Here is a pretty good summary of the Eagles OTA schedule:
http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2015/4/2/8336865/philadelphia-eagles-offseason-schedule-2015-otas-minicamp-training-camp-dates-april-20
A couple of observations:
Phase 1 started last Monday and ends this Friday. Coaches are not allowed on the field with the players, and players can't run plays. QB's can throw individually with receivers on their own. Classroom study is allowed.
Phase 2 starts next Monday and lasts for 3 weeks. Teams can run through plays, but the offense cannot go against the defense. QB's can throw to receivers but they cannot be covered by defenders. Players cannot wear pads or helmets.
Phase 3 starts in late may, and allows 7v7 and 11v11 drills, QB throwing to covered receivers, etc.
Taken together, we get a picture of what Tim will be doing and why the OTAs are so critical for him. We all know Tim has dyslexia, and learns best through hands-on doing.. IMO some of his previous struggles were related to insufficient time to learn the offense, and that was a major factor in how lost he looked with the Pats.
Tim has spent the last 2 weeks studying the offense in the classroom. He will spend the next 3 weeks running through the playbook with the offense. That should give him a good foundation of understanding that he lacked at New England.
The next 3 weeks will be critical to implant the route trees in his brain, so he knows where to look. It will also give the coaches an extended preview of how his accuracy and mechanics hold up on the field.
By the time mini camp starts in late June, he will be 8 weeks ahead of where he was when he started mini camp with the Pats. That should give him a fightin chance to dispel the notion that he cannot make quick decisions and reads.
Now is also the time IMO for him to find a couple of receivers that are willing to work overtime with him as opportunity presents. I recall as a third stringer on the Pats his practice and reps were extremely limited, so he and Quentin Sims would spend a lot of time on the sidelines or wherever practicing reps. As a result of that Sims became the guy he regularly looked for and caught both of his TD passes against the Giants in their last game together. He's gonna need a couple of well-established Sims when they head into training camp, and hopefully ones higher up the chain than at third string.
ReplyDeleteHe should know Riley Cooper very well. Who are the other Eagle recievers?
DeleteEagles are weak in receivers. They are expected to replenish in draft. Riley Cooper is a good start. Being Tim's road roommate at UF, he should help break the ice with the other guys.
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DeleteToday has been one of those days.
DeleteDeleted and reposted to correct:
I have a feeling he might gravitate toward Miles Austin, who also just signed to a one-year deal. Longtime veteran, pro bowler, someone he can look up to as a player, etc.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteKathryn I saw you made that correction so I had to delete my post ;). I heard recently in Chips offense the recievers are required to do alot of blocking. Therefore he likes physical recievers. Does anyone
Deleteknow if this is correct.
Yes, that's correct; it's one of the reasons analysts believe he hung onto Cooper this season.
DeleteInteresting food for thought: http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfoot2/writers/infcshuddle_lawrence/archive/lawrence_04_27_15.htm
ReplyDeleteAnd it unofficially begins. Happy Draft Weekend everybody.
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/593452867689783297?lang=en
Now that I have had time to digest some of tonights preceedings.
ReplyDeleteMy initial thoughts are these.
1) I am stunned that Chip offerered so much for the chance to get Mariota & I am just as equally stunned that both Tenessee & Tampa did not take the offer.
2) I am glad the eagles took a deep threat reciever with their first pick. Something that is sorely needed.
3) I think it's better for Tim prospects that they didn't land Mariota. If he plays well in camp I think he has a chance now to be the guy. With Mariota there it would have been difficult.
Does anyone else want to weigh in?
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DeleteI was hoping for the Eagles to get MM. I felt the system match and similar playing style would open a clear path for Tim to the backup job. I still suspect Chip had that at least partially in mind when he signed Tim.
DeletePerversely, I think the failure to get MM may open a path for Tim to start at some point in the season. The Eagles QB roster has dumpster fire potential. Bradford is the presumptive starter, but nobody even knows when he will be medically cleared to play. Sanchez has a history of midseason turnover-driven meltdowns. If Tim makes the roster, it's not too hard to envision the Tebow chants starting around week 10.
As I said above, the crucial fact is that the Eagles brought Tim in for the full OTA. That means they genuinely want him to get a fair shot. Hopefully he spent the last 2 weeks studying hard, and he'll spend the next 3 weeks getting crucial walk thru practice with the offense. With only 3 healthy QB's on the roster he will get plenty of reps and plenty of chances to show improvement. Hopefully we'll start to hear positive rumors in May.
With the right guy at Qb this offense could potentially have alot fire power. The backfield is loaded with Murray, Sproles, & Matthews. Agholor can stretch the field & Riley Coooper & Miles Austin are capable underneath recievers. This should create alot of space for the tight ends. Hopefully the offensive line will be as good as it was last season.
DeleteIf Tim impresses in camp & preseason maybe Chip will find ways to get him on the field because of all the extra options he gives them.
I envision the quarterback on this team being the glue that holds all the pieces toghether.
After two long years away from playing Tim is going to be hungry to prove all hs critics wrong & conversely
Chip is going to be under intense scrutiny & I am sure he will do whatever it takes by going the extra miles to ensure his offseason decisions were justified.
This is going to be alot of fun to watch.
Chip Kelly's comments on NFL Network after the draft:
ReplyDeleteQ: Mark Sanchez said that Tim Tebow is there to throw to receivers while Sam Bradford recovers...would you agree with that assessment?
Kelly: No, Timmy is here to compete for a job. He has great work ethic and is a fierce competitor.
Also, a relief that the Eagles did not draft a QB in the bottom rounds. Didn't think it would happen but you never know.
Bradford has to be feeling pretty lame right now. Kelly insists that he was not a bargaining chip, but hardly anyone buys it.
Further relieved that the Eagles did not sign any UDFA QB's. Highly unlikely, but it is worth noting that Matt Barkley is still practice-squad eligible under the 2 year veteran exception.
DeleteNot drafting a QB in the later rounds or signing an UDFA was definitely a relief. Hopefully this is a sign that Chip is comfortable with the QB's he has on the roster including Tim.
DeleteAlso 5 out of 6 of their draft picks were defensive players another good sign. Now his focus is on shoring up the offensive line.
Chip gave us a funny quote to work with on an interview recently. "I don't think about what I think as much as you think about what I think". His willingness to engage playfully from time to time without going overboard like we have seen other coaches do will earn him some goodwill with fans & media.
Since it is true that we think about what he thinks I want to take a few of his recent quotes & try to interprete what they might mean.
1) "We want to win a championship this city deserves it & we will not leave any stone unturned until we get that done". I think this one speaks for itself & shows his determination & commitment to getting this done.
2) "I like players with a growth mindset as opposed to a fixed mindset". Here he was referring to Ogholor their new WR & what they saw in him. Is it any surprise that he would like Tebow!?
3) "Everyone we bring in is brought in to compete Timmy has an unbelievable work ethic & is an unbelievable competitor" Not too many coaches would say that as forcefully as he did about a perspective 3rd string QB. Which leads me to believe he thinks more highly of what he has seen from Tim.
His methods keep everyone on their toes & the guys he brings into his program are known to be high character guys. Its become clearer to me why he has made the moves he has.
On the field activity starts tomorrow. We should have some fresh things to discuss.
Great stuff. I'm pretty fired up to see Tebow 'competing' with this crew of QB's in Philly.
DeleteEd: Just curious-why is it unlikely MB goes to the practice squad? Isn't the guy who was the QB on ps now trying to make the team at another position?
DeleteBrooke: It's just a hunch, based on 2 reasons.
DeleteFirst, practice squad is typically for developing young players or as an extended tryout for players released by other teams. Barkley is beyond either of those stages. Granted, PS is sometimes used to cache a player in excess of the 53 roster limit. I'm fairly sure MB is not eligible under the regular PS rules, so he would need the 2 year veteran exception.
Second, players have to be released and clear waivers before the team can sign them to a practice squad, and once on PS a player can be signed by any other team at any time. Barkley is good enough that someone will take him to kick the tires if nothing else.
Yes, that makes sense. Thanks
DeleteI'm somewhat of an Excel Jockey and put together an XLS with PIVOT TABLES this weekend with the NFL's Statistical data. I've put together smaller versions of this before; but, this time used all of the NFL's QB1's on the current depth charts and some key HOF QB's..
ReplyDeleteThe data is pretty revealing and for the most part confirms what we've all known about Tebow's game and contribution in NFL games when he started. The net is that Tebow in his 16 starts, often chose to run the ball versus a checkdown pass. Every Tebow rush was effectively equivalent to a complete pass. As such, if you take into consideration Tebow's All-Purpose Contribution (Passes plus Rushes), his All purpose completion percentage is effectively 62%. Additionally, a telling statistic is "Touchdown/Interception Ratio". When you utilize All-Purpose Touchdowns (Passing and Rushing TD's), Tebow is consistently towards the top of any QB comparison.
Some will point out that I'm not taking into account, Fumbles in this calculation. I could do this; but, Tebow with only 3 recovered fumbles in his 16 starts would compare very favorably to the other QB's. Besides, adding in Game Data that includes Recovered Fumbles is a little cumbersome using the data source I've selected.
Here is a PDF version with the results if you are interested in taking a look:
. https://www.dropbox.com/s/xajtddkemdb385g/TebowAllPurposeContribution.pdf
*** Also, I get that we are never going to win the STATISTICAL argument with those who feel Tebow is not a competent NFL QB. I'm not really trying to do this here. This exercise was really more validating with actual data what many of us innately knew and physically saw back in the 2010 & 2011 seasons with the Broncos. ***
Also, you can bet that Chip Kelly, given his offensive scheme, specifically knows how Tim contributed that year to the Bronco's success. With Tebow's improved accuracy and form, I could see Tim's All-Purpose Contribution with the Eagles being a major asset and difference-maker.
Anyway, I'd be interested in your thoughts on this. RonDog
It was not not an accident (as some would like to believe that Tim won all those games in Denver). He had some unique skills that made that possible. However he did have some drawbacks that needed fixing. Tim is going to be a different player now than he was with his time with the Broncos. So I am not sure the stats from that time will have any relevance on the way he will play now. They serve as a good reading for the potential he had at that time.
DeleteHopefully now he will be a more well rounded quarterback. Which will make him realize his full potential.
*I need to make one small addition to my comment from above. In the interview in which Chip said Tim was an unbelievable competitor he mentions the other 3 quarterbacks first before adding Tim's name at the end*.
Agree Bob.
DeleteRegarding your comment about Chip adding Tim's name at the end, I also noticed that when I saw the interview with Eisen. I wasn't sure if I could read anything from that, so I punted on that. If pressed, I suspect Chip and the others in the front office will chose to 'downplay' Tim's presence if given the chance ... to which I say, right on. :-)
The Iron Law of Journalism: the story must change.
ReplyDeleteTim Tebow's chances improved after draft
The story must change but thankfully the truth never has. I think the comment Chip made about Tim being an unbelievable competitor may have given us some insight into his thinking (I know here we go again ;). A larger question is how will he go about tapping into that competitiveness. Does he give Tim a significant role on the team or does he risk having a meldown similar to what happened in NY by keeping him behind the other QB's.
DeleteHow do you all think he will handle this conundrum??. I think it's possible we may see some more trades before the season starts.
Ed et al.,
ReplyDeleteI'd be interested in your thoughts on the following. A number of the Eagles' beat writers and blogs have been writing about the Eagles offensive line problems (age, injuries, zero youth, etc.). Zero o-line draft picks again this year (3 years running); Chip's philosophy is similar to Belichick in this regard. This is one area that may end up impacting the Eagles QB depth chart as we progress into and through the season.
Both Bradford and Sanchez have dealt with injuries the last few years. I suspect Bradford will not be as mobile following his back to back ACL's and Sanchez has never struck me as innately mobile. When Tebow took over the starting role at Denver, the Broncos' offensive line wasn't considered stellar; but, with the read-option running game, they excelled.. Living in the Denver area, I can remember a number of the 2011 o-line saying how "FUN" it was to block 'downhill' for the running game in their backfield as opposed to preserving a pocket. If the Eagles' o-line runs into injury or age-related problems, I can see Tebow's escape-ability compensating for some blind-spots with their o-line.
There is a good article on www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/20150504 which adresses these O line questions.
DeleteIt makes a good case for why it isn't necessarily a bad move not to draft offensive lineman. It lays out other ways they can go about fortifying the O line.
The read option helps keep pass rushers on their heels since they cannot always gamble on a quick burst through the line to get at the QB. They have to respect the threat of the run. A pure pocket passer needs to be fully protected while a dual threat QB keeps the defense guessing & moving around. With misderection, traps, play action etc.
The Eagles also feel like their conditioning program is top notch & their athletes are better conditioned than most other teams by the style & pace of their play.
Hope this helped.
I don't know much about O-linemen, except that they are large, strong, and tend to look like Vikings. I do know that a mobile QB helps mitigate a weak like. More pointedly, if your line is weak then your QB better be durable. Tim is the most durable QB in the league. Bradford is one of the least durable, and Sanchez has had his share of injuries too.
DeleteBut it's still all going to come down to whether the improvements to Tim's throwing mechanics stick this time.
Both of you guys nailed it. Completely agree with your take. Can't wait for this process in Philly to get into gear.
DeletePretty good compendium:
ReplyDeleteTop 12 Tim Tebow Sport Moments
I had always heard about the broken leg in high school, but never saw the footage and figured it was somewhat embellished. Nope. Kid had a legit broken lower leg and ran for a TD. Hopped, really. Friggin amazing.
Great compilation.
DeleteHere's a 10 minute John Clayton interview with Tom House from a few weeks back. Pretty insightful.
http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=12758500&s=espn
Ron Dog: Thanks for the link. This is the first I've heard of this interview.
DeleteEd and everyone else: That vid clip about his playing on a broken leg came from the doc that was made about Tim deciding which college to go to called 'The Chosen One'. There are multiple copies of that doc on YT. Here's a link to the first of 7 parts of that doc on ESPN's own YT channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLUXfCA98XM
For anyone unfamiliar w/YT, the other 6 parts are linked to on the right side of the screen.
The doc about Tim preparing for the draft, 'Everything in Between', is also available on YT:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR4V-0DfaGc
The trailer for EIB is especially well done:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzqw4xYcm-A
There are also some of Tim's UF games on YT.
The Barkley Factor
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion this is still all about Barkley. We've known since the end of last season that the honeymoon is over between him and Chip. If it weren't Chip would've given him a shot to start or at least accrue some sort of substantial playing time once the season was lost. Instead Chip kept him on the bench and put him on the trading block as soon as he found his replacement in Tim (literally within an hour of Tim's workout). We now know that Chip wanted to sign Tim immediately but was cagey about his workout (explaining it away as "just doing due diligence") in order to maintain leverage in a prospective deal to trade Barkley to the Dolphins. The deal fell through but he signed Tim anyway. Why? Because he doesn't want to delay getting his new QB3 started any longer.
Fast forward to now and we've got: a) the same slate of QB's on the roster as we had going into the draft, and b.) a new explanation for Tim's signing (he is the best available replacement for G.J. Kinne, who will be attempting to make the roster in a special teams capacity). Even having little to no other information at my disposal I'm pretty confident that this just another explanation of convenience based on fluid circumstances. Like the 'camp arm' explanation it collapses under scrutiny, and for similar reasons (mainly that there are more favorable options out there than Tim for what amounts to either a journeyman's or an undeveloped rookie's role, of which Tim is neither).
So why continue dancing around with cagey explanations surrounding the Tim Tebow signing, and why fail to pick up a single quarterback in the draft? Because Barkley. I think Chip still wants to unload him and is avoiding taking steps that would threaten his leverage. Naming Tim the QB3 would be such a step. Ditto on signing any number of rookie UDFA's (and if they trade Barkley they will sign one, especially with Kinne exploring options elsewhere on the roster). I feel as strongly now as I did before that it's only a matter of time before Barkley is traded or, failing that, outright released. In that regard the position as QB3 is Tim's to lose.
The Mariota Factor
Now that the draft dust has settled it's looking as though Chip's overtures to Tennessee never came close to consideration. So while Chip entertained the idea he stayed true to his word and refrained from selling the farm to land the guy. If anything it seems he went through with it as a matter of due diligence in itself -- in other words, make the offer and move on rather than not make an offer and spend months or years wondering what would've happened if he had. I never believed that Tim's chances were reliant on Mariota, and still don't. In fact, I think that it would've been more detrimental to Tim's chances had Mariota been signed at the cost of some exorbitant super-trade package, as Mariota would've then assumed the role of Rex Ryan's Mark Sanchez -- too expensive and too personally tied to the coach to pull off the field with a firebrand like Tebow waiting on the sidelines. It would've been a recipe for another circus. And in that dynamic Tim is the expendable one.
But, because he did make at least some attempt to snag Mariota, we know that Chip would ideally like to build around a mobile passer that can master and incorporate the read option into a pro offense. As far as Tim is concerned, the table could not be set more favorably. I don't think that Chip is specifically thinking about Tim at this time as anything more than a QB3 that can run some option plays and potentially serve as a situational weapon, but I don't think he's got a closed mind about him either. The ball is literally in Tim's court at this point.
Kathryn: I agree. It's a bit odd that Chip would still be trying to get some value out of MB when-as you pointed out-anyone paying attention knows that Chip already wasn't a fan of his by the end of last year.
DeleteKathryn: I agree with about 85 to 90% of your well reasoned analysis. I agree 100% on the Barkley factor. We'll see what happens with him.
DeleteAs for the Mariota factor yes Chip did his due diligence & stayed true to his word. I want to believe that those reports we heard about him trading a bunch of future picks & players to land him were either exaggerated or a bluff to see if Tenessee would negotiate.
Regardless I agree with you I never believed Tim's chances were tied to Mariota & still don't. Had Mariota been drafted Tim would have probably been relegated to backup status with little hope for advancement.
Chip's comments that Tim has an unbelievable work ethic & is an unbelievable competitor impressed me in that those kinds of comments are not normally made about 3rd string QB's. I hope he is thinking of ways to tap into that competitiveness
Like Ed says it will all come down to whether or not Tim's mechanics will stick. If they do not stick the decision will be an easy one either keep him as 3rd string as a situational option guy or maybe not at all. If the mechanics do stick then Chip is going to have a very tough decision on his hands. Does he give Tim a significant role on the team or does he risk a possible meltdown of the QB's ahead of him like they had in NY. I still think some more trades before the season are a possibility. If they make a trade & bring in a mobile QB it may give us a clue as to what direction Chip wants to go in.
I agree like you said the ball is literally in Tim's court at this point.
PS: What do you all think of these possibilities??
The Mariota speculation now fades into the dustbin of sports talk history. However, one question remains pertinent: what did Chip intend for Sam Bradford, and how does he feel now? Did he genuinely see Sam as his best option to start, or did he acquire him at least partly for his potential trade value? Recent comments by Chip seem to fall somewhere in the middle. He won't admit to intending to trade Sam, but he also no longer states categorically that Sam will be the man. Part of that is simple recognition of the fact that Bradford is not yet cleared to play, and until he is cleared there is no guarantee that he will get back on a football field or be fully effective when he is.
DeleteThe more unsettled the QB situation, the better for Tim.
FYI: One small detail of the Foles Bradford trade was if Sam is not the starter this year the Eagles can get their draft pick back that was part of the trade. I think it was a 3rd round pick.
DeleteI'd imagine that clause only comes into effect if he's not started due to his prior knee injuries. Or did the Rams agree to give the pick back if he's not started for any reason?
DeleteIn the article that I read link. espn.com.go/nfl/story/_id/12456228 it didn't mention a clause. It says the Eagles can get a 3rd round conditional pick if Sam does not take any snaps, a fourth round conditional pick if he takes less than 50% of the snaps. If he takes more than 50% of the snaps they get nothing in return.
DeleteThey can also save 12.9 million towards their salary cap if he is released before June 1st. Although I doubt that would happen.
Since the article doesn't get into the weeds of the contract I'm inclined to believe that those provisions are conditional. We know they're nullified in the event that Chip trades him; and I could be wrong, but I can't imagine the Rams would agree to return the pick if he's benched or released for any other reason than recurrence of or degradation of play related to his old injuries. Not being a perfect fit for the offense or getting beaten out by another player or sustaining new injuries are contingencies that all coaches/GM's are expected to risk in a trade. But you never know. At any rate they started throwing on the field this week, so Chip is getting his first look.
DeleteTerelle Pryor was just released by the Chiefs. Lets see if Chip brings him in. He has previously worked out for the Eagles.
ReplyDeleteFunny take on Mariota trade offer:
ReplyDeleteChip: "How much to get us Mariota?"
Titans: "A lot."
Chip: "You mean, like, picks and players? Which and what?"
Titans: "All of them."
Chip: "You mean Cox, Curry, Boykin, Kendricks, and Mathis? And picks?"
Titans: "Yes. We also want an invisibility cloak made of solid gold. For scouting purposes."
Chip: "I don't have that. I do have a Bradford and some first round picks coming up in a few years."
Titans: "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Invisibility cloak and all of your team or no deal."
Chip: "Fine. I offer you nothing, then."
And that's how Chip didn't offer any players.
Interesting Tebow-related enounter today:
ReplyDeleteI popped into the Chick Fil A in Tampa for coffee this morning. There was a young black guy two booths over. Another guy approaches him and starts congratulating him profusely. My ears perk up when he says NFL. Turns out the guy is Nelson Agholar, first round pick wide receiver for ... the Eagles. :)
He struck me as a very humble and intelligent fellow. I can see why he is a good fit for Chip Kelly's program.
He graduated from USC, so I speculate that he has probably caught passes from Tim at least a few times when Tim was working out with House. With any luck they know each other and socialized a bit in SoCal.
Thats a good story. Did you think about approaching him or overhear the conversation?
DeleteAnybody else find this wait even more excruciating than waiting to see if he'd get signed after the workout? Don't get me wrong, the deafening media blackout is refreshing and necessary, but God Almighty I wish I were a fly on the field at Nova Care so I could get some idea of how he's doing.
ReplyDelete...Good Lord I think I've officially become his mother.
LOL, yes, I am feeling very much the same way. We just have to keep remembering what Phase 2 is about for Tim: imprinting the playbook in his brain. Given his dyslexia, the phase 2 walkthroughs are absolutely crucial to him being able to compete with Barkley. The less attention paid to him while he is learning, the better.
DeleteBesides, only 2 weeks and 3 days until Phase 3 starts. During that phase, "no live contact is permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are permitted." That is when he will start making reads and decisions against the defense.
Phase 3 OTA workout dates: May 26-28, June 1-2, June 4, June 8-11
Mandatory Minicamp: June 16-18
The media will have access to at least some OTAs and all of the minicamp, so we will start getting unfiltered reports of how Tim looks by early June. Here is an example from last year.
Speaking of media coverage of OTAs, here are some of the local beat reporters who cover the Eagles:
Delete@SheilKapadia
@JimmyKempski
@Jeff_McLane
@EliotShorrParks
@GeoffMosherCSN
Sheil Kapada appears to be the most meticulous.
@MikeSielski is not a bad follow as well...
DeleteA little more digging: last year, reporters were allowed to watch practice on 29 May, the last day of the first week of OTAs. Assuming the Eagles take a similar approach this year, we should get media reports on how Tim looks on 28 May, less than 3 weeks from today. You know they'll be watching him closely.
DeleteCorrect. I saw this too. Last week of May is the first week for media availability at OTA's. All I saw about QB's is some WR/TE's raving about Bradford's arm strength. I always thought Tim throws a really fast ball, I don't know if they ever talk about his arm strength in a good way.
DeleteVindictive shadenfreude is not a good look, but hard not to take some smug satisfaction in seeing Jaguars lose their first round pick to knee injury in the first hour of rookie mini camp.
ReplyDeleteI feel terrible for Fowler, though. Just lost his rookie season, maybe more. Devastating.
DeleteDave, not so much.
Definitely feel very bad for Fowler. As best I can tell, he did not have a signed contract. Teams apparently sign an agreement committing to the slotted contract amount per CBA in case of injury. However, I don't think terms such as signing bonus and guaranteed $$ are set by the CBA, so it's possible he loses that and winds up with minimum pay unless he recovers and plays again.
DeleteScrew Caldwell though. Funny, reading Jax.com, commenters keep talking about how "cursed" Jax is. Ummm, maybe that's not a curse, maybe it's karma.
Per Greg Auman of Tampa Bay Times Fowler will still get full rookie contract and signing bonus.
DeleteIf karma has anything to do with this then I wish all the best to all involved, including the Jaguars. Tim is older now, relies on his legs, is exposed to greater risk of injury as a mobile quarterback, and though very tough and well-conditioned has not escaped his share of injuries (off the top of my head...broken leg, broken wrist, shoulder surgery, concussion, torn rib cartilage, broken ribs). He has been fortunate not to suffer an ACL/MCL related injury, and I knock on wood and send good thoughts and best wishes that he and all players out there on the field enjoy a year free from injuries...regardless of who their jackass GM's are :-D (I know you do, too, I just thought I'd put that out there to the universe.)
Well I'm certainly glad he'll be financially secure.
DeleteAgreed on karma. I don't wish injuries or ill health on anyone. The majority of Jaguars fans are good folks, and many are also Tebow fans. But there is a core of Jaguars fans who hate Tim and took it upon themselves to insult anyone who brought Tim up. They deserve another shitty season and I hope they get it, along with a new GM at the end.
Where would Tim & his fans be without the visionary maverick Chip Kelly!? Does anyone think he would have been signed?! I don't. It was a major victory for us that Tim was signed but it was only phase 1.
DeletePhase 2 is making the team & phase 3 would be getting on the field & having personal & team success.
If this happens how foolish will alot of the people who dismissed Tim look including but not limited to the Jags.
www.inquisitor.com/2092980/philadelphia-eagles-rumors-tim-tebow-may-wind-up-being-one-of-teams-most-important-players
ReplyDeleteThe above is a link to an article concerning the rumors that Tim may become the eagles 2 point specialist if the new rules move the 2 point conversion to the 1 yard line & the extra point to the 15 yard line. The Eagles are proponents of both. The article even goes so far as to call the new proposals "the Tim Tebow rule".
After everything we have gone through & discussed the last few years this is a development that not many of us have considered until recently. No doubt that it is good to hear Tim being portrayed in a positive light on how his abilities can help a team instead of what his limitations are as a passer, being left handed etc.. & priority #1 right now should be playing well enough in camp to make the team
While it would be a signinficant accomplishment for him just to make the team & it would be good to see a role set aside just for him I don't think that he put in 2 years with Tom House rewiring his body just to become a two point specialist.
IMO he wants & expects more of himself & when the eagles signed him I do not think this was in the forefront of their thinking for doing it.
Bottom line: IMO The 2 point rule if passed can enhance his value to the team by supplementing his overall contributions as a quarterback but I have a suspiscion both he & hopefully the eagles want & will get more from him.
Agree or Disagree?
Agree. If the 2 point thing makes the difference in him staying on the roster vs Matt Barkley, then I'm all for it. He'll still get reps and QB time in the season, and have a chance to show he is a better passer. Remember, he's only on a one year contract, so if he does well this year he should have other options next year to work his way back into a #2 or #1 spot.
DeleteI like it mainly for the reasons Ed has already stated. It's a good start, and it plays well to his strengths. If he executes it well the package of plays are bound to expand, but really anything in this first season is a huge bonus over what the landscape was looking like just a few months back. If he has to reprise his freshman year on the Gators role for a couple of seasons before moving up the ladder that's fine with me.
DeleteTwo weeks down in Phase 2, one more week to go. Hopefully Tim is maximizing his time to learn the playbook and bond with his teammates. I had hoped some complimentary comments about his improved throwing motion might start to leak out, but it seems the Eagles are pretty buttoned down about leaks. Much like the Pats.
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, we are 10 or 11 days away from the first practice open to the media. The new Tim will be on display for all the world to see, for better or for worse.
The owners just voted to change the PAT rule for 2015. Kicks move to 15-yard line (33 yrds), 2-point try will stay at 2-yard line, and defense can return. Chip did not get all that he wanted (move 2-point try to 1-yard line) but this is still great news.
ReplyDeleteThat is good news if nothing else it will make the game much more exciting. Do you know what % of kicks from the 33 yard line are good?
DeleteFor cold weather teams the 2 point try now becomes even more valuable. Teams that play indoors & in good weather will probably make a greater % of their kicks from the 33.
Also a great article was out today in which Eric Decker who has always been complimentary of Tim had some really nice things to say about his skill set. He says "they are unique & special & he could help a team in many ways". It's good to see the recognition coming around.
Kicks from the 15 (resulting in a 33-yard kick) would have about a 90% success rate, so it's not a huge change (down from about a 98% success rate) but it's enough to encourage a number of coaches to go for more 2-pt conversions. Chip Kelly would be one of them.
DeleteThe math on this definitely favors 2 point tries. On 10 touchdowns at 90% for kicks a team would get 9 points. At just 50% on 2 point tries a team would get 10 points.
DeleteA player like Tim should be able to get at least 50% on 2 point tries. The variable to be considered is the defense's ability to run it back for a score if the ball is turned over so the strategy on when to employ the conversion vs the kick would need to be considered.
Dang this is going to be alot of fun to watch :).
OK, so the NFL owners-who, according to conspiracy theorists don't want Tim in the NFL because he's "too Christian"-just voted for a rule change that will almost guarantee that Tim makes the Eagles final roster this year? So much for conspiracy theories...
DeletePretty sure most in here consider NFL anti-Christian/Tebow conspiracy theorists to be of the nutjob persuasion, so you're preaching to the choir.
DeleteRe 2-pt conversions: granted it's a relatively small sample but TT's success rate stands at 75%. Can't hurt his chances.
"Pretty sure most in here consider NFL anti-Christian/Tebow conspiracy theorists to be of the nutjob persuasion, so you're preaching to the choir."
DeleteI know. Unfortunately, most other Tebow sites and forums I've seen are dominated by the conspiracy-loving nutjobs. So this is the only place I could post this comment w/out ruffling many feathers.
Really good interview with Tom House on the Dan Patrick show this morning. youtube.com/watchv=iWFKInzFPZo#action=share
ReplyDeleteWell, OTA phase 2 is over. Hopefully Tim learned the playbook well.
ReplyDeletePhase 3 starts next week. Non-contact 7v7 and 11v11 drills, so he'll have to read coverage and throw against live defenders.
Next Thurs 28 May, the whole practice will be open to the media.
Looks like I had some wrong info on the whole practice being open to media on 28 May. Apparently only part of practice will be open.
Deletehttp://www.phillymag.com/birds247/2015/05/26/eagles-wake-up-call-otas-begin/
I do recall reading somewhere that Tim would be available for media Q&A on the 28th. I doubt he'll say much other than platitudes, but we'll still lap it up.
This video commentary has some positive viewpoints on Tim's potential success in the Eagles system.
ReplyDeleteNote how much Bob Ford emphasizes that everyone wanting to see Tim's "improved" throwing motion for themselves. That's surely a common view among Eagles beat reporters, so we can expect them to be watching him very closely this Thursday when OTAs are open to the media.
There is more anticipation & more reason for hope & optimism than at any other time in Tim's career. I think because of the road he has taken there is a willingness from many fans & media who previously had written him off to give him an unbiased benefit of the doubt look , at least initially.
DeleteThis time he has the support of his coach & his organization. Its all up to him now.
It bears mentioning that we will also be getting our first look at Sam Bradford. Reporters are just as eager, if not more so, to observe how well he's moving around.
DeleteHere's one writer who will be watching both:
Deletehttp://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2015/05/tim_tebow_josh_huff_and_4_other_things_to_watch_fo.html#incart_story_package
Here's another.
Deletehttp://www.timesherald.com//sports/20150526/bob-grotz-forget-whos-playing-safety-its-tebow-time
Many Philly beat reporters, like this guy, saw Tim in joint practices 2 years ago. They were not impressed. They will be watching him like s hawk tomorrow signs of improvement ... or lack of.
Many of them, like this guy, are very intrigued by the possibilities of Tim with improved passing skills in Chip Kelly's system. Nobody wants to get mocked for saying it first, but IF Tim is a markedly better passer, this could be the biggest story of the season.
I'm hoping that by displaying better mechanics some of the "not a good practice player" reputation that has followed Tim becomes academic.
DeleteIn practice & possibly not even in preseason games (because of the lesser intensity with which the games are played at) will he be able to display some of the intangibles that makes him unique.
Its probably safe to assume that the coaching staff watching him up close these last couple of months has a good idea of what they can expect from him already.
Well we got a mixed bag of results today.
ReplyDeleteFirst, the good news: per numerous reporters TT has improved his mechanics and accuracy. Observations have gone from casual, such as @carronJphillips:
"Hey folks, I'm jut going to say this. He's only tossed it around, but there's definitely a difference in Tebow,"
and @ Kyle_Phillippi "For what it's worth, Tebow throwing some short range darts at practice,"
to the enthusiastic @EliotShorrParks "Tebow has a cannon. Just tossed the ball effortlessly about 40 yards on the money."
And others have made positive remarks on specific plays, such as @GarryCobb "Tim Tebow with the nice throw to the crossing tight end as he rolled to his right. That's a tough throw. "
So the mechanics are in place and the improvements are noticeable. It was a great, encouraging start.
The bad news: as practice wore on it grew more evident that TT was struggling running the offense. The passes were not at issue, but the decision-making was. Many of the same reporters above observed during 7 on 7's that he held onto the ball too long, waited too long for receivers to get open, and fell back on the tuck-and-run too much. He had a couple of incompletions and a tipped interception during this period that seemed to exacerbate the negative momentum, he was able at the end to salvage some good passes, including the one above described by Garry Cobb.
The good news on the bad news. This is TT's first week running this offense after being out of the league for two years, and with that considered most reporters and analysts are holding their fire. They will expect his consistency to improve and his delivery to accelerate as he - and the receivers - become more confident with the offense, but for now - all things considered - he turned in a generally positive performance. And he's got at least one teammate - center Jason Kelce - now publicly remarking that he's doing well, especially at the option plays. He and the coaches see a lot more than the press and public so that's encouraging.
He does have one detractor in Jeff McLane that derived from today's practice that TT has hit his ceiling and will not make the roster. It bears pointing out that this reporter saw no improvement in TT's mechanics early on today, contrary to numerous colleagues that stated otherwise. It's hard to agree with such a conclusion at such an early stage, but make of it what you will.
Kathryn: I think your analysis of today's events was spot on. I agreed with everything you pointed out. He has another detractor also in Matt Lombardo who has been a long time critic.
DeleteI am not worried about these guys at all though. I will bet none of them would have expected Tim to be in camp to begin with. Overall I believe it was a very good day.
Kudos to Chip for the way he handled alot of very tough questions today at his news conference. The guy is extremely sharp, on the ball & quick witted.
Yeah I noticed Lombardo, he was so obviously invested in trashing the guy that there was no point in taking him seriously. As to McLane, he has a large platform and the negative opinions are bigtime clickbait. He appears to have anointed himself the designated hard-to-impress-tough-guy. I don't want to make light of the areas where TT needs to show consistent, sustained improvement, but when reporters are that transparent my immediate reaction is to change the proverbial channel.
DeleteKathryn summed it up well. Tim spent 2 years working on accuracy. If he showed any accuracy problems today, that would be a devastating outcome. Fortunately, it appears he didn't. However, this was a small sample size, so most will withhold judgment until they have seen him throw more.
ReplyDeleteTim has also spent 2 years NOT playing QB. Combine that with today being his 3rd day on the field in a new offense, and significant mental struggles should be expected.
This thread is getting long. I'll start another one for OTAs and mini-camp.
ReplyDelete