Loeffler Touts Tebow for Next Level

Tim Tebow may not have put up the same kind of numbers we’ve been used to this season, but that hasn’t changed the opinion of his position coach about his NFL potential. Florida QB coach Scot Loeffler said he remains absolutely convinced that Tebow can play quarterback at the next level.

Scot Loeffler has some first hand experience with the topic, having spent a year as the QB coach of the Detroit Lions and having helped develop Tom Brady, Brian Griese and Chad Henne among others.

This season was Loeffler’s first with Tebow and it was a trying year. Tebow struggled at times with the absence of star pass catchers Louis Murphy and Percy Harvin and suffered a concussion in the fourth game of the season against Kentucky. Tebow also uncharacteristically had a couple of key fumbles that helped keep games close, threw two “picks-six” interceptions against Mississippi State and was picked off for a clinching interception in the end zone at the SEC Championship Game.

Despite all that, Tebow managed to complete 65 percent of his passes for more than 2,400 yards and 18 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Loeffler talked with the Sugar Bowl media contingent about his year with Tebow and the future for the Gator legend.

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Can Tim play QB at the next level?

“Absolutely. 100 percent. Just like any college quarterback coming from college football to the National Football League there’s transition. There was transition with Peyton Manning and there was transition with Tom Brady. The one I have down in Miami (Henne), there was transition. It’s just a different game.

On why he is so certain:

“He has every intangible. He has all the talent. Probably the biggest adjustment in that league is the speed. It (the NFL) is all the best players from all the best leagues. It’s an adjustment that every single quarterback that I’ve been associated with who has played in the league has had to make.

How long will he need to make that transition?

“Oh I don’t know. That’s like asking whether an incoming recruit will be ready to play in his first year or his third year. Everybody is different. Some guys are going to pick it up quicker than the others. The way Tim Tebow is and the mentality he has and the work ethic he has it’s not going to take him long. It’s not going to take him long at all.”

Will his fiery nature play at the next level?

“Being a quarterback is being a quarterback whether it’s Pee Wee Football or the National Football League. The guys who have “IT” are the guys who play a long time in that league and Tim Tebow has “IT”. The intangibles that he’s learned here and he learned from his parents is going to carry over to that league, there’s no question.”

Will an NFL team have to adjust to Tim or vice versa?

“I think every NFL system always adjusts to what their quarterback does best. I don’t know if they’ll let him (run over linebackers) but he’s going to.”

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Loeffler was asked if he had an interest in the head coaching position at Central Michigan where he is reportedly on the list of candidates to place Butch Jones. He insisted he is only interested in getting ready for the game with Cincinnati Friday night and had not spoken with anyone from the school. It’s more than a bit ironic that the Central Michigan job is open because Jones left the school to take over at Cincinnati after the bowl game. Florida’s newest assistant, Zach Azzanni has also been mentioned for the job at Central Michigan.