Greg Easterbrook's ass hurts

[Kaos]

Tim Tebow is not an NFL quarterback.  He does things differently and plays like he enjoys the game.  Therefore Greg Easterbook hates him.

http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/story/_/id/7291606/denver-tim-tebow-effectively-brings-high-school-offense-nfl

Everybody be at the pep rally after school -- senior Tim Tebow is leading Denver Broncos High School to state! Yeah!

Denver is, improbably, the NFL's hottest team outside Wisconsin, 5-1 since Tebow took the reins. Those fans in the bleachers who'd been chanting for Tebow -- they were right. But then in high school, the booster club always knows. Maybe for the next home game, the Broncos should run out through a big sheet of paper that was decorated at the pep rally with "Go Broncos" and "XXOO" written all over by the cheerleaders.



The Broncos are tearing up the NFL using high school tactics. A week ago, defeating the Jets, Denver was running the option while Jersey/B was quick-snapping for hitch screens. It was high school versus college from a tactics standpoint: High school won on a crazed quarterback scramble by Tebow for a 20-yard touchdown. Denver had 229 total yards of offense and 11 first downs -- a prep-game stat. Yet the Broncos prevailed.

Sunday at San Diego, adjusting for sacks and scrambles, Denver coaches called 19 rushing plays for Tebow and 19 passing plays for him. Tebow threw a perfect stop-and-go touchdown to Eric Decker. The stop-and-go and out-and-up are staples of high school football; inexperienced defensive backs who are assuming a run play reliably fall for these. Denver set the play up with the prep formula of run-run-run then throw deep.

The zone-read option Denver used for much of the game against the Chargers was straight out of "Friday Night Lights," or at least, what's been trendy under Friday night lights in recent seasons. Repeatedly, Tebow held the ball in front of the tailback and read the unblocked defensive lineman: That's the "read" part of a zone-read rush. If the lineman moved toward the tailback, Tebow kept the ball, often executing the old-fashioned "midline option" on which the tailback leads into the hole and the quarterback follows. On Denver's final drive in overtime, Broncos High School ran the zone-read option run on three consecutive snaps, resulting in 40 yards gained and field position for the winning field goal.

Tebow even used the high school tactic of running out. In a prep offense, after the quarterback hands off, he sprints in the opposite direction, hoping a defender will follow him. This tactic hasn't been observed in the pros since the 1950s. Having the quarterback run out after handing off is seen as beneath the dignity of NFL quarterbacks, who always simply stand and watch after giving the ball to a runner. This has a practical value -- by NFL rules if a quarterback is not "attempting to participate in the action of the down," he cannot be hit.

At San Diego, Tebow enthusiastically ran out the other way each time he handed off, just as a high school quarterback would. The Bolts were so rattled that by the second half, a man was going with Tebow when he ran out empty-handed. Late in the third quarter, Denver faced third-and-5. Tebow was flushed from the pocket and rolled left. San Diego linebacker Travis LaBoy slammed to a stop at the line of scrimmage and didn't pursue Tebow, so worried was he about losing contain. Tebow threw for a first down, and Broncos High School recorded a field goal on the possession. The cheerleaders should have done push-ups!

It's not that high school-flavored offenses have never been employed in the contemporary NFL. Five years ago, Carolina defeated the Falcons by rushing 52 times and attempting seven passes, a stat any prep coach would feel comfortable with. The game occurred on Christmas Eve, and so had no impact on football consciousness. But it showed that when presented as a surprise tactic, high school offense can work in the pass-wacky NFL.

Denver's victory over San Diego was aided by spectacular play from Von Miller -- see below. Tebow continues to be Tebow: He does things that make purists wince, but when the double whistle sounds, his team has more points than the other team. And the Broncos were aided by yet another example of passive decision-making by San Diego's Norv Turner, who is the George McClellan of the NFL. With 42 seconds showing in regulation, San Diego had the ball on its 30, holding a timeout. Turner decided to exhaust the clock and proceed to overtime -- when all the Bolts needed was a field goal! Not one chance in a million Bill Belichick or Sean Payton makes that call. It's a sign of how far out of touch Turner is that he told the San Diego Union-Tribune of the docile decision, "I think we did the right thing."



Fun Tebow note: reader Derek Knowlton of Layton, Utah, points out that owing to the run-oriented game plans of Broncos High School, Tebow does not have enough pass attempts to appear in the NFL's quarterback rankings. If Tebow were ranked, "His current NFL passer rating of 80.5 is better than Joe Flacco, Michael Vick and Matt Cassel. His average of one touchdown per 17.9 passes is better than Tony Romo, Ben Roethlisberger and Jay Cutler. His one interception in 143 attempts is the lowest interception rate in the NFL, lower even than Aaron Rodgers."

Now that defensive coordinators have film of Tebow running the offense seen on Friday nights, its effectiveness is likely to decline. But until then -- hey kids, don't miss the next Broncos High School game! Buy some baked goods to support the drum line! Vote for our team to be featured on local access cable! See you at the car-hop drive-in afterward!

That is the most insulting, asinine, butthurt pile of shit I've ever taken the time to read. 

Fuck Greg Easterbrook.  It took me a while to get on the Tebow train, but I finally did.  The kid is genuine.  Fuck the haters. 

[Townhallsavoy]

Tim Tebow sucks as an NFL quarterback but kicks ass at winning. 

That's why some of these assholes hate him.  They're so used to nitpicking players because they don't perfectly fit the mold of an NFL player.

"Well, Tebow's arm is two inches too low when he's throwing the ball.  This is why the Denver Broncos are losing."

That's what they want to do.  They can't.  Because Tebow has Jesus and Jesus hates Greg Easterbrook. 

[JR4AU]

He's not doing it the NFL way.  Complete embarrassment to be running shit like fast screens and zone read in the NFL.  There's a formula in the NFL, and the Broncos are NOT following the formula.

[JR4AU]

Now that defensive coordinators have film of Tebow running the offense seen on Friday nights, its effectiveness is likely to decline.

Like they don't have hours and hours of film on every fucking team/coach/player/scheme they face?  This is one of the dumbest things I ever read.  Oh, and they've got 6 weeks of film on it.  Wonder when these "NFL Genius DCs" will finally catch on to the high school offense?  Fucking moron.

[GH2001]

The Broncos are winning because of good D and in spite of Tebow, not because of him. Let's be honest.

And I like Tebow, btw. He's a good guy. But they are overhyping this winning streak and his impact on it.

[Snaggletiger]

Kind of fun watching it.  I couldn't care less about either team but found myself watching the Bronco/Chargers game to see if he could pull another one off. 

[JR4AU]

The Broncos are winning because of good D and in spite of Tebow, not because of him. Let's be honest.

And I like Tebow, btw. He's a good guy. But they are overhyping this winning streak and his impact on it.

There are intangibles some players bring to the game.  Tebow is one such player, that in spite of his level of play, he brings a new attitude with that play.  And it matters more than most want to admit.   What they're doing...what they're running in order to make the most of the talent he has is exactly what all the bullshit about Malzahn's "playcalling" is all about.  They've taken a chance and radically deviated from the "NFL Formula" and it's energized the entire team through Tebow.

[GH2001]

There are intangibles some players bring to the game.  Tebow is one such player, that in spite of his level of play, he brings a new attitude with that play.  And it matters more than most want to admit.   What they're doing...what they're running in order to make the most of the talent he has is exactly what all the bullshit about Malzahn's "playcalling" is all about.  They've taken a chance and radically deviated from the "NFL Formula" and it's energized the entire team through Tebow.

I agree on your first 2 sentences. I think he may be indirectly raising the morale and level of play with his attitude. His play itself, however, is not the reason for their newfound success.

[JR4AU]

I agree on your first 2 sentences. I think he may be indirectly raising the morale and level of play with his attitude. His play itself, however, is not the reason for their newfound success.

I think that's what I said. 

[GH2001]

I think that's what I said.

Shutup....you fucking semantic loving lawyer. 

Serious though...many are at the alter of Tebow during this streak directly linking the streak to his play on the field. The stats just don't agree.

[JR4AU]

Shutup....you fucking semantic loving lawyer. 

Serious though...many are at the alter of Tebow during this streak directly linking the streak to his play on the field. The stats just don't agree.

It's not his play on the field, but it's the attitude the team has taken in order to support the unorthodox approach to winning in the NFL.  It's actually a good coaching job.  I assure you that for some of these players, the coaches had to really sell them hard the style of play they were going to be using.   

[War Eagle!!!]

It's not his play on the field, but it's the attitude the team has taken in order to support the unorthodox approach to winning in the NFL.  It's actually a good coaching job.  I assure you that for some of these players, the coaches had to really sell them hard the style of play they were going to be using.

Yes and no. The NFL is about "not losing" as much as it is about "winning". Tebow doesn't give the ball away and that gives his team a better chance to win. Ball protection is just as much of a "QB quality" than anything else...and it will directly affect the outcome of a game.

[JR4AU]

Yes and no. The NFL is about "not losing" as much as it is about "winning". Tebow doesn't give the ball away and that gives his team a better chance to win. Ball protection is just as much of a "QB quality" than anything else...and it will directly affect the outcome of a game.

I can agree with that too.  I do think much has to do with the team getting behind him though. 

[GH2001]

Yes and no. The NFL is about "not losing" as much as it is about "winning". Tebow doesn't give the ball away and that gives his team a better chance to win. Ball protection is just as much of a "QB quality" than anything else...and it will directly affect the outcome of a game.

This guys knows. Only 1 INT.

9 games
65 of 143  45.5%  852 yards 8 TDS 1 INT  80.5 QBR

[JR4AU]

This guys knows. Only 1 INT.

9 games
65 of 143  45.5%  852 yards 8 TDS 1 INT  80.5 QBR

You can get away with mediocre play, as long as you don't give the ball away, or go backwards. 

[CCTAU]

It's still football and right now the Broncos are winning by playing football. It is fun to watch because it seems to bring their opponents back down to having to play team football and not individual football.

[AUTiger1]

Agree with some of what has been said.  It's Tebow not coughing the ball up or throwing INT's and it seems like he has boosted morale.  That goes a long way.   

I know we all got tired of hearing Vern and Gary talk about Tebow every 5 seconds, but by god, I liked the kid then and like him even more now.   His Rah-Rah Jesus Freak attitude caught him a lot of shit, I didn't like it much either, but he works hard, keeps his nose clean and does it the right way.  I don't know why more kids don't look up to him.  Hard work, keeping your nose clean are two qualities I would want my kid(s) to have.

[AU_Tiger_2000]

Tim Tebow is not an NFL quarterback.  He does things differently and plays like he enjoys the game.  Therefore Greg Easterbook hates him.

That is the most insulting, asinine, butthurt pile of shitake I've ever taken the time to read. 

fudge Greg Easterbrook.  It took me a while to get on the Tebow train, but I finally did.  The kid is genuine.  fudge the haters.

I didn't read it that way.  Plus I've been reading TMQ since before Easterbrook got kicked off ESPN the first time (for making jokes about "Jewish businessmen") and he usually points out that the NFL has become too complicated and should go towards more basic tactics and fundamentals.

Tebow even used the high school tactic of running out. In a prep offense, after the quarterback hands off, he sprints in the opposite direction, hoping a defender will follow him. This tactic hasn't been observed in the pros since the 1950s. Having the quarterback run out after handing off is seen as beneath the dignity of NFL quarterbacks, who always simply stand and watch after giving the ball to a runner. This has a practical value -- by NFL rules if a quarterback is not "attempting to participate in the action of the down," he cannot be hit.

At San Diego, Tebow enthusiastically ran out the other way each time he handed off, just as a high school quarterback would. The Bolts were so rattled that by the second half, a man was going with Tebow when he ran out empty-handed.

Sounds to me that he is saying that "high school" tactics are working because the pros have no grasp of fundamentals and that the Tebow hustle which seems to grate on the nerves of talking heads is paying off.

Plus he always includes a cheerleader of the week.

Cheerleader of the Week: Shawn Palmer, a Navy lieutenant stationed at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, nominates Kelsey of the Seahawks, who according to her team bio is a student at Seattle University and likes to lift weights.

[djsimp]

Whats amazing to me with Tebow is actually Elways openness to publicly criticize Tebow and express how he wants to get rid of him...even of late in their winning ways. I haven't read this myself but a few that keep up with the Broncos have said such.

[chinook]

Whats amazing to me with Tebow is actually Elways openness to publicly criticize Tebow and express how he wants to get rid of him...even of late in their winning ways. I haven't read this myself but a few that keep up with the Broncos have said such.

i think it's a mormon verses baptist, thang.