He clearly hasn't learned how to play the position right -- not the mental aspect, nor the mechanics. But he's getting there on the mechanics. But for every step forward on his mechanics, there's two steps back on the mental aspect. He's clearly listening to voices in his head. And you have to play this position with rhythm and confidence.
Yeah, that's the Josh factor, I'm thinking. That mental stutter step keeping him from seeing the field is having to stop and look over at the thought balloon with Josh's face in it saying "Ball by your ear, up high." Alternately, when he goes more by "instinct", the balls out to the side 18 inches and at about shoulder level when he side-arms it into whatever crowd he feels like.
I think these are signs of lil Timmy trying to go back to the playground and relearn every throwing motion he's taken for like 15 years and un-learn them. I'm not confident at all that the Pats can magically re-wire all that. My guess is that they can't fix it by the time they name the 53.
Anyway, the purposes he serves are
(1) a backup quarterback, which you have to have. Mallet will not be after another year probably. Tebow gives them the ability to fulfill that requirement at league minimum salary, and free up dollars for other players. And have the luxury to trade Mallet.
Again, that's if they keep 3... he's got to earn enough of a spot that they feel it's worth the spot to keep a Mallet alternative for life-after-Mallet. I think it's unlikely that he
replaces Mallet as the #2 this season.
(2) A project. He's big and physically talented. He's gotten by on physical ability and instincts, and had a lot of success doing it. He could be a good player if he can be taught the game the right way. So he could have an upside -- perhaps a multiyear, long term backup to Brady, on the theory that Brady plays 6 more years and no one else wants to sit behind him that long. And that leads into the final value.
I think that's the theory Josh is pitching: He's a 1-in-10 shot to be re-wireable so that the team can actually
use the natural athleticism he does have... as in, low likelihood of success, but if you can fix him, high upside.
(3) Utility player -- punt protector, 2 point conversion specialist, and general athlete that can do some things for you. This includes scout team quarterback, etc. To the extent you have to carry a backup anyway, it would be nice to get something else out of the position. Because I don't think there is a backup anywhere that can truly come in for Tom Brady without the season being ruined. Cassell 2 is probably not going to happen.
He's got to bring that to buy him time... and he'd better recognize that you make the team by any means necessary, w/the Pats. You don't just walk in, say you can sell jerseys to a whole new market, and insist you're a QB or nothing.
So, those are 3 decent reasons. Tebow just has to be above some minimum level of decency as a player to make it work -- and it remains to be seen if he can get there in this type of offense or at all.
Totally agree: We see in you a low probability chance but with a high upside if everything clicks... what are you going to do to make yourself uncuttable?
I hate Tebow fans, and honestly, in my heart, I'm at least annoyed by Tebow himself.
However, he won't be annoying if he just shuts up and plays football.
That being the case, if he can convince the Pats, I'll buy it. But I think he has a far from straightforward path to actually playing for the Pats. He has to pitch in any way he possibly can to have a shot.
It's an interesting storyline to follow, and for the time being we have to put up with a whole new breed of annoying fans. But time will tell. If he
does turn out to be any good, we'll have to make room for them.
I'd like nothing more than to do so, because that would mean that high upside actually has a scintilla of hope to it. I just don't think he's going to put down that marker.
