Ex-Cowboys assistant to work with Tebow

[DFWJC]

Thought you all may find this article by Matt Mosley intertesting.

Ex-Cowboys assistant to work with Tebow

January, 26, 2010 Jan 26
11:35
AM ET
By Matt Mosley


In case you somehow missed it, former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is the biggest story from this week's Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. Former Commanders/Texans general manager Charley Casserly, now with CBS, told the Miami Herald that he's spoken with two teams that think Tebow is a first-rounder. But it seems like most scouts around the league see Tebow going in the third round.

Our Todd McShay thinks that Tebow will be "overdrafted," which would likely place him in the second round. Fortunately for Tebow, he'll be working with Dolphins quarterbacks coach David Lee this week during Senior Bowl workouts. Lee brought the Wild Hog formation to Arkansas as the offensive coordinator under Houston Nutt and then he used it (Wildcat) to help Tony Sparano and the Dolphins reach the playoffs in '08.

But Lee won't be focused on teaching Tebow the Wildcat this week. He'll take a look at a throwing delivery that will be dissected by scouts from all 32 teams in the league and every so-called draft expert in the country. In 2003, Lee encountered an undrafted rookie from Eastern Illinois with uncanny footwork, but a highly questionable delivery. Bill Parcells took one look at Tony Romo's delivery and informed Lee, an offensive assistant at the time, that all of his passes would be batted down.

Lee was hesitant to completely overhaul a three-quarter delivery that had served Romo well since middle school, but the young quarterback begged him to make the changes. Lee helped Romo change his release point, making it much higher. In the summer of '03, Romo would call Lee's house at 9 p.m. and ask the coach to meet him up at the practice facility to play catch. Those sessions helped form the foundation for Romo's shocking rise to fame in 2006.

But Lee won't have three or four years to work with Tebow. He'll have to give him some pointers this week on shortening his windup and improving his footwork. Tebow's reputation as one of the greatest college quarterbacks of the past 50 years will be good and bad for him.

That big-time pedigree will probably allow him to go higher in the draft than most quarterbacks of his skill level. But he'll also be under a tremendous amount of scrutiny as he tries to transition into a pro-style offense. It's hard to believe now, but Romo spent his first three years in the league basically learning his craft in private.

Here's the one thing I know: Tebow's very fortunate to spend at least one week with Lee. By this Saturday, he'll have a much better understanding of the challenges ahead.

If you'd like to hear Lee explain the Wildcat, check out the Shutdown Corner blog. And here's a report from McShay saying that Tebow really struggled with his footwork on the first day of Senior Bowl workouts. McShay called it an "erratic" day.

 

[adamknite]

Our Todd McShay thinks that Tebow will be "overdrafted," which would likely place him in the second round. Fortunately for Tebow, he'll be working with Dolphins quarterbacks coach David Lee this week during Senior Bowl workouts. Lee brought the Wild Hog formation to Arkansas as the offensive coordinator under Houston Nutt and then he used it (Wildcat) to help Tony Sparano and the Dolphins reach the playoffs in '08.

He did not, Gus Malzahn did, Lee just kept using it after he replaced Malzahn.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

He did not, Gus Malzahn did, Lee just kept using it after he replaced Malzahn.

But Malzahn isn't a Mosley buddy and source for info, so...

 

[Alexander]

I still cannot understand why we allowed Lee to go and ended up with Wade Wilson.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I still cannot understand why we allowed Lee to go and ended up with Wade Wilson.

We didn't... He left when Big Bill was taking his time deciding whether to quit or not.

 

[Hostile]

I still cannot understand why we allowed Lee to go and ended up with Wade Wilson.

Didn't he request to go to Arkansas with Houston Nutt as his OC, and went to Jerry, an Arkansas alum, for permission? I thought Jerry gave his blessing? I then thought he went to Miami after Nutt went to Mississippi and we already had Wade Wilson by then.

Am I totally screwed up here? It would not be the first time.

 

[jterrell]

We didn't... He left when Big Bill was taking his time deciding whether to quit or not.

BP scolded David Lee almost constantly for "coddling" Tony Romo; but you never know if that was just for TR's benefit or not.

Lee left like a week before BP resigned and I do wonder if he woulda stayed had BP quit earlier. Lee took a few good-natured shots at BP after leaving. Of course he did go back to work him, though not with BP as the head coach.

You know Jerry has to love anyone with 3 stints at Arkansas and who had some success.

I do know I'd much rather Lee as QB coach, though I think Lee wants to be OC or Head Coach.

 

[yimyammer]

It's stunning to me that Tebow college coaches let this kid down by not preparing him more for a pro offense. At a minimum, it seems like he could have had a plan to get some of the basics down like the 3,5 & 7 step drops as well as improving his throwing motion.

It seems to me that having a high release point is beneficial regardless of what offense you run, but I am sure I am overlooking something

 

[Chocolate Lab]

It's stunning to me that Tebow college coaches let this kid down by not preparing him more for a pro offense. At a minimum, it seems like he could have had a plan to get some of the basics down like the 3,5 & 7 step drops as well as improving his throwing motion.

That isn't their job, though. Their job is to coach him to play as well as possible in their offense.

 

[Hostile]

It's stunning to me that Tebow college coaches let this kid down by not preparing him more for a pro offense. At a minimum, it seems like he could have had a plan to get some of the basics down like the 3,5 & 7 step drops as well as improving his throwing motion.

It seems to me that having a high release point is beneficial regardless of what offense you run, but I am sure I am overlooking something

Sadly, college coaches do not do that, especially with QBs. Their job is to teach the kids the Offense that they run, not prepare them to make it in the NFL.

Norm Chow once told me that his entire focus in an Offense is to build NFL caliber QBs so that recruiting is easier. I'd say he did one hell of a job at it.

 

[Alexander]

That isn't their job, though. Their job is to coach him to play as well as possible in their offense.

Exactly. Meyer's offense has produced a lot of great college quarterbacks. In fact the spread offenses used at Marshall, Kentucky and elsewhere have churned out productive system QBs. They are paid to win, not be talent developers for the NFL.

 

[yimyammer]

That isn't their job, though. Their job is to coach him to play as well as possible in their offense.

I thought part of college was preparing you for your future job, it doesn't seem to me to be too much of a stretch to think about this kids future career. Plus, how is improving his throwing motion not helping the team as well as preparing him better for the NFL?

It amazes me how resistent people are to planning properly. I see it in all types of businesses and especially my industry (construction).

Those that fail to plan, plan to fail.

 

[Hostile]

I thought part of college was preparing you for your future job, it doesn't seem to me to be too much of a stretch to think about this kids future career. Plus, how is improving his throwing motion not helping the team as well as preparing him better for the NFL?

It amazes me how resistent people are to planning properly. I see it in all types of businesses and especially my industry (construction).

Those that fail to plan, plan to fail.

College, yes. College football, no.

You are there to win for that program. They are not going to spend extra time to prepare you for success that will not directly benefit them.

 

[yimyammer]

College, yes. College football, no.

You are there to win for that program. They are not going to spend extra time to prepare you for success that will not directly benefit them.

Like I asked, how is improving his throwing motion not helping the team?

I'm not saying you're incorrect, I'm just saying thats a sorry way for coaches to look at it. Winning is obviously their #1 priority but completely ignoring player development is pretty pathetic.

Has Norm Chows way of coaching QB's hurt or helped his teams win?

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Like I asked, how is improving his throwing motion not helping the team?

I'm not saying you're incorrect, I'm just saying thats a sorry way for coaches to look at it. Winning is obviously their #1 priority but completely ignoring player development is pretty pathetic.

Has Norm Chows way of coaching QB's hurt or helped his teams win?

So every college coach in America should run a pro-style offense just to help prepare them for the NFL? Even when the vast majority of college kids will never play in the NFL anyway?

If a college kid only cares about the pros, he can go to a program that runs a pro-style offense.

And I'm sure the Florida coaches did try to improve Tebow's motion anyway. Maybe he just found it too hard to change or not worth the growing pains. Or maybe he's just not capable.

 

[Hostile]

Like I asked, how is improving his throwing motion not helping the team?

I'm not saying you're incorrect, I'm just saying thats a sorry way for coaches to look at it. Winning is obviously their #1 priority but completely ignoring player development is pretty pathetic.

Has Norm Chows way of coaching QB's hurt or helped his teams win?

It isn't always just throwing. What many people don't consider is reads. In one style of Offense you have different reads than in other styles. I promise you that is the case between Florida and UCLA where Chow is right now.

Take for instance Rich Rodriguez bringing his system to Michigan. I was dubious about that. Not because it doesn't work. He made it work at West Virginia, and brought them to National prominence. But the Big 10 is a different style Conference.

QB is simply not flipping a switch and the light comes on. Tebow plays in a system which caters to his running style and his first reads are the wings where he can pitch it, run with it, or look downfield.

You would not be teaching a QB in that system to read the middle of the field first because of the pocket.

It is simply not the same thing. Chow's system is pocket QB classic reads which is more in line with the Pro game. He fits the ACC, Pac-10, and former WAC. If he were to go to the SEC and insert his Offense there would be struggles at first. Same as Rodriguez at Michigan.

Coaching, systems, and especially QB play are not retro fit.

 

[yimyammer]

So every college coach in America should run a pro-style offense just to help prepare them for the NFL? Even when the vast majority of college kids will never play in the NFL anyway?

If a college kid only cares about the pros, he can go to a program that runs a pro-style offense.

And I'm sure the Florida coaches did try to improve Tebow's motion anyway. Maybe he just found it too hard to change or not worth the growing pains. Or maybe he's just not capable.

It isn't always just throwing. What many people don't consider is reads. In one style of Offense you have different reads than in other styles. I promise you that is the case between Florida and UCLA where Chow is right now.

Take for instance Rich Rodriguez bringing his system to Michigan. I was dubious about that. Not because it doesn't work. He made it work at West Virginia, and brought them to National prominence. But the Big 10 is a different style Conference.

QB is simply not flipping a switch and the light comes on. Tebow plays in a system which caters to his running style and his first reads are the wings where he can pitch it, run with it, or look downfield.

You would not be teaching a QB in that system to read the middle of the field first because of the pocket.

It is simply not the same thing. Chow's system is pocket QB classic reads which is more in line with the Pro game. He fits the ACC, Pac-10, and former WAC. If he were to go to the SEC and insert his Offense there would be struggles at first. Same as Rodriguez at Michigan.

Coaching, systems, and especially QB play are not retro fit.

I'm not advocating that every college team teach a pro offense only, I'm merely addressing the video reports I've seen where they said Tebow has struggled with taking the ball under snap, drops the ball too low when making a throw and how he struggles with his footwork when dropping back to pass.

Am I crazy to think these are pretty basic skills that require a little coaching and repetition that would benefit any offense?

To hear he is struggling with what appear to be the basic mechanics of the QB position that I would think would apply to virtually any offense (even if for only a few plays) is what I am thinking could have been coached better. But like C-Lab said, maybe he's just not any good at this (which I find a little odd given all the accolades he gets for being a great athlete).

I may be wrong, but it doesn't seem like it would have taken anything away from the teams ability to win by devoting a little practice time to these skills over a four year college career.

I am not trying to debate what does or does not occur, I am merely suggesting, perhaps naively, that on a basic QB skills level, Tebow could have been better prepared (assuming he's the great athlete everyone says he is).

If I was Tebow and knew I wanted to play in the NFL, I would have made sure I used my college experience to give me the best chance of success in the pros, but perhaps that would have forced him to play for another school. It still seeems like he could have taken it upon himself to find a private coach to teach him some of these things in his spare time and off season. He's a self proclaimed football junkie, so maybe he let himself down in this regard.

I suspect there will be plenty of teams willing to let him ride the pine for a few years while he works to improve his understanding and implementation of a pro offense. You might say he owes a shout out to Romo for this opportunity.

 

[Hostile]

I'm not advocating that every college team teach a pro offense only, I'm merely addressing the video reports I've seen where they said Tebow has struggled with taking the ball under snap, drops the ball too low when making a throw and how he struggles with his footwork when dropping back to pass.

Am I crazy to think these are pretty basic skills that require a little coaching and repetition that would benefit any offense?

To hear he is struggling with what appear to be the basic mechanics of the QB position that I would think would apply to virtually any offense (even if for only a few plays) is what I am thinking could have been coached better. But like C-Lab said, maybe he's just not any good at this (which I find a little odd given all the accolades he gets for being a great athlete).

I may be wrong, but it doesn't seem like it would have taken anything away from the teams ability to win by devoting a little practice time to these skills over a four year college career.

I am not trying to debate what does or does not occur, I am merely suggesting, perhaps naively, that on a basic QB skills level, Tebow could have been better prepared (assuming he's the great athlete everyone says he is).

If I was Tebow and knew I wanted to play in the NFL, I would have made sure I used my college experience to give me the best chance of success in the pros, but perhaps that would have forced him to play for another school. It still seeems like he could have taken it upon himself to find a private coach to teach him some of these things in his spare time and off season. He's a self proclaimed football junkie, so maybe he let himself down in this regard.

I suspect there will be plenty of teams willing to let him ride the pine for a few years while he works to improve his understanding and implementation of a pro offense. You might say he owes a shout out to Romo for this opportunity.

They are basic mechanics of a Pro Set Offense. They are not the basic mechanics of every Offense.

 

[Hostile]

I believe he left to go with Nutt to Ole Miss initially. Then went to Miami.

That I did not know. But he was an OC for Nutt and Jerry okayed the move right?

 

[DFWJC]

It isn't always just throwing. What many people don't consider is reads. In one style of Offense you have different reads than in other styles. I promise you that is the case between Florida and UCLA where Chow is right now.

Take for instance Rich Rodriguez bringing his system to Michigan. I was dubious about that. Not because it doesn't work. He made it work at West Virginia, and brought them to National prominence. But the Big 10 is a different style Conference.

QB is simply not flipping a switch and the light comes on. Tebow plays in a system which caters to his running style and his first reads are the wings where he can pitch it, run with it, or look downfield.

You would not be teaching a QB in that system to read the middle of the field first because of the pocket.

It is simply not the same thing. Chow's system is pocket QB classic reads which is more in line with the Pro game. He fits the ACC, Pac-10, and former WAC. If he were to go to the SEC and insert his Offense there would be struggles at first. Same as Rodriguez at Michigan.

Coaching, systems, and especially QB play are not retro fit.

Yes, there certainly is more to just throwing the ball...and QB reads play a big roll.

I don't buy what you said about Chow having to make adjustments in the SEC..just because it's the SEC . Guys like Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Jay Cutler, Matt Stafford, etc,etc came into the NFL from that league ready to play, relatively speaking. It would depend on what school Chow went to. If it was to Georgia, Vandy, Ole Miss, and maybe others, the change would not be all that great. The issues of changing offensive styles rest more with personnel than in what conference you play in. Rodriquez, for example, will need some time to change the personnel at Michigan to fit his scheme....as you know. But just because he's in the Big Ten does not prohibit him from doing that over time.