For fanatical football fans like myself, the news that the NFL was going to allow fans to start watching coaches' film online was very welcome. Unfortunately for Denver Broncos fans, it comes a year too late. While we can marvel this year at the skill of Peyton Manning fitting a ball into an opening that doesn't seem to be there on film, we will have missed the chance to fully dissect what happened with Tim Tebow in 2011.
The reason why coaches film is so much better than the regular game we watch on television is that all 22 players on the field will be visible at the same time. It's much easier to see how plays develop and see why some fail and some succeed. In the past fans have been forced to watch whatever the television networks want us to see and nothing more. Now we'll be able to see what they see. Of course, fans won't know the play call or know where the ball is supposed to go. We won't be able to see the quarterback's eyes to know what he's looking at and what he sees.
With that being said, that kind of film being made available to fans would have been very helpful in 2011 to Denver Broncos fans. With the city divided between those that supported Tim Tebow and those that opposed him, extra evidence in the form of game film would have been very helpful in deciding just how good or bad he was. Supporters of Tim Tebow would have you believe that he was dealing with an inferior offensive line and terrible wide receivers who couldn't get open.
I always thought that was a bogus claim, and I think it's backed up by the fact that the Broncos' two top receivers and their entire starting offensive line is back in 2012 to play with Peyton Manning. Had they been that bad, it's likely that they would have been replaced like Tebow. In 2011, there were several times when it looked like Tebow was supposed to make a pass after a quick three-step drop that he would then pull back down. The play then typically ended with a sack.
If I had access to coaches tape, what I could have done was make a note of the play and the time in the game that it occurred. I could have then noted on the tv coverage what direction Tebow was facing and who was the receiver in that area. From the coaches film, I would then be able to evaluate whether or not the receiver looked to be open. Had the player truly been covered, I would have given Tebow the credit for not forcing a throw. Unless the NFL decides to make 2011 film available at some point, fans of Tebow will never truly have objective evidence of whether or not he's as good as they think he is.
You can be sure that I'll be evaluating the tape if Tebow is put into the game as quarterback for the New York Jets. Until then, I'll be pretty busy admiring Peyton Manning's superior throwing ability.
Julie is a fanatical football fan and a featured NFL contributor for the Yahoo Contributor Network. She began following the Denver Broncos in 2001 upon moving to Colorado. She's also not ashamed to admit that she was one of those who stood outside Broncos headquarters when Manning first came to interview with the team.
No comments:
Post a Comment