GAINESVILLE — By now, you probably know what Hawaii coach June Jones said about Florida quarterback Tim Tebow during an interview on ESPN on Sunday. (If you don’t, click the video.)
“He’s not a system quarterback like Tim Tebow,” Jones said while discussing Warriors quarterback Colt Brennan.
Jones went on to say that Tebow is “not a natural passer.” Monday, Jones stood by his statements, saying that though Brennan constantly gets knocked for being a product of the system, Brennan has far more pro potential than Tebow.
Tebow, meanwhile, fired back Monday with a couple of thinly veiled shots at Jones. First, he responded to a question about how he would perform in Jones’ run-n-shoot offense.
“I ran it a little bit in high school, and my numbers weren’t too bad there,” Tebow said. “I don’t know, I guess it depends on your system.”
Next, someone asked Tebow what he thought of Brennan.
“I think he’s a good quarterback,” Tebow said, “and [he] runs a good system.”
Tebow used the word “system” three more times in the interview, putting a dab of extra mustard on the word each time he said it.
So is Tebow a product of his system? And, for that matter, is Brennan?
The easy answer is yes. The offensive scheme dictates what types of plays a quarterback will run. For example, Brennan would average far fewer than 42.9 pass attempts a game in Florida’s offense.
But, just for fun, let’s see how Tebow would do in the system that has allowed Brennan to flourish. There are several variables here, but some offset. For example, Brennan doesn’t get to throw to Percy Harvin, but Tebow doesn’t get to play conference games against lightweights Louisiana Tech and New Mexico State.
Here are each quarterback’s statistics for the 2007 season.
Tebow (12 games)
Passing: 217-317, 3,132 yards, 29 TDs, 6 INTs
Rushing: 194 carries, 838 yards, 22 TDs
Total TDs: 51
Brennan (11 games, did not play vs. Charleston Southern and threw only twice vs. Nevada because of injury)
Passing: 337-472, 4,174 yards, 38 TDs 14 INTs
Rushing: 73 carries, 65 yards, 8 TDs
Total TDs: 46
Now, using his completion percentage, average per completion, touchdown average and interception average, let’s see what Tebow’s passing stats would have been if Tebow had thrown as many passes as Brennan.
322-472, 4,636 yards, 43 TDs, 8 INTs
Those numbers aren’t far off from what Brennan would have compiled had he played all 12 games, though they’re below the 5,548 yards and 58 touchdowns Brennan threw for in 14 games in 2006. Tebow might have gotten more credit for doing it in the SEC, though. Of course, Tebow’s rushing yardage and rushing touchdowns would have suffered, but he still likely would have run for 10 touchdowns because he is so effective in short-yardage situations.
Unfortunately, we’ll never really know who is correct. But we will get a chance to see Tebow vs. Jones. Hawaii visits Florida on Aug. 30. Unfortunately for Jones, he won’t have Brennan.
Posted by Aaron Patrick, Las Vegas, NV on 12/07 at 02:06 AM
personally i think it blows that june jones took a shot at tebow. i think he was just frustrated at the fact that brennan doesnt get the ‘automatic’ respect that bcs conference players do. i agree he should have watched what he said. but he does have a point. regardless brennan does put up great numbers (as well as tebow and harrell) and will definitely be an awesome nfl qb. BOISE STATE stats: 40/53 495 yds 5TD INT. yeah yeah they arent high in the ranks… but they are ranked. i guess ill just have to wait for georgia to prove my point… or point to fall
Posted by Jimmy Hull, lake city, vfl on 12/05 at 06:01 PM
Jones brings his fighting Warriors to Florida Field for the opning game in 2008….......I think the Gator fans and Tim Tebow will remember all that was said by Jones when it counts!!!
Posted by Robert Mckendree, Stephenville, Texas on 12/05 at 05:26 PM
ESPN says nobody stays up late enough on the east coast to watch Brennan, but I think June Jones doesn’t get up early enough to watch Tebow. He must not have seen the Ole Miss game where Tebow single handedly ran out the clock and iced the game. Or the South Carolina game where you could practicaly see the Spur-dog’s jaw hit the ground when Tebow ran for FIVE TD’s. And lets not forget the FSU game where Tebow threw about a forty yard touchdown to the corner of the endzone that Dan Marino himself could not have thrown better. Hey June Jones, is Dan Marino a “pure passer”? Colt Brennan will probably be a good pro QB, but the Heisman goes to the “most outstanding player” in college football, it has NOTHING to do with pro potential.
Posted by Eric Howe, Largo, Fl on 12/05 at 11:14 AM
Lets put things in prespective here. Hawaii’s schedule and the AP ranking of the team at the time they played and the AP ranking now and then for Florida.
Hawaii
Northern Colorado NR NR
La Tech NR NR
UNLV NR NR
Charleston Southern NR NR
Idaho NR NR
Utah State NR NR
San Jose State NR NR
New Mexico State NR NR
Fresno State NR NR
Nevada NR NR
Boise State 19th 24th
Washington NR NR
Florida
Western Kentucky NR NR
Troy NR NR
Tennessee 22nd 16th
Mississippi NR NR
Auburn NR 22nd
LSU 1st 2nd
Kentucky 7th NR
Georgia 18th 4th
Vanderbilt NR NR
South Carolina NR NR
Florida Atlantic NR NR
Florida State NR NR
I see a trend here, Hawaii plays nobody. Tebow gets 100 TD’s in that “system”.
Posted by funny guy, tampa on 12/05 at 01:35 AM
for the record, wasnt tebow injured on a stretch of: in lsu(last min loss/ defensive meltdown) in kentucky (destroyed in kentucky, injured late) georgia (played injured with no running back capable of not fumbling and lost) this kid is insane, and he will prob win it 1 or 2 more times. the fact is if he doesnt once again will prove this award is a joke (HEISTman). by the way theres some one funnier than june jones on here Jake A ride another wave brother…the sun really must be gettin to that guy
Posted by Andy Staples, Gainesville on 12/05 at 12:14 AM
Emma,
Thanks for posting on the blog. I agree with you completely that McFadden is the best pro prospect of the Heisman candidates, but I did want to correct one thing. Maybe the Florida games started a little early out there, but if you watched any of them, you’d never call Tebow cautious. If anything, he’s reckless. It’s one reason why Florida fans love him so much, but it could hurt Tebow and the team if he isn’t more cautious. He did get hurt. He took a shot before each of the last five games because of a severely bruised right shoulder. He also played most of the second half of the FSU game with a broken right hand.
Posted by Emma Duldulao, Hawaii on 12/04 at 09:43 PM
Tim Tebow is overrated and I think Darren McFadden is a better athlete overrall. Just because he’s injured doesn’t mean that he aint the best! Lucky for Tim that both Colt and Darren got injured and couldn’t complete the entire season. Count your lucky stars Tim that you’re too systematic and too cautious that you were able to play uninjured. Let’s see all these boys play in the NFL! That’s where the true test of skills will be seen… that is if they get pass training season!
Posted by Haole'aiki'o Johnson, Ka'a'awa, O'ahu on 12/04 at 09:43 PM
Tim Tebow…great system quarterback. Colt Brennan…even greater system quarterback. We can use formulas and stats all day to try to predict what they both would have done in each others offense. Yes being in the WAC conference sucks and so did Hawaii’s schedule this year. Regardless, Colt showed what it took to get the job done. He put up numbers no other quarterback has done including Tebow. He broke more NCAA records than any quarterback including Tebow. Sure, its probably the system.
If you ask me, its Colt Brennan.
Posted by Jim Smith, Belhaven NC on 12/04 at 07:42 PM
Andy,
I KNOW WHO JUNE JONES IS! He coached Atlanta for a few years. I won’t get carried away. But will wait until next season.
BTW, maybe Jake H. of Honolulu should spend a little time in grade school and learn some grammar and spelling.
Posted by Robert Mckendree, Stephenville, Texas on 12/04 at 07:41 PM
Whether Brennan would flourish in Florida’s system or Tebow would in Jones’ system isn’t the point. The point is June Jones went on National TV and belittled another player just to build up his own player, saying controversial statements just so people would talk about him and bring more attention to Colt Brennan for the Heisman trophy. It is a disgrace to college football and coach (I use that word loosely) Jones needs to THINK before he opens his mouth on TV.
Posted by Jake A., Honolulu, HI on 12/04 at 04:14 PM
June Jones knows what he is talking about. He knows what type of football he plays and what type florida plays. That comparison of how Tebow would do in Hawaii’s offense is very unaccurate. Tebow is not the big bomber that Colt is and can only through small routes. He just lets everyone else do the work. His average yardage for a rushing touchdown is very small too. Could have just let the running back take it in. All he does is run behind the center anyway too. I predict Tebow has a worst combine then Troy Smith. Heismen let down once again.
Posted by James E. Stumpf, Tampa Florida on 12/04 at 04:08 PM
I really would like to see head to head game between Hawaii and Florida with Tebow and Brennan if only to show that Hawaii would get beaten into the dust. If Hawaii had to play in the SEC there record might be 3 wins and 9 loses. The Kentucky quarterback deserves more acclamation then Brennan. When Ohio State gets blown out again by SEC LSU just another step in showing when you play in the best conferance (The SEC) You must be at the top of your game without injuries for the whole season. I don’t blame June Jones for his remarks, its his player what else can he do. Hawaii has ther hands full and Georgia will knock them to ther knees. Playoff/playoff
playoff…the only way to go.
Posted by Andy Staples, Gainesville on 12/04 at 03:19 PM
Jim,
June Jones is a former NFL head coach and the co-architect (along with Mouse Davis) of an offense that was considered revolutionary at the time of its introduction. He may coach at a less prominent school, but he’s seen a lot of football in his lifetime. That doesn’t make him correct, but it does explain why his opinion carries weight.
Posted by Luis Caro, Lubbock, TX on 12/04 at 02:17 PM
Graham Harrell of Texas Tech is 468-644, 5,298 yards, 45 touchdowns and 14 picks.
Posted by Al, NYC on 12/04 at 01:23 PM
Tebow will win the Heisman regardless of Jones says. Jones will have a better feel for Timmy Heisman next season after UF plays Hawaii. I hope his players are ready to back his mouth because he should not be expecting Urban or the players to show him or his team any mercy. I have a feeling that maybe Tim’s first 400 yard passing game.
Posted by Eric Howe, Largo, Fl on 12/04 at 10:24 AM
I know its almost 9 months away but I’m looking forward to the season opener and I’m sure Tebow will remember this also. And to think that because a bunch of FSU fans e-mail’s Jones saying he is right. Please, that just shows how ignorant the coach is. Would he expect FSU fans to say he’s wrong ?
Posted by Jim Smith, North Carolina on 12/04 at 10:13 AM
Don’t you think we should also look at the source? Who is June Jones in the world of college coaches? He has done well in the hinterlands but I doubt he would be considered a real “authority” if he coached in the big leagues. I have not seen his name come up for any of the current vacancies.
JMS
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