Why The Tim Tebow Experiment is Bound to Fail for the New York Jets

Mar 26; Florham Park, NJ, USA; Newly acquired New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow addresses the media at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-US PRESSWIRE

With workouts beginning for the New York Jets, the draft is over, we begin to start feeling the new season coming. Rex is back in front of a mic, there is activity in Florham Park, NJ. There is a buzz around football once again. You can’t talk about the new Jets season without mentioning the guy to the right, Tim Tebow. He is excited to be here. I think he made that clear, don’t you?

Now, forgetting about Tebowmania, and talking strictly about the on the field performace, tonight I want to talk about Tebow. Specifically, why this experiment is bound to fail.

We’ve talked before about the theory that Tim Tebow was brought here to eventually become the starter, that’s not the point here. Let’s take the Jets at their word, that Mark Sanchez is the starter. If that is the case, and Mike and Rex have said that it is, bringing this type of player to the Jets is a big problem.

The other thing that has been made clear, is that this player is going to play. The Jets have said they are going to use him at different positions, such as special teams, fullback, running back, as well as quarterback. My focus is on the time he is going to spend at quarterback.

Matt Slauson, starting offensive guard, has stated that after reviewing the playbook, the team essentially has “two offenses”. This right here is a big mistake. Has anyone ever heard of a successful team having two separate offenses? Does Peyton Manning give up any snaps during a game? How about Tom Brady? Does Drew Brees leave any snaps to his backup QB? The answer to all of these questions is no. Why? Because it doesn’t work. That’s why.

Now let’s look at the last time Tim Tebow operated this way, 2010 with Denver. Kyle Orton was the starter, and Tebow was brought in for set plays in multiple games, essentially giving the Broncos two offenses. How did that turn out? Tebow completed 50% of his passes, 5 TDs, 3 INTs, an 82.1 QB rating, 227 yards rushing and 6 TDs. He did rush for a 5.3 yard per carry average, but in the important stats of a QB, very pedestrian.

And, how did the Broncos fair? 4-12. Let that resonate for a second. The Broncos had two offenses, and they finished 4-12. It doesn’t work.

You might think, “Tony Sparano made it work in Miami.” But did he really? In 2008, when Chad Pennington was at the helm of the offense in Miami, he was still the out there relaying the play to his team. Running backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams were taking the snaps for the “wildcat” plays. So essentially, the Dolphins had the same offense on the field, with a running back under center. Different than having a separate package for a backup QB. THAT is what worked for the Dolphins. Not having two offenses.

When did Tim Tebow have success? When he became the starter. The fear is that the team has set this up for Tebow to eventually be named the starter, despite their assertion that this is still Sanchez’s team. If that happens, this will all fall apart. As quarterbacks, Sanchez is far better than Tebow, it isn’t close. Tim Tebow can “believe” all that he wants, but if he becomes the starter, and he is bouncing passes to Santonio Holmes, firing passes into the first row intended for Stephen Hill, the team will start griping. The season will fall apart, and it could mean the end of Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum in NY.

And that is why this experiment, if the Jets aren’t careful, is doomed to fail.