Jeff Kryglik's blog

Something like a Phenomenon

When Nationals Park first opened, the stadium wasn't exactly filled to capacity. The President of the United States in attendance for the stadiums first game couldn't compare to the pandemonium at the ballpark tonight.

Steven Strasburg made what might have been the most hyped major league debut in the league's history. Ever since he was drafted last June, all that anyone around baseball could talk about was when this kid would get to the big leagues. The 21 year-old started off with the club for 40 days in spring training, then began his major league career in double and triple A. Amassing a 1.30 ERA in the minors, the Nationals knew it was time he join the big league ranks.

Tonight, Strasburg delivered. His control was on point, except for one change up that sunk a little in the zone enough for the Pirates to take him deep for a two run homer. However, that was the only blemish on his stat sheet. He went seven innings, giving up four hits, no walks, two earned runs, and striking out fourteen batters. It was the first time since 1969 that a major league pitcher has struck out as many as 14 batters, without walking a single batter.

With a fastball that was once clocked at 103mph on the gun at Nationals Park(in his 7th and final inning), sharp breaking slurve, filthy change-up that can be as much as a 20mph drop off from his fastball( avg 98mph fastball, 78mph change-up), and a sinker to go along with those three out pitches, it looks like a promising start to the hopefully long-lasting career of baseball's new phenom;Jeeezus!

When Keeping it Real Goes Wrong? Sports Edition (Toby Gerhart)

If anyone remembers "The Chappelle Show", then you will appreciate this story I came up on the spot. I was discussing with my friend JB about how star running back Toby Gerhart, may not have said the smartest thing in terms of helping his draft stock, but he was keeping it real.

"Toby Gerhart was a very successful college football player that held 24 credits in the fall semester of his senior year at Stanford University. While maintaining a solid GPA, he also managed to finish third in the heisman trophy voting for the 2009 NCAA season. Come April, Gerhart started to visit and workout for his prospective NFL teams ...when he said this extremely real statement,'If I was black I'd be a first round pick.' What ensued was the greatest fall in NFL draft history. Gerhart didn't hear his name called on any of the elongated 3 days of the NFL Draft. He ends up signing a free agent contract with the Detroit Lions, where his career took an even bigger hit. He decides to buy an abode in detroit, but ends up getting cut the third week of training camp. He spends countless money at the corner, and hard drugs to pass the time and aid his extreme depression. He then felt that as a good release for his anger, that he'll demolish the stadium of the team that deprived him of his dream. He blows up ford field, got arrested, and has anal sex on the regular with a man named Bubba. From being a highly talented running back at a division one university, to taking it in his bum from Bubba, Toby Gerhart is a prime example of where keeping it real goes wrong."

The Buried Life: Sports Edition

MTV has a new series called The Buried Life, which asks the question, "What do you want to do before you die?" The guys got together and made their own bucket list of outrageous things that they hope to experience before they die. Watching this show has got me thinking about my very own bucket list, but in a slightly different context.

If you've been involved in sports at some point in your life, you have had those crazy visions or dreams that you're in a "Mecca" of sports on the grandest scale, experiencing something you once thought impossible. I can say that when I go to sleep at night, I still sometimes have these dreams and I always wake up, wishing they were true. I'm a sports fan that watches pretty much any type of sport, so I know there are several destinations I wish to visit in order to complete my bucket list.

1. Go to a Boston Red Sox game, sit on top of the Green Monster, and catch a Home Run Ball.

Yes, this one may seem a little extreme and next to impossible since I'm not a season ticket holder for the Red Sox, but I've always wanted to do this, ever since they installed seats there. A lot of round-trippers are hit there because the wall is so short in terms of distance from home plate, however it is a tall task to actually get the ball high enough over the wall. Being an O's fan, it may be hard to get into the heart of Red Sox nation and snag a ball, but "Impossible is nothing."

2. Watch a Soccer Match at Old Trafford, home of Manchester United.

This is the grandest of stages in terms of professional club soccer overseas. Manchester United is one of the most popular clubs in the world, has a global following, and is ran by the powerful Glazer family. They have been so successful in both the English premier league and also the UEFA championships;they have some of the best soccer players in the world, and have one of the most dedicated fan bases across all sports. Yes, it pretty much rains all the time in England, but if I could watch a game where legends like Wayne Rooney, David Beckham, and Ruud Van Nistelrooy have played, my life would feel complete.

3. Watch a Florida football game in the Swamp.

I'm a Florida Gators fan and even though I don't attend the University, it would be a tremendous experience to watch a college football game at not only a very prestigious football program, but in one of the hardest stadiums to play football in. I've been to my fair share of professional football games, yet I've never been to a Division One college football game, and I can't wait to draw comparisons to the atmospheres.

4. Watch an NCAA National Championship Basketball Game

Every time I watch college basketball, I always want to be at the game. The sense of pride the students have for their respective school makes me feel all giddy inside and I begin to imagine myself at the game. I want to be the one leading the chants, I want to be the one in the student section jumping until my calves give out. What better stage to do this than the National Championship game. Even if the teams involved aren't my favorites, just the fan festivities, and a great basketball game will be enough for me.

5. Attend a Stanley Cup Final game

Hockey is one of the most intense sports out there today, and there isn't quite anything like NHL Playoff hockey. Fans are waving towels like maniacs. The stadium normally is full of one of the home team's primary colors. Fans banging on the glass from the time the players step onto the ice, until the game begins. The first face-off commences, the stadium goes into chaos. The hits are harder, the saves are more acrobatic, the shots are more pinpoint, everything about the NHL playoffs is better. when there is a rivalry, like Alexander Ovechkin vs. Sidney Crosby in the series, it makes it so much more interesting because there are additional story lines that make the series more intriguing.

This is just a short list of what I want to do before I die, so what is yours?

Velasquez vs. Nogueira

 
Source

Tonight's main event for UFC 110 is shaping out to be a battle of interesting styles as Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira  takes on fast-rising Cain Velasquez.

Nogueira is coming off of a thrilling decision win against hall of famer Randy "The Natural" Couture, while Velasquez dismantled heavy puncher Ben Rothwell, with a controversial, yet decisive knockout victory.

Nogueira is known for his submission game. He's a black belt in brazilian jiu-jitsu and he uses all aspects of it to his advantage. He tends to get beat up pretty badly in his fights, yet whenever he is on his back, he is more dangerous than the fighters on to of him. He can find every nook and cranny on the ground in order to get a guillotine, kimora, arm bar, triangle, you name it, he'll use it to submit his opponent. Nogueira isn't the best striker, but his last fight against Couture showed how much his standup has improved. He went toe to toe with a great puncher and wasn't hesitant to bang, and put Couture on the floor several times. His training camp has been working harder than ever to get him in mint condition so that he can be prepared for a  brawl, and also so that he doesn't get too gassed from all of Velasquez's takedown attempts. The key in this fight will be Nogueira's takedown defense, and stand-up game because he clearly has the advantage when hes on the ground.

Velasquez seems to be the complete package for a UFC heavyweight nowadays. He's elusive on his feet and moves like a welterweight. He has enough punching power to surprise brawlers like Cheick Kongo, and Ben Rothwell. He was an All-American wrestler at Arizona State, and he is extremely aggressive in trying to get his opponents down. He's very critical of himself, which gives him that drive to be in top conditioning all the time. He has a quiet confidence about him and always feels like he can improve, which is the attitude of a true champion. He needs to be wary on the ground though, because Nogueira knows how to surprise his opponents like Cain has never seen before. The experience factor can come into play, even though Cain has one his last seven fights. The key for Cain is to get Nogueira to the ground, be cautious when he does so, ground and pound him, and possibly stand him up as much as possible and handle him on the feet.

Prediction: Velasquez by decision 29-28

The NFL's Diva Search

Source: http://broncotalk.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/marshall_pacman.jpg

All the talk going on in the NFL off-season seems to be about Brandon Marshall. However, when watching Sportscenter today, I came across a few other intriguing names at the same position.

Terrell Owens always seems to come up during the off-season. Whether it's debuting a reality show, which was actually entertaining, or discussing where he wants to play football. At 37 years old, Owens is on the tail end of his career, yet his asking price is still high. Even though he had a down year with Buffalo, he still showed his game breaking ability with that 99 yard scamper against the Jacksonville Jaguars. His asking price may be a little too high, and he brings a lot of baggage with his personality, but I'm sure there's at least one GM that wants him. Ochocinco is certainly trying hard to get him in Cincy, but can they afford it?

Then there is Vincent Jackson of the Chargers. He as well as his teammate Malcolm Floyd are on the market for receivers. Jackson obviously posting the better numbers, but Floyd is a similar type of player and cheaper. Jackson has improved his numbers each year that he has been in the league, and this year was no exception. Career highs in yards, receptions, and touchdowns. Although Phillip Rivers' favorite target is still Antonio Gates, Jackson emerged as the go-to guy whenever the Chargers needed a play of at least 20 yards. Floyd is a tremendous leaper that is a go-getter when the ball is lobbed in the air. Both of these players probably won't be teammates next year, and look for Floyd to be the one moved because Vincent Jackson seems too valuable, and makes the receivers around him a lot better.

The two biggest names still have to be Anquan Boldin, but especially Brandon Marshall. Talks about Boldin have slowly drifted away, and with the retirement of Kurt Warner, it seems like they will try to hold onto him even more so than before. He can still only be obtained by a trade, the same goes for Marshall, and he has number one receiver ability, so he wants to be paid like one. The same can be said for Marshall, except his trade talks seem more legitimate. The most logical landing zone for him, other than Denver who has stated that they want him to return, is the Baltimore Ravens. They have what the Broncos want and need: A lineman in Chris Chester or Marshall Yanda, a late first round pick, and a third round pick. However, the Broncos owner still wants Marshall, and that is a lot to ask for from the Ravens.

When March rolls around, all of these players will hopefully have a better idea of where they are playing next year. Until then, we can only speculate and isn't that the beauty of watching sports? Anytime a rumor arises, we always try to plan out the different scenarios in our heads.

ACC: The "Down" Year

 
Source: http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/198089/ncb_g_vasquez1_576.jpg

College basketball has once again been wild this year, but probably the biggest shocker throughout the land is how disappointing the ACC is this year. Or is it? Just because the Dukies, who are currently barely holding first place in the conference over Maryland, aren't as dominant as usual, or the boys from Chapel Hill are near the bottom of the standings, doesn't necessarily make it a bad year.

UNC had to expect to struggle this year, maybe not this badly though. They currently hold a 13-10 record(2-6 in the ACC), and they face arch rival Duke tomorrow. Roy Williams may be one of the greatest coaches in college basketball history, but it's hard to recover a team that lost four starters to the first round of the NBA  Draft. The Heels had to expect this year to be a rebuilding one, but they can't admit that because of the prestige of the program. Plus, they still have the added pressure of not only being a young, inexperienced team, but also the defending National Champions. Tomorrow's game will be interesting to say the least in terms of seeing just how well the young Tarheels play in the best rivalry game in college basketball.

Duke is the other power house that doesn't seem to be so untouchable this year. I honestly think they are a bit overrated myself. Last year, they relied heavily on the three point shot and they either blew teams out, or struggled to find the range. They don't have great size, and no longer have their high flier from last year Gerald Henderson, who carried them in February and March. They now have Nolan Smith who is a similar type of player, yet not as electric. Duke is currently barely holding the ACC lead and a win over North Carolina is what they need, considering Maryland just had their game against Virginia postponed until Monday which could halt their momentum.

The Maryland Terrapins aren't getting the respect they deserve. They are more than just Greivas Vasquez this year. Yes, he is the emotional leader of this team, but he has some help this year. Landon Milbourne, the team's second leading scorer, is putting together a nice senior campaign and always seems to electrify the stadium with a show-stopping dunk. The same can be said for freshman man-child Jordan Williams. Eric Hayes has also surprised people shooting 46% beyond the 3-point line. This team is a lot better this year and it's all thanks to Gary Williams. He was under the fire last season, on the verge of being fired after his illustrious and long career. The team has the same fire that their coach has, and it's a good to see MAryland back in the discussion in the ACC.

Another reason why this year in the ACC isn't so bad is parity. Below are the up-to-date standings of the conference courtesy of theACC.com. It is unusual to see so many teams in the discussion in February in the ACC. Usually UNC, Duke, or Wake Forest are dominating the conference, but not so much this year. Virginia and Virginia Tech are quietly on the rise, and the Hokies are building a decent tournament resume with 18 wins. Clemson has defeated Maryland, yet struggledin their two losses to Duke. Don't sleep on Georgia Tech either, come ACC tourney time, they always perform real big. To me, the ACC this year is the true beauty of college basketball because each week, everything changes.

Conf  Win Pct    Ovr     Win Pct

Duke	7-2	.778	19-4	.826
Maryland	6-2	.750	16-6	.727
Wake Forest	6-3	.667	16-5	.762
Virginia Tech	5-3	.625	18-4	.818
Virginia	5-3	.625	14-7	.667
Florida State	5-4	.556	17-6	.739
Georgia Tech	5-4	.556	17-6	.739
Clemson	4-5	.444	16-7	.696
Boston College	3-6	.333	12-11	.522
North Carolina	2-6	.250	13-10	.565
Miami	2-7	.222	16-7	.696
NC State	2-7	.222	14-10	.583

Super Bowl Sunday

Source: http://btr.michaelkwan.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/superbowl44.jpg

If you're a football fan, this weekend is like a second Christmas for you. The best offense in football against the best QB possibly of all time. Two young coaches that were both in the pursuit of perfection where one took his foot off the gas, and the other actually pursued it. One coach is extremely aggressive and isn't afraid to go for it on fourth down, while the other has a quite confidence about his team. Dwight Freeney is coming into the game with an ankle injury, will he be at full force? So many questions are being asked about this Superbowl because it should be a good one.

Both of these teams have the best quarterbacks in their respective leagues. The Colts have four-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning who has experience in the Superbowl and is a Superbowl Champion. He is also familiar with this scene in Miami because that's where he won his only Superbowl against the Chicago Bears. On the other side, Drew Brees doesn't have a ton of experience in the playoffs, but seems to be ready for the big stage considering this is New Orleans' first ever appearance in a Superbowl. Brees said this about dealing with adversity this week, “You have to go through some tough times and fight through adversity in order to get to this kind of level and have these types of opportunities. Had you not gone through some of those things earlier in the history of this organization or in my own career, you wouldn’t have learned the lessons you learned in order to get herehave that chip on your shoulder or have the motivation we have to be here and take part in the Super Bowl." Even though it is something he never experienced firsthand, Brees is looking at his past experiences as character builders to get him to where he is today.

Both of these teams have strong offenses that spread the ball around to several legit targets both on the ground and through the air. The Saints have a used and need a much better running attack in order establish their rhythm on offense. Early in games, the Saints generally use a series of quick outs to try and get the passing game set up, but it all starts with their running game. As good as Drew Brees is, they need a solid running game to back him up. They have a three headed monster in Mike Bell, Pierre Thomas, and Reggie Bush that have very different running styles respectively, When they get going early, the safeties start to creep up and then Brees takes his shots deep down the field to Marques Colston, Deverey Henderson, and one of the most underrated receivers in the league this year, Robert Meachem. They have two great tight ends that are always open on the outside in Jeremy Shockey, and lesser known David Thomas. Thomas has come up big in the play offs so far, and look for him to be a safety valve for Brees this weekend.

The Colts have their fair share of weapons as well, but they don't need that much of an impact from their running game. However, look for Joseph Addai and rookie running back Donald Brown to make an impact in this one. Addai made a difference in the Colts' last Superbowl appearance, which may be because of the conditions, but even with guys like Will Smith and Anthony Hargrove on the Saints defensive line, the Colts shouldn't be timid to run the ball. Brown is similar to Pierre Thomas in that he has surprising power, and can escape out of the backfield into the flat. Addai is similar to Mike Bell in that he comes straight at you and isn't afraid of contact. Will Smith is a great pass rusher on the Saints, but tends to over pursue on the run a little bit, so when the Colts run, look for them to run at his direction. The Colts main attack will obviously be through their aerial attack. With guys like Austin Collie and "The Haitian Sensation" Pierre Garcon stepping up to assist the already established Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark, it's scary how good the Colts are even after the illustrious career of Marvin Harrison. That Saints secondary is legit with Darren Sharper in playing center field, but they are risk takers and tend to go for interceptions a little too often. Look for Peyton to try and exploit this tendency with seam routes to Dallas Clark, who is an extreme matchup problem for them because no linebacker they have excels in pass coverage.

The defenses of both teams aren't particularly the best in the league, however, they aren't the worst either. The Colts probably have the smallest starting defense in the league. Their front seven seems to be full of linebackers that play defensive line, and strong safeties that play line backer. Their size fools a lot of teams though because they are so much faster than any other defense in the league. Gary Brackett is the most underrated defensive player in the league and always has that big interception or open field hit that gives his defense the momentum. Antoine Bethea has stepped up his play in the secondary even with the loss of Bob Sanders. Of course everyone knows about the two studs on the defensive line, Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney, and expect them to both stud it up, even though Freeney is currently battling an ankle injury. The X factor this week could be linebacker Clint Sessions. He's an OLB that is very quiet on the field like Brackett, yet seems to always have that huge tackle for a loss that changes the complexion of the game. Expect Sessions to not only pressure Drew Brees, but to light up Reggie Bush or Pierre Thomas whenever they try to sneak out of the backfield.

The Saints defense is a bit up and down at times. They have a great defensive line made up of Will Smith and the man that came out of nowhere this year, Anthony Hargrove. They did have CHarles Grant until a triceps injury put him out for the rest of the year. The leaders of this defense that I think will make a difference in this game are middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma, and free safety Darren Sharper. Vilma has played like a man possessed ever since the earthquake in Haiti. The Haitian native is apart of the advertising campaign that the NFL put out in an effort to help the cause for rebuilding the nation. He looks like a protege of a man that went to his alma mater and elevated his play the year they won the Superbowl(I'm of course talking about Ray Lewis). The key for Vilma this week is to be able to move laterally sideline to sideline to cover those short patterns that Peyton likes to dish out to his receivers. Sharper has to not go for the interception too much because if that happens, then Peyton will do to the Saints what he did to the Bears and find Reggie Wayne wide open for a huge touchdown.

This will be an epic battle of great offenses versus defenses that don't get enough appreciation. In the end, expect the Colts to pull away in the fourth quarter. The Saints are the sexy pick, but the reality is the Colts are just a little more dominant.

Prediction: Colts-30 Saints-24

Dirty Dozen

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/sports/photos/2008/10/29/584-ovechkin-semin-cp081001.jpg

The Washington Capitals proved tonight just why they are currently the best team in the NHL. They were slacking off early, quite a disappointing first period against Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers. The Caps' proceeded to step up in the following two periods, while the Rangers didn't give up at all either. The Capitals eventually pulled through in the third period with a tally from young gun Nicklas Backstrom 6-5. The top powerplay in the league was once again on display tonight in New York going 3 for 9 with goals from Alexander Ovechkin, Tom Poti, and Backstrom, two of which( Backstrom and Poti) came in the third period. The Great Eight also had a great night tonight with two goals and an assist. What's even more significant is that Ovi is now at 500 career points in his brief, yet illustrious career. No questions asked, even with unusual contributors like Mike Knuble stepping up during this twelve game win streak, Alexander the Great is the one leading this squad with a new type of intensity.

Ever since Alex has taken the "C" when Chris Clark was traded to Columbus, this team has had a new attitude. They play a lot more aggressive than before, the power play is scary good after barely looking like one earlier this season, and the goaltending efforts of Jose Theodore have been stellar to say the least. Head Coach Bruce Boudreau finally seems to be setting the lines and not scrambling them as much. Although, when at home, scrambling the lines and mixing them up can confuse the away opponent, does it really build chemistry?

When looking at the Capitals now, they seem to have plenty of chemistry, evident especially on their first line of Ovechkin, Backstrom, and Knuble. Bruce has flirted with many of the options the Capitals have that can play on the first line. Tomas Fleischmann is already having a career year, Alexander Semin is having another stellar season, David Steckel is quite the face off man, Brooks Laich is also performing at a high level, as well as many others. It is a tough job trying to find the right places for all these young guys because they are coming out of nowhere. Who would've thought that Jason Chimera, acquired in the trade from Columbus for Chris Clark, would be a serious third line player. How about John Carlson, who is back down at Hershey, the young man who scored the winning goal for the United States in the Junior Championships had a good stint with the Caps while he was up. There is alot of talent on this team and it's scary how good they are.

There are a few things that they could do to improve the team. One, John Carlson and Karl Alzner should be groomed together as a defensive pair. Look at what the Chicago Blackhawks did with Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, two great young defenseman. They are the Hawks' first defensive pair. They are young, talented, not to mention the starting defensive pair for Team Canada in the Olympics. What elevated them to such a status? Chemistry. They played with each other pretty much as soon as they entered the league. They know each others strengths and weaknesses, tendencies, etc. If the Caps can build the same type of chemistry with their two young defenseman, they would be even more dangerous than they are already. Two, even though Jose Theodore is hot, I'm afraid that he may be peaking too early. Maybe I'm a bit pessimistic, but was Varlamov a fluke last year in the playoffs? I still think that there is enough solid goaltending out there for the Caps to potentially grab another fresh body. Finally, the Caps need to stop getting so relaxed when they have early leads. They score so fast they seem to get too comfortable. To me that's a sign of coaching. Bruce Boudreau is a great coach, but I think he can light even more of a fire under this team.

That being said, it is certainly great to be a Capitals fan right now, and there doesn't seem like there's an end to the streak. The only possible road block seems to be the Winter Olympics in stopping this team's momentum. The best thing for the best team in the NHL to do now, take it one game at a time.

OCNN- Trying to Take Over ESPN

Source: http://assets.espn.go.com/media/motion/2009/1026/dm_091026_nfl_ochocinco_int.jpg

Chad Ochocinco is one of those players that you either love him or you hate him. He's one of the flashiest receivers in the league and outrageous is probably an understatement to describe his personality. He calls the NFL the "No Fun League", for not allowing him to perform his extravagant celebrations after he scores a touchdown. He blatantly blasts other players on his Twitter page, and on camera, about what he's going to do to them each and every Sunday. Generally he backs his play up with all the smack that he talks, but that's what the media loves about him. He isn't afraid to express himself and take risks that could drastically affect his image.

Chad is currently in the offseason and has found a new way to occupy his time other than playing Call of Duty and eating McDonald's all the time. He has come out with the OchoCinco News Network. He has assembled a team of superfans, one of whom is Amir from collegehumor.com, and professional players, Ray Rice, Darnell Dockett, and Chris Cooley, to go around like normal media personalities, ask the tough questions, add some entertainment, and get answers.

They previewed OCNN on Youtube with a video that will literally have you laughing out loud. As silly as this idea may sound, they actually have to deal with all the pressures of being a media personality. Their first assignment was Superbowl Media Day on Tuesday, and needless to say it wasn't easy. Chris Cooley complained because it was so hard for him to ask Dallas Clark a question, and they are both fellow tight ends in the NFL. Ochocinco still had to deal with security personnel closing off certain areas of the gathering, something he thought he'd never experience. The whole team seemed to struggle with not being able to always ask their questions completely and have answers to report on.

It seems like a big joke, but I think it's a clever idea to get the players involved in something new and fresh. The Onion is a fictional, yet satirical sports news show that adds humor to the somewhat serious world of sports. OCNN doesn't want to be in this category, but they want to have some similar elements. A lot of NFL players when they retire, look to try and stay in the game any way that they can. There are loads of former players that get a journalism/broadcasting degree just to cover the NFL on NFL Network, ESPN, CBS, FOX, etc. This is a minor step for these players and gives them something to do stress free, fun, and enjoyable in the offseason. If you don't like it, "Child Please!"

Tim Tebow

 
Source: http://16thandhighland.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/teblow2.jpg

Former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow struggled to find a good rhythm last week at the Senior Bowl practices and in the Senior Bowl itself. He struggled with the pro-style offense, taking snaps under center, and his elongated delivery hurt him once again. ESPN Scout's Inc.'s very own Todd McShay has ripped Tim Tebow in recent memory and rightfully so. However, his argument against Tebow has some flaws.

Tebow was a winner in college, yet it seems like the lasting memory of him was this past season when he was seen crying on the sideline with his teammates as they failed to recapture the SEC Championship versus the eventual National Champion Alabama Crimson Tide. People forget that when he was a true freshman, even though he didn't start, he and senior quarterback Chris Leak led the Gators in 2006 with a balanced passing and rushing attack, with Tebow carrying the load running the ball. "The Tebow Option", became headaches for defensive coordinators that year and even though they knew what was coming, they couldn't stop the bull-rushing freshman. They crushed Ohio State in the title game that year, and Tebow was a huge factor.

His next three years defined his career at Florida. 2007 was his Heisman trophy-winning season where he had 67% completion percentage, 3286 yards passing, 32 passing TD's, 895 rushing yards, 23 rushing TD's while averaging 4.3 yards a carry. These numbers may never be seen again, and this was only his first year as a full-time starter. 2008 and 2009 saw declines in his numbers. However, 2008 was when he delivered that memorable speech after the Gators' lone loss to Ole Miss where he said, "You will never see a team play harder the rest of the season." He was right in that bold statement as his leadership and level of play greatly soared after ,making this statement. Many remember the image of him after he ran in that one touchdown against Florida State where he had the warpaint all over himself. He had the fire and desire of an NFL quarterback in that image, and he wanted to prove that his team was truly the hardest working team in the country. THey defeated Oklahoma in the title game that year and shut down the Heisman trophy winner of 2008 Sam Bradford, who is a huge NFL prospect in the upcoming draft. 2009 may have been a disappointing year for Tebow. His worst numbers as a starter, they didn't win the SEC or get back to the National Title, however they did go out on top for both Tim and his coach Urban Meyer, who is taking a medical leave for health issues, against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the Sugar Bowl 51-24.

Todd McShay says the one thing that Tim Tebow has going for him is he has NFL intangibles. He has those instincts that were God-given and that only he has in the NFL draft. He throws a really good ball in terms of out routes and slants. Tebow seems to be a good underneath thrower, his problem is when he starts getting to the intermediate and deep routes. He used to play baseball in high school, so he has the tendencies of a typical baseball player. He winds up more when he's throwing the ball longer down the field. He picks his back leg of the ground instead of fully setting his feet. He doesn't always square himself to whoever his target is, kind of like an outfielder in baseball when they are tracking a ball looking to throw it to a particular target. On the underneath routes, he generally keeps the ball tighter to his head. Even though he has the arm strength to get the ball down the field, it takes him awhile to do so and that is what NFL defensive ends feast on.

Another criticism of him is that he played in a college offense, the spread. Yes, he needs to learn how to take snaps from under center and it's going to take some time to learn because when you're in the shotgun you're high school and college career, going under center is like teaching a toddler how to ride a bike. He will struggle with this at the next level, but here's an interesting thought. There are alot of rumors going around that he should switch his position to h-back because his physical style of play won't work as a quarterback in the NFL. Did critics say the same thing when Miami brought out the Wildcat offense, went 11-5 and won the division? When Vince Young emerged as the starter in Tennessee this season, he and All-Everything RB Chris Johnson, developed a triple option scheme that "isn't supposed to work in the NFL." The 2007 New England Patriots were one of the greatest teams of all time going 18-1 coming up one win short of a perfect season. How did they do it? They put Tom Brady in the Shotgun all year, have him drop back and fire to Randy Moss, Wes Welker, along with the many other weapons on the Patriots that year. Brady had a record 50 passing touchdowns that year in an offense that was similar to a spread offense, like the one Tebow ran in college.

The bottom line is that all that Tim Tebow needs is for one GM to like his style of play and then he'll be a professional quarterback. Many people had their opinions of him before the Senior Bowl went down, and they probably wouldn't have changed anyway regardless of how he played. From the looks of it, the earliest Tebow could go is the second round, but expect him as a day 2 guy either in the 3rd or 4th round. A team like the Buffalo Bills in the second or third round may look at Tebow and think, we can build our offense around this guy. If we beef up our offensive line early, then we can work on getting in Tebow and allow the offense to satisfy both the typical style of offense in the NFL, along with a little bit of Tebow's style. Tebow is a winner, and since Buffalo hasn't made the playoffs since 1999, a winner's attitude is something they need.