Tebow, the Option, and the NFL

Why won't the option work in the NFL? The question has been asked many times, and the same answers are used every time. One of the arguments is that NFL quarterbacks can't take the beating that option quarterbacks are required to take. This same argument has been transferred to Tim Tebow now that the Broncos have used the option (fairly successfully) against the Chiefs. Why?

It's very true that the majority of NFL quarterbacks simply would not be able to execute the option down after down, or even a few times every game. These guys get hurt when they're sliding specifically to avoid contact, or during a quarterback sneak (see Schaub, Matt). The name of the game in the NFL today is passing, and risking your primary passer on a run that he is ill-suited for just isn't wise. Indeed, it wouldn't be wise to send this guy running when that clearly isn't his strong suit. The quarterbacks drafted into the NFL are done so with the knowledge that their first and foremost job is to throw the ball, a lot. Even the ones that can run effectively typically only do so when a called passing play breaks down and they improvise. They are called "scramblers" for a reason, because that's when their running skills come into play. There are very few playcalls meant to exploit that part of their skill set.

Which brings us to the Tebow problem. We've known all along that he's not your typical NFL quarterback. So why, when it comes to running the ball, should he be categorized with everybody else? The guy is 6'3" and 236 lbs., which isn't abnormal for an NFL quarterback, but nobody's confusing his body for Matt Schaub's (6'5" 241 lbs.). Why even categorize him with other "running quarterbacks"? Compared to Michael Vick (6'0" 215 lbs.), the pre-eminent example of such a quarterback, he's huge. Whereas most "scramblers" rely on speed and elusiveness, Tebow has always been a punisher. He's not a particularly fast guy, running his 40 yard dash at the combine in 4.72 seconds. Coming out of his prolific college career, there was a wide debate over whether he should stick to quarterback or switch to fullback/H-back. If he was durable enough to play fullback full-time, why can't he run the ball as the quarterback? Does the classification of your position suddenly make you more prone to injury? And if he does get banged up a bit, is it that big of a deal? With other quarterbacks, it is because you're mainly relying on their arm and passing game. Tebow's passing skills are mediocre at best (and that's at their absolute best). John Fox already showed that running this system, you're not really worried about too much production from the passing game (Tebow: 2/8 for 69 yards passing vs. Kansas City). So there's not much worry about protecting your precious commodity in the passing game.

The option, as much as some of us love it, will probably never work on a widespread scale in the NFL. It probably won't be very effective for long even with Tebow and these Broncos. (A small sample size so far, and the Chiefs are terrible. One game doesn't prove much one way or the other.) There are many reasons for this, but in the case of Tebow it shouldn't be said that the beating is too much.