Morning Reading: Stopping Tim Tebow

I got a comment once regarding a

How do you stop Tim Tebow? For the most part you don’t. SI.com’s Andy Staples says realistically only two teams have done it: Auburn and Ole Miss. Even though Tebow also lost in starts against LSU, Georgia, and Michigan, Staples says there were other factors contributing to those games and realistically, those defenses didn’t stop the quarterback. Bulldog fans will immediately point to their pummeling of Tebow in 2007 as evidence they controlled him. And they did. But that also had a lot to do with the fact that Urban Meyer and Dan Mullen basically forbid him from running in that game due to an injury.

So how do you stop him? Or at least contain him? Well, as the article details, you: 1) force him to run the ball at least 15 times, 2) spy him with someone who has the size of a sequoia and the speed of a cheetah, and 3) have first-round NFL Draft potential defensive tackles to stop him on short yardage situations. Sound simple? Good luck if you think it is.

Look at what the Gators are dealing with during the 2009 season. At least 15 carries? Tebow could definitely get the ball at least 15 times in any given game. But with each passing season it became less and less likely. In 2007, when Tebow and Percy Harvin were the only offensive options Meyer and Mullen relied upon in many situations, Tebow hit the 15-carry mark eight times. Three of those eight came in Florida losses and two more came in two games the Gators won by only a combined 14 points. In 2008, he only hit the 15-carry mark four times. One came in that loss to Ole Miss, two were in close battles in the SEC Championship Game and National Championship Game, and the only true wildcard was a game in a downpour against FSU. With the collection of talent Tebow has in the backfield with him, don’t expect him to come close to the eight game mark he hit during the 9-4 2007 season.

As for the other two things you need. Gator linebacker Ryan Stamper seems to think Carlos Dunlap is a good choice to check off #2 on your list. Only problem? He plays for Florida and won’t be attempting to bring down Tebow in games. And you can definitely have a great defensive tackle – lots of teams do – but expecting them to do much against Carl Johnson, Maurkice Pouncey, and Mike Pouncey is like hoping you’ll one day be suiting up for your favorite team yourself.

So good luck Florida opponents and try your best. It’ll be fun watching what teams throw at Tebow during the upcoming season.