Tim Tebow vs. Marcus Mariota: Who Transitions Better to the NFL?
1. Eye Test
Welcome to the most subjective part of this analysis. It was pretty easy to break down the other four factors, but this final factor is all in the eye of the beholder.
So that will make this debate even more fiery.
But in reality, it is not even a question, and our winner in the eye test wins this debate.
Tim Tebow
Yes, Tebow passed the eye test more than Mariota before he even got to the NFL. Look, Tebow did not disappoint on the biggest stage. Yes, he had lots of help, but Tebow definitely did his part and was highly efficient against Oklahoma in the national title game.
Intangible are also part of the eye test, and Tebow has shown those. He showed them in college, particularly when they were needed to rally his team against Oklahoma when things were close at halftime.
Remember this?
Mariota gets credit for being calm and nice, but you need that fire in you that Tebow has as a quarterback in the NFL.
Say what you want, Mariota’s performance in the national title game was just not enough. His 300-plus yards were desperate yards, and he couldn’t rally his troops.
Another major football issue comparing the two is physicality. You need that running the spread in the NFL. Mariota showed against Ohio State, in losses to Stanford in 2012 and 2013, and in his loss to Arizona in 2014 without three of his offensive linemen, that he cannot take punishment in the pocket. That is a big deal.
Tebow, meanwhile, is built like a fullback, and he passes the eye test when it comes to taking hits in the pocket. He can throw the ball well enough in this offense and is also an extra running back behind center.
All of this taken into account, there is no way you can say Tebow does not win on the eye test.
Final Score: Tim Tebow Wins 3-2
Next: Final Conclusion