Tim Tebow Impresses Matt Cavanaugh: New York Jets QB Coach 'Pleasantly Surprised'

By Terry McCormick, National Football Post

Tim Tebow has caught the eye of New York Jets quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh, who believes the new acquisition can become "a very good" quarterback.

Cavanaugh told the New York Daily News he has been impressed with Tebow, who came in a trade in March from the Denver Broncos.

“I think he can be very good,” Cavanaugh told the Daily News. “I was pleasantly surprised when I saw him over an extended period of time . . . not just watching him play on film. I think he’s certainly got the arm strength. He has good mechanics. They’re getting better every day.”

One other aspect of Tebow's game that has impressed Cavanaugh is, not surprisingly, the quarterback's work ethic.

“He doesn’t let a day go by when he’s not focused on trying to get better at something,” Cavanaugh said. “When you’re in that role as a backup, you take every rep, every drill, every offseason practice or meeting to get better. . . . The playing time? Nobody knows how much it’s going to be. So I don’t think we worry about that.”

Tebow will continue to work as the Jets backup behind starter Mark Sanchez, but will also have a special package in game plans each week and will have other duties, such as special teams.

Follow me on Twitter @TitanInsider247 and @terrymc13

Terry McCormick covers the Titans for TitanInsider.com

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Comments

[Killermolls44]

02:49 PM on 05/19/2012

And then the second there's pressure on the field, he will go back to throwing like a blind school girl.

[bagelmart]

09:44 PM on 05/17/2012

Mark is a marked man.

[nygcruz80]

04:39 PM on 05/16/2012

Do what ya gotta do TT....Your OK by me..

[ldjwood]

01:02 PM on 05/16/2012

Tebow is a fine young man that has proved he can play and win in the NFL.
He's a winner! and no critic is ever going to change that!

[MerthinBuff]

01:55 PM on 05/17/2012

Right now he is a loser, since his last game played he lost.

[bagelmart]

09:44 PM on 05/17/2012

LOL.. in other words, every team except the Giants are losers.

[CivilDebate10]

12:10 AM on 06/05/2012

Oh good grief... that makes Tom Brady the same?

[CANTHATBE]

12:34 PM on 05/16/2012

Well what else can the QB coach say. He can't say the GM and Owner don't have a clue about what they are doing.

[dlkillinois]

09:45 AM on 05/16/2012

I'd like to see him as a tight end, actually.

[ray77]

08:48 AM on 05/16/2012

This is perfect, Sanchez needed a little push. This will only make him better , or not!
At this level, if you can't take the heat , get out of the kitchen!

[dlkillinois]

09:46 AM on 05/16/2012

Sanchez needs a little push, and to not be terrible. I could see this move making sense in that way if you brought in a backup quarterback that could... throw... a football.

Weird way to put the fire under someone's rear...

[AliveInNYC]

08:23 AM on 05/16/2012

This is going to be a disaster for the Jets. As soon as Sanchez has a bad game, people are going to be screaming for Tebow.

No chance the Jets make the playoffs this year, with either QB starting.

[Bados]

04:33 AM on 05/16/2012

He looks better than on game film? LOL Uhh you might want to go with how he looks when he's actually playing as opposed to tossing it around in a helmet and a t shirt.

[Meerkatx]

12:36 AM on 05/16/2012

I'm glad the coach has nice things to say about Tebow. It's just a shame he's taking up a QB slot on a team when he can't actually play the position with any sort of ability that would qualify as professional. He should be a tight end or full back on a team if they really wanted to be realistic about his actual football ability.

[gixxerman]

12:10 AM on 05/16/2012

@FeatherH - I say he is a fraud because he delivers that tired speech about working hard, getting to the gym before everyone and leaving after everyone, and but not limited to not letting anyone outwork him. Those are standard work ethics that the majority of all athletes believe and practice. His press conference as a backup shows you how much of the spotlight that he craves, everything he even says is scripted (he said excited 1,000,000 times). I'm just waiting to hear the excuse come next season when trying to explain why his failures were caused by someone else. He has to be the only athlete in history who is judged more for the things he does away from his sport instead of what he actually does during a game.

[Mark Helfgott]

12:00 AM on 05/16/2012

Come on, everybody in town is laughing at this Hail Mary zelot. I don't care what he believes. Neither does anyone else I know.

[ArgumentativePatti]

11:56 PM on 05/15/2012

I think he'll be the next Michael Vick. Minus the dogs.

[Meerkatx]

12:38 AM on 05/16/2012

Vick can play quarterback in the NFL, Tebow can't.

[nygcruz80]

04:41 PM on 05/16/2012

Why dont you give TT a bit more of a chance...You know as well as I do, that hes a a rookie at best..Cut him some slack...Sanchez isnt no qb either..believe that

[Bados]

04:19 AM on 05/16/2012

Once he learns how to throw with a hint of accuracy, gets some velocity on the ball and learns to read defenses,...... well he'll still be light years away.

Good job on the I really just wanted to mention Vick and dogs accomplishment.

[Kid Notorious]

11:47 PM on 05/15/2012

I can't speak for everyone, but I dislike him because my ex went to Florida and thought he was god's gift to football...

...Just me?

[nygcruz80]

04:42 PM on 05/16/2012

Pretty stupid reason to hate somebody.

[Kid Notorious]

04:58 PM on 05/16/2012

Did I say hate?

Also, the Giants suck. Blah blah blah Super Bowl.. My lowly Seahawks beat 'em.

[tundra599]

11:10 PM on 05/16/2012

It's sports. We can love or hate for any reason at all. I dislike Vince Young just because he went to UT and I can't stand the Longhorns. Doesn't mean he sucks (well actually, he does kind of suck. bad example hahaha).

[aubonpain]

10:08 PM on 05/15/2012

I don't understand the derision given this young man. His coaches are lauding his work ethic, his preparedness, his winning attitude, and all you all can do is put him down? This clearly is bigotry against his religious views. May he do well and win you over.

[Rubyredman]

10:51 PM on 05/15/2012

You should go back and read your own tagline, "How about some common sense?".

Instead of crying religious bigotry (Try being a Muslim or Sikh in America buddy!), you may want to try and understand that in a pass happy league, geared towards the QB's favor he can barely complete half his passes. He lines up with single coverage against his receivers almost every single play because there are 8 men and sometimes 9 guys "in the box" playing run and Tebow can only complete 47% of his passes. I think NE taught everyone in the league how to play him - get a lead and treat him like a QB and make him throw the ball.

And please stop with the "He's a winner!" crap. He only beat 1 short-handed team with a winning record. He lost the last his 4 out of 5 games and only had 1 touchdown in 3 of the games he won.

I have nothing against his religion or anyone elses. To each their own.

But I do have a problem with this guy being made the "poster boy" for the league, when there are so many more deserving players being ignored. He is being set up to fail big time and that really sucks.

PS I think he has more to offer this world than playing football. I look forward to how he serves people in his life beyond the gridiron. That is; in my humble opinion, his greatest gift.

[Bados]

04:24 AM on 05/16/2012

F & F

[aubonpain]

09:05 PM on 05/16/2012

I agree with you about his legacy. To be a winner isnt necessarily only about winning games. It can be about inspiring winning with a great attitude, willingness to show how hard he trains to others, being a binding element. Are there greater players? Certainly....but that doesnt seem to be what bothers most people about him.

[Meerkatx]

12:39 AM on 05/16/2012

I have no problem with Tebow the football player. I have issues with teams still trying to make us believe in Tebow the quarterback. He's not able to actually play the position at a professional level.