OH NOES: Tebow Scores Below Average On Wonderlic

by mlmintampa on Mar 10, 2010 7:40 PM EST in Florida Football

As if Tim Tebow needed something else to hurt his draft stock. From the Palm Beach Post;

Tebow scored slightly below average for an NFL quarterback on the Wonderlic test, a 12-minute, 50-question exam given at the Combine that assesses a person's learning and problem-solving abilities.

Tebow scored a 22 out of 50 on the Wonderlic test, an NFL source told the Post Wednesday. The score falls slightly below the average score for an NFL quarterback, which is 24. But the average for 30 quarterbacks slated to start in 2010 is even higher, at 28.5. And the average score among the past seven Super Bowl winners is a 30.1.

There could be several reasons for scoring 22 out of 50. Tebow didn't prepare for the test, he's a bad test taker (I seem to remember this being a criticism of home schooled kids and the FCAT), or he isn't smart enough for the position (Tebow was better than the nationwide average of 21 or 20). However, the Wonderlic, like every IQ test, is criticized for too much focus on one thing and not enough focus on something else.

The Post story also mentions that Tebow would be 25th among current NFL starters according to his score. The real problem isn't the score, but where he finished. Tebow needs to make people think he is an elite quarterback prospect. Finishing in the Wonderlic behind Sam Bradford (36), Colt McCoy (25) and Jimmy Clausen (23) won't help. It's just another blemish on Tebow's resume.

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by clange32 on Mar 10, 2010 8:08 PM EST reply actions

Thanks for reading.

mlmintampa
UF C/O 06
http://www.alligatorarmy.com

by mlmintampa on Mar 10, 2010 8:21 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Damn it Timmy

Now I look like a jackass for arguing his intelligence in this thread#

Tebow’s intelligence was my ace in the hole argument. Well, I don’t have any further defense for him – let’s just see how it plays out and then we can all comment on it then.

by skigator93 on Mar 10, 2010 8:41 PM EST reply actions

I never thought Tebow was a genious or anything anyways.

I would never argue that Tim is super smart. But I think your point still stands on football knowlegde. He should have a better football IQ then most TE’s. There isnt really a way to measure that, since there isnt a test for it. But it makes sense to say a QB has a better foorball IQ then a typical TE. Not a Tony Gonzalez or some future HOF TE, just a regular joe blow TE.

"When you argue correctly, you're never wrong."-Nick Naylor

by Hook85 on Mar 11, 2010 8:07 PM EST up reply actions

Tests

I dont think that some random test is going to determine how good or bad of a quarterback that he will be in the NFL. Shoot for all we know he just doesnt test well. After all he does have a Florida education.

by clange32 on Mar 10, 2010 8:44 PM EST reply actions

jim kelly and dan marino

two HOF qbs both scored 15 on the wonderlic. jamarcus russel scored a 24. obviously this test means less than nothing.

Buffalo, that's where it's at baby. - Adam 'Pacman' Jones

by silverstreak3k on Mar 10, 2010 9:41 PM EST reply actions

Ever taken statistics class?

Two samples of a population is hardly enough to prove your alternative hypothesis.

SCALP 'EM SEMINOLES!

by DA-2 on Mar 10, 2010 11:23 PM EST up reply actions

Correct, two samples is not enough to prove or disprove a hypothesis. Here’s 762 samples instead.

The group studied a total of 762 players from the draft classes of 2002 (256 players), 2003 (257) and 2004 (249). In sort of a Moneyball-styledanalysis, they crunched the performance numbers of the players’ first three years in the league. The average player tenure in the league is 3-1/2 years, according to the NFL Player Association.

The study concluded that general mental ability (GMA) was unrelated to future NFL performance, the draft selection process or the number of games started in the NFL.

"The Wonderlic has limited return on investment with its use in the NFL," Lyons said. "That’s kind of contrary to what the traditional employment context speaks to with GMA, which is, GMA is one of our strongest predictors of future employee performance. In [most] occupations, the smarter you are, the better you are going to perform.

"But in this context, because it’s so physically based, the results point to that [GMA] really doesn’t matter."

The article later states how the Wonderlic, “doesn’t evaluate necessary football-related knowledge.” The Wonderlic may score your intelligence, but it does not score your football intelligence. I don’t want to speak for my readers, but I believe that was the opinion Mr. Silverstreak was stating. Which is not a hypothesis, because as you said, two samples is not enough to prove or disprove a hypothesis.
But thanks for dropping the Science Expo words. Between the cheating scandal and this thread, I was beginning to wonder how many educated FSU fans existed on this series of tubes.

mlmintampa
UF C/O 06
http://www.alligatorarmy.com

by mlmintampa on Mar 11, 2010 12:12 AM EST up reply actions

you right

and we all know FSU fans are very concerned with academics

so ill just start naming as many all pro qbs/ pro bowl qbs that have the same score or lower. you already know jim kelly and dan marino. how bout brett farve (22), HOF terry bradshaw (15), randall cunningham (15), vinny testaverde (17), mark brunell (22), steve mcnair (15), donovan mcnabb (14), mike vick (20), vince young (16)

also last year both percy harvin and micheal crabtree tested well below avg for the wonderlic, and i think they are on the way to a really good career.

and just for fun, lets name the top qb wonderlic peformers from 2000-2006
2006 Bruce Eugene – 41
2005 Ryan Fitzpatrick – 48
2004 Eli Manning – 39
2003 Drew Henson – 42
2002 3 way tie all scoring 35 (Wes Pate, Zak Custock, JT O’ Sullivan)
2001 2 way tie both scoring 32 (Jesse Palmer, Sage Rosenfels)
2000 Todd Husak – 39

what an impressive group! out of 10, one is a legitimate starter! so keep believing that the wonderlic score means something, after all you have to if you think christian ponder can play in the nfl.

Buffalo, that's where it's at baby. - Adam 'Pacman' Jones

by silverstreak3k on Mar 11, 2010 12:41 AM EST up reply actions

I wouldnt say that it means nothing. But its a pretty good point that your wonderlic score is not a gurantee that you cant make it in the NFL.

"When you argue correctly, you're never wrong."-Nick Naylor

by Hook85 on Mar 11, 2010 8:10 PM EST up reply actions

Go JP!

First the Bachelor, then ESPN, now we know he has brains too?
Too bad he was not a very good QB!

My disappointment isn’t necessarily that Tebow scored low on the test. It is more that I thought intelligence was one of his strongest attributes. Now, I am not that sure. He showed some hesitation last year in making decisions – that will be magnified x 100 in the NFL.

I guess all we can hope for now is that his work ethic and desire to win will make him successful, because as we all know, those qualities surely aren’t in every NFL player.

by skigator93 on Mar 11, 2010 11:44 AM EST reply actions