Is Loeffler to blame for Tebow’s struggles?

There are a lot of factors that determine the success of a college quarterback. The most prominent of all is whether or not he wins games – and Florida Gators senior Tim Tebow wins games. So tossing that fact, his 2007 Heisman Trophy and back-to-back Maxwell Awards aside, I wanted to take an look at what has been going on with Tebow this season. Especially one day after discussing offensive coordinator Steve Addazio.

If you don’t think Tebow is struggling, think again. While his completion percentage is consistent with career numbers, his passer rating is down almost 19 points from 2007 and 2008. He has as many interceptions in 10 games (4) as he did through the entire 2008 season and is on pace to be sacked more times in 2009 than he has been in his first three seasons – combined. After throwing for 2,746 yards in 2008, he is projected to finish with 500 less in 2009. And finally, after passing for 30 or more touchdowns in each of the last two years, he only has 10 right now.

There have been issues this year. Play calling, especially in the red zone, has been a problem as head coach Urban Meyer has admitted. The offense as a whole lacks an explosive playmaker like now-Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin. (Freshman Andre Debose was supposed to fill some of that role.) Perhaps the bigger issue at hand is the tinkering done to Tebow by new quarterbacks coach Scot Loeffler.

Loeffler was hired to improve Tebow’s skills, but has he? After the jump…

Loeffler comes from a strong background and can boast plenty of experience and success. He coached Tom Brady and Chad Henne while with the Michigan Wolverines, after all. And while Brady, Henne and Tebow all possess that “winning” quality, Tebow is not a pure pocket passer like the other two. He has a different set of skills and wins games with his legs as well as his arm. Loeffler was added to the staff after former offensive coordinator and QB coach Dan Mullen left in order to hold down the latter position, assist in recruiting talented players and improve Tebow’s mechanics while molding him into an NFL-ready quarterback.

What I have seen as a result of Loeffler’s teachings is someone in Tebow who is taking longer to make decisions, not going through his progressions, struggling to get the ball out on time and rarely wanting to throw it away when under pressure. It is also quite obvious that Tebow’s throwing motion, which was supposed to quicken after Loeffler taught him to throw more overhand with a higher release point, is perhaps even slower.

There are other mitigating factors in this discussion. Tebow suffered a concussion, and his return was under intense media scrutiny – but that was two months ago. The offensive line (which is still being shifted around) is not providing him anywhere near the protection he was afforded in 2008. I can also count at least five touchdowns (many of which were also for big yardage) that were simply dropped – not Tebow’s fault.

In the end, you have to commend the guy for putting it all on his shoulders. Senior WR Riley Cooper drops/misses two catchable touchdowns? Tebow says he didn’t throw the ball perfectly. He gets stopped on a fourth down? Never mind that the offensive line didn’t open a hole for him – Tebow says he didn’t hit it hard enough. Such accountability and leadership is rare to find in college football. I’m just curious if Loeffler finds himself at all accountable for (or at least able to correct) Tebow’s recent issues.