Tebow struggles in first Senior Bowl practice

MOBILE, Ala. -- Tim Tebow's struggles during the first day of Senior Bowl practices on Monday provided little evidence he can turn his collegiate accolades and rock star status into NFL success.

More than 50 of college football's best senior prospects were on the Fairhope Stadium field, but the Florida Gators quarterback was the focus for most in attendance.

Tebow spent the past two weeks at D1 Sports Training in Franklin, Tenn., working with renowned quarterback coach Zeke Bratkowski in an attempt to tighten up his mechanics. Scouts were unsure whether the time spent there and at the Senior Bowl could answer questions about the elongated throwing motion and footwork he displayed over four seasons in Gainesville.

"Nothing he's going to do here is going to change the impression he's made the past four years," explained one NFL scout who works for a team considered likely to draft a quarterback in the first few rounds this April.

Former Redskins head coach Jim Zorn, a mobile passer himself during his NFL career and respected throughout the league as one of the game's top quarterback coaches, was on hand for Tebow's work with the South team.

"[Tebow is] highly competitive," Zorn said. "I think he's going to be available to all 32 teams, I think, and everybody's really going to scrutinize -- the one thing everybody is going to talk about is his release. It's a little elongated and things like that, but he's got all the intangibles, all the things needed. You just have to decide how that's going to look for your football team.

"I haven't been able to put a real evaluation on him. I think it would be unfair for me to give an opinion. Sometimes, at this present time, opinions are labels. Like I said, 'Elongated release.' All of a sudden, 'Uh-oh.' But those things can be coached. All of these players have to be coached. That's what we're for. Not to make them into machines or robots, but to get them to be more efficient.

"The thing that you can't coach in him is right in his heart," Zorn said while patting his chest. "That's a big issue."

An eruption of cheers as Alabama coach Nick Saban entered the stadium provided little distraction from the star of the show. Despite the location of the stadium, there were more Tebow Gators jerseys in the stands than those with Alabama and Auburn colors.

In a stadium packed to near full capacity and with fans cheering his name, Tebow did sparkle at times, drilling a quick slant to former teammate Riley Cooper and lofting arguably the day's best throw down the seam to USC tight end Anthony McCoy. However, Tebow also sprayed balls high and outside on deep outs and forced receivers to alter their routes to make the catch.

Tebow also struggled with the exchange from center and in dropping back. He fumbled a few snaps early and was slow in getting depth from the line of scrimmage.

On a positive note, he made it a point to remain in the pocket and scan the field for secondary options when his initial read was covered. Too often, however, Tebow elected to check down and toss the ball to his backs for minimal gains.

Brown impresses among QBs

West Virginia quarterback Jarrett Brown was actually the more impressive prospect Monday. The 6-3, 219-pounder patiently waited for his turn to start behind Pat White while with the Mountaineers, but has a live arm and seemed more comfortable as the practice went on dropping back from center.

Brown, like the other two South quarterbacks, is making the transition to taking snaps from the center rather than out of the shotgun. He was particularly accurate on drag routes and most deep outs. He went to the deep-out one time too many, however, and Oklahoma State cornerback Perrish Cox broke on the ball for what would have been a pick-six.

Oklahoma State's Zac Robinson had the type of day fans love, but leave scouts unimpressed. He showed great touch in lofting touchdown passes down the sideline that drew oohs and ahhs from the crowd, but struggled putting zip on the ball. His deep outs tended to sail and it's questionable whether he has the arm strength to fit the ball in tight spaces in the NFL.

The inconsistency from the South quarterbacks was not unexpected. Not only are they making the transition to a pro-style offense, they've had no time to develop a rapport with their receivers.

Nerves also seemed to affect the South receivers on the opening day of practices.

Trying to catch on

Cooper was the most sure-handed of the wideouts. His 6-3, 214-pound frame gives him an immediate advantage over cornerbacks and he used his strength and quick hands to quickly gain a release from press coverage. His lack of elite downfield speed, however, allowed corners to shadow him closely, forcing perfect throws the South quarterbacks.

The most consistent route runner of the day might have been Andre Roberts from The Citadel. He has quick feet and generally soft hands. He showed particularly good body control to contort to a wide slant route from Jarrett Brown, but also let one glance off his hands shortly thereafter. He also could not corral a deep ball after taking a vicious hit from USC free safety Taylor Mays.

Former Alabama-Birmingham quarterback Joe Webb was moved to wide receiver for this week's practices, and his inexperience showed. He had an opportunity for a big play early in practice, beating Cox with a double move to get deep, but after initially catching the ball, he allowed the former Cowboys cornerback to rip it from his hands to break up the pass. Webb's 6-3, 223-pound frame will intrigue scouts, but he lacks explosiveness and struggled with drops.

In the opinion of some, Webb isn't the only former collegiate quarterback who should be playing another position this week.

"Every team is going to have to do their own evaluating of [Tebow]," said Randy Mueller, the former general manager of the Saints and now a front-office executive with the Chargers. "Regardless of what teams feel about his ability as a quarterback, there is no denying his leadership ability. He's the type of player every team needs."

True measure of a man

College football teams are notorious for exaggerating the heights, weights and speeds of their athletes. The official weigh-in and measurements at all-star games and the Scouting Combine provide a truer picture of each player's actual size.

Players who disappointed during the weigh-ins included Robinson and Cincinnati quarterback Tony Pike. At nearly 6-6, Pike weighed only 212 pounds. His skinny build won't do much to convince scouts that he'll be more durable in the NFL than he has proven while with the Bearcats. Similarly, Robinson, who was listed by Oklahoma State at 6-3, 218 pounds, instead came in just over 6-2 and 210 pounds.

Pike's teammate, wide receiver Mardy Gilyard, also came in very light. While certainly elusive, scouts wonder if he'll be able to get off press coverage in the slot at only 179 pounds.

Tight end/fullback 'tweeners Dorin Dickerson (Pittsburgh) and Garrett Graham (Wisconsin) also came in smaller than expected. Dickerson, originally listed at 6-2, 230 pounds, was instead 6-1, 222, and Graham (6-3, 250) only weighed 234 pounds.

On the flip side, Florida State outside linebacker Dekoda Watson, boasting arguably the most impressive physique of either roster, surprised by measuring in at 6-2, 232 pounds. He had been listed by the Seminoles at 226 pounds and some scouts had estimated that he'd actually weigh in fewer than 220.

NFL teams looking for bullish backs will be certain to keep an eye on Mississippi State's Anthony Dixon and Oregon's LaGarrette Blount, who each measured in at an eye-popping 245 pounds. Their weight certainly wasn't due to extra slices of pizza following their seasons. Trim waistlines and thick lower bodies should aid in their transition to the NFL.

Utah pass rusher Koa Misi, who played defensive end for the Utes, seems to be taking his likely conversion to outside linebacker seriously. Expected to be 6-2, 263, Misi instead came in nearly an inch taller and at a relatively svelte 243 pounds.

Guards Jon Asamoah (Illinois) and John Jerry (Mississippi) each weighed in lighter than expected. Asamoah had been listed by Illinois at 6-5, 315 pounds, but actually came in at 6-4, 300. Jerry was listed by Ole Miss at 6-6, 335, but had reportedly seen his weight balloon to over 350 at times. He came in at 6-5½ and 332 pounds Monday. We'll see if the drop in weight makes him even more athletic, without sacrificing his power.

The smallest player measured was Ole Miss all-purpose star Dexter McCluster, who measured in at a shade over 5-8 and at 165 pounds. Not surprisingly, Alabama nose guard Terrance Cody was the heaviest player, tipping the scales at 370 pounds. Cody's sloppy build will move him down some teams' boards. Notre Dame offensive tackle Sam Young, the last man measured, was the tallest player at 6-7¾ and 305 pounds.

Rob Rang is a Senior Editor for NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by The Sports Xchange.