Showing posts with label superbowl. Show all posts
Showing posts with label superbowl. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Tim Tebow in the NFL


I have written about Tim Tebow as a college football star for the Florida Gators in a previous blog http://nonomaca.blogspot.com/2009/10/tim-tebow-15-florida-gators.html and needless to say---I'm a fan.

He was picked up 25th over-all during the 2010 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos.  Unfortunately, he lost his sponsor in Josh McDaniels who resigned prior to the 2011 season and he got stuck in a quarterback toss up that  pitted him with Kyle Orton.  Former Bronco's John Elway's entry as the organization's vice-president did not help in Tebow's cause.  Elway led the Broncos to back-to-back Superbowls in the 90's and he was a pocket QB with arm strength and pinpoint accuracy.  Tebow is a a running quarterback.  So I guess it's quite obvious who Elway leaned on.  Orton eventually got the number 1 spot.

Poor Broncos---Orton proved unable to lead the team and after 5 games, they were 1-4.  Call that divine providence.  If you must know, the Tebow family is a religious lot.  Tim's mother and father are Christian missionaries.  Well, the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree.  Needless to say, Tim is outspoken in terms of his faith so much so that during his football days as the Florida Gator's quarterback, he would paint bible verses on his face.  How's that for a show of faith?

Tebow got the go ahead to start in game six and after six games the Broncos are 5-1.  Statistically, Tebow's passing percentage is a little more than 45% for 852 yards with 8 touchdowns and 1 interception.  He ran the ball 78 times for 455 yards (gaining 5.8 yards per carry) and 3 touchdowns.  His 143 pass attempts did not qualify him to be on the NFL pass rating list but his 80.5% is better than Michael Vick, Joe Flacco, and Matt Cassel so I'd say that he's faring well against some of the veteran passers this season.


The Broncos offense has since designed running plays for Tebow and has so far given them dividends.  However, can Tim sustain the long term punishment of running the ball so much?  No quarterback has run so much for the longest time and by today's quarterback standards Tebow is by no means conventional.  Which is why the defense of other teams were caught off-guard---they had no defensive scheme to stymie this new quarterback role.

As I've mentioned earlier, Tebow is a running quarterback---mind you, I did not say a scrambler.  A scrambler is a quarterback who runs the ball if he does not find a receiver open with the pressure closing in.  Tebow's running is a designed play.  He is suppose to run the ball.

Tebow is built like a tight end, tall and muscular but with the speed and power of a running back.  However, this does not make him invincible.  During his college days, he as suffered several concussions playing this role.  The NFL is a much tougher arena to be in with more vicious tacklers.  To survive the game, he needs to be wise in carrying the ball and avoid the hits as much as possible.  On the side, he should really start working on his passing game and become a double threat to the opposing team. 

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Superbowl XLV: Forecast

One thing that adds to the spice of the NFL is that come playoff time all games are do or die.  Unlike other sporting events, there's no best of 3 or 5 or 7---it's lose and go home!  In this sense, statistics does not really matter in forecasting who will meet in the Superbowl.  The team who gets the better breaks win!

By default, the defending champion is expected to repeat, but then, there's only a handful of Superbowl streaks in NFL history.  So I guess this would be wishful thinking.  Look where the New Orleans Saints are right now?

We are now down to the NFC and AFC championship.  Pittsburg Steelers vs. New York Jets.  Chicago Bears vs. Greenbay Packers. 

The Jets won in 22-17 during their regular season match up with the Steelers.  While the Packers and the Bears split their two game meeting in tightly contested battles. My fearless forecast is:  Pittsburg Steelers vs. Greenbay Packers.  Why?  Because it's a fearless forecast; meaning, I don't give a rat's ass what anyone else has to say!  Nahhh, just pulling your leg there!  Of course, I want to be entertained come Superbowl day and the Steelers and the Packers would be a better match up.  Other than that, I'm a Packers fan so that one's a given.  However, I do have this palpitating urge to cheer for the Jets just to give credit to Rex Ryan's effort in bringing his team this far.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Superbowl XLIII: Defense vs Offense


The Steelers is predominantly a running team riding on running back Willie Parker to lead the charge! Offensively, the Steelers are not potent ranking a measly 22nd in total offense. Their bread and butter however is their formidable defence being ranked number 1 and 2 in terms of passing and rushing during the regular season, respectively. This being said, 7/8 times in Superbowl history that a top ranked defensive team has won the Lombardi trophy!

On the other hand, the Cardinals is a passing team relying heavily on Kurt Warner's arms. They rank 2nd in passing offense and 4th in total offense during the regular season. However, Cardinal's Achilles heel is their defense which ranks 19th in the league.

This is a classic DEFENSE vs OFFENSE game!

In order to win, The Cardinals must do the following:

1. The offensive line needs to make sure that Warner gets his time in the pocket.
2. James needs to step up his running game.
3. The Cardinal defense must contain Willie Parker.

Since I'm not rooting for the Steelers---I guess they just have to lay down and die!