dealing with a random blogger you probably wouldn’t be real excited by the 23rd question.

by Chicago Steeler on Apr 1, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Plus

It’s not like the guy is going to come right out and say he’s an bad guy if you ask him a direct character question. That’s the kind of thing you need to pick up on in the subtleties of an answer to non-character question.

by HoustonPA on Mar 31, 2009 11:35 PM EDT reply actions