The reaction to our boys Haden, Pouncey and Tebow on Draft Day
by mlmintampa on Apr 23, 2010 1:51 AM EDT
in Florida Football
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PrintThe NFL Draft could not have turned out better as the three Gators expected to be drafted in the first round made it. Joe Haden was the first to go, getting picked 7th by the Cleveland Browns. The Pittsburgh Steelers picked Maurkice Pouncey at 18. The star of the show was pick 25, Tim Tebow to the Denver Broncos.
Haden could have slid backwards, but the Browns and new team president Mike Holmgren put a premium on Haden's game play and not Combine times. The Browns brass seem pretty pleased with Haden, but the comments on this article are not as good. I guess when you have never won a Super Bowl you can expect to pick only guys who run 4.2s and are 6-foot-6 with a massive wingspan. These guys apparently thought another All-American, Eric Berry, would fall to the Browns.
The Steelers very much like Pouncey, who impressed the Pittsburgh staff with his football IQ. The Steelers have already penciled in Pouncey as right guard, which gives Pouncey time to grow into his new role. Pouncey played guard at UF too, but with the money invested in Pouncey, it is hard to see him staying at guard for long. Steeler fans seem happy with the pick, although they think they picked #55 Mike Pouncey. I wonder if they knew Pouncey was a twin?
While Florida fans are ordering their Tebow jerseys in Bronco Orange and Navy, Denver fans are not sure what to make of the pick. A few can't bring themselves to be against the pick because they know Kyle Orton is a free agent at the end of this season and Brady Quinn has only played 14 games in three seasons. Tebow is the least experienced of the three, but the most upside. Others hate the pick, including the Crypt Keeper, John Clayton. Clayton is at least an intelligent guy, even if you disagree with him. CBS Sports' Pete Prisco wrote shit on a plate, added Tebow a few times, and published it.
The argument for or against Tebow reminds me of the argument for or against sabermetrics in baseball. If you think your quarterback has to look, feel and throw a certain way, you like Jimmy Clausen and Colt McCoy. If not, you'll take Tebow, let Orton go at the end of 2010 and watch Tebow try to win the starting gig. It should be noted that of ESPN's coverage, the two guys who have won Super Bowl rings (Jon Gruden, Steve Young) endorsed the Tebow pick. They also know what it means to develop a quarterback. You know who else can develop a quarterback? Broncos coach Josh McDaniels. He worked with Tom Brady, made Matt Cassel an NFL starter, was 200 yards short of making Orton a 4,000 yard passer.
As for the one team that probably should have picked Tebow? Some of their fans think the team is moving to Los Angeles. Nice pick, Jags.
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I couldn't agree more with...
“The argument for or against Tebow reminds me of the argument for or against sabermetrics in baseball.”
It really is the same thing. Instead of analyzing the players’ past accomplishments and statistical abilities, they look at physical traits and arbitrary drill times. It took about 25 years for sabermetrics to take root in baseball, it could take just as long for the NFL…
Chris Coghlan is NLRoY 2009 (that's a +1 for me!)
Can't wait for JJ or Nolly to win NL Cy Young 2010!
Does football even have sabermetrics?
That’d be pretty cool, but it’s so un-isolated when it comes to player stats. Like its hard to compare running backs since 50% of their production depends on how good the o-line is at run blocking.
Try football outsiders.
They have advanced stats. Its not as good as baseball in my opinion.
"When you argue correctly, you're never wrong."-Nick Naylor
Nor is it as reliable, but still, I think the comparison is pretty valid
Chris Coghlan is NLRoY 2009 (that's a +1 for me!)
Can't wait for JJ or Nolly to win NL Cy Young 2010!
I agree
The only reason people think Tebow wont be any good is because the talking heads said so. Just like they all said he would NEVERRR go in the first round.
Just like I have said a million times, you never know who will be great and who will suck. All the people claiming Tebow will suck are just as stupid as the people who claim he will be great with 100% conviction. The main reason these pretend scouts we read and watch on TV will continue to bash Tebow is for their own ego. Everyone hates to be wrong. Everyone.
"When you argue correctly, you're never wrong."-Nick Naylor
Reaction
Nice place to land for Tebow. Denver will afford him the necessary time to develop and it is a good franchise.
Ditto for Pouncey – The Steelers like SEC players, and for good reason. Good fit.
Feel bad for Haden though – stuck in Cleveland? Only Detroit would have been a worse place to land.
hahaha
Buffalo, that's where it's at baby. - Adam 'Pacman' Jones
by silverstreak3k on Apr 23, 2010 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions
I really like Pouncey on the Steelers. I agree with skigator93 that you can’t pick a worse place to land if you’re Haden, but hey… and the Tebow thing is ridiculous because the motormouths and armchair GMs have mired the football community with so much doubt that this will either make the Broncos look completely clowny in the event that Tebow falters or becomes their Grossman, or like total geniuses if he turns into a franchise player. Only time will tell, but now that it’s over everyone can take a deep breath.
Bruce Bochy: Leave him alone, he's the Manager Man and his BORK is much worse than his bite.
by zodiac_chiller on Apr 23, 2010 10:39 AM EDT reply actions
Grossman is still in the league as a QB
If Tebow plays to Grossmans level, even that would prove a lot of people wrong. Most people think Tebow will be out of the league or changing positions in a few years.
"When you argue correctly, you're never wrong."-Nick Naylor
Lets just hope...
Mark isn’t Big Ben’s next victim. Good pick for the Steelers tho.
Joakim should send Haden a very very good house warming present when he gets in Cleveland, maybe a Big Screen like 52"….Joe’s gonna need the pick-me-up after getting sent to that city.
Glad our Gators Delivered again boys, 3 first round draft picks, 2nd most out of all the teams in the NCAA, proving once again that its great to be a Florida Gator.
by gatorempire127 on Apr 23, 2010 11:11 AM EDT reply actions
Only problem with Denver drafting Tebow is that McDaniels might not be given the time to develop his QBs the way everyone seems to think he can. He pisses off the franchise QB, Cutler’s gone. He pisses off his star WR, Marshall’s gone. Missing the playoffs after a 6-0 start…
Another year of struggles after trading away 2\3 of the offense, then spending a 2nd, 3rd, and 4th round pick to draft a guy in the 1st round who could be 3rd string, sitting on the bench for 2-3 years? I think McDaniels can help Tebow a lot, but only if he’s there long enough, and only if he doesn’t help Quinn sooner.
Arg!
Thanks for helping us find that error on putting up a Mike picture instead of Maurkice. Much appreciated.
The future is not what it used to be.
What the media did not tell you.
I Mel Kiper...
Says the phrase H-Back one more time, I think John Gruden’s head might explode. Did anyone else notice the tension on the (four letter) set last night. Wow.
I was hoping for the Broncos or the Vikings. This is a great program with a great owner.
by gator'n'mempho on Apr 23, 2010 2:56 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
hahahaha
i saw it. i thought Gruden was gonna punch him in the face.
by gatorempire127 on Apr 23, 2010 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions
good to see the gators doing well
the only bad thing is haden is will be stuck in cleveland. i think its interesting people are ragging on pouncy for kissing his twin brother……wtf. good for tebow, good thing he didnt go to a team i hate, means i can buy his jersey. good luck to him out there, denver is a pretty city too. pouncy lucked out, great organization, great situation.
Buffalo, that's where it's at baby. - Adam 'Pacman' Jones
I am thoroughly tickled to have Tebow go to Denver in the first round.
It’s bright spot in my life to know that a great kid will have a chance with a great organization. It is also pleasing to me because it’s one more kidney punch to all the assholes who hate Tebow because he stomped their team or because of his moral convictions. Congratulations Tim and I hope you prove them wrong at every turn. Vindication is sweeter than my mom’s iced tea.
by renegator on Apr 23, 2010 9:39 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
If a project QB can suceeed its Tebow
2009 NY Phin PhansFantasy League Champion
2009 Best Regular Season Record in NYPPL.
2010 The Jim Mandich NewsFlash Award Winner.
MLB pitchers over haul thier mechanics almost every season.
"When you argue correctly, you're never wrong."-Nick Naylor
by Hook85 on Apr 24, 2010 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I was kinda hoping that he would go to
NE of IND because of the great QBs in Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, but he’s good in Den. wher he can improve behind Kyle Orton
...in dixie land i'll take my stand: rooting for Atlanta
It's an irrational fear and hatred of the guy
Everyone wants Tebow to fail simply because they see him on TV so much. There’s no other reasoning. On the Dolphins SB Nation site, you woud have thought Miami had just made the worst draft pick of all time with how quickly everyone started bashing Tebow, and they didn’t even pick him.
I don’t understand why people are just dying to see him fail, rather than allow him the chance to play football, just like every other draft pick.
****Keeper of the Phinsider Goo Cannon****
Winner of 5 Matty Awards
2009 Joe Robbie Memorial Hall of Fame Inductee - thephinsider.com
Bandwagons: Lex Hilliard (Driving), Draft Tebow (Driving), Draft Shipley (Driving), Draft Spiller (Providing Protection)
How do you not understand?
He’s an opinionated, outspoken, very successful, emotional guy. That kind of person is always going to get people who love and hate him. Just like Bulls fans love Noah, and everyone else hates him, the same will happen for Tebow. When you speak your mind, there are always going to people who like who you are and what you have to say, and people who can’t stand you.
"A common mistake made by baseball fans is to call a pitcher unhittable when that pitcher is not Matt Thornton." - Hardball Times
by Grinder in Training on Apr 26, 2010 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions
As a Broncos Fan
I could not be happoer with the pick. We got on of the best, and Tim Tebow is one of the best i can remember. If a broncos fan really isnt happy they really are just looking for problems. When we drafted him it was surreal, and for the first time in ten years, im happy about who my quarter back is, and i have pride in saying its Tim Tebow.
"To all the critiques, thank you for the motivation… because it has been an edge for me and will continue to be an edge for me" - Tim 'the Mile High Messiah' Tebow
by David G. Little on Apr 25, 2010 1:09 PM EDT reply actions
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