Notebook: Comparing Burton to Tebow

[MahxFahn]

As a true freshman, Trey Burton is making an impact on the Florida football team similar to the one Tim Tebow made in 2006.

Tebow did it running, throwing, producing touchdowns and leading in his prominent backup role to senior quarterback Chris Leak.
Burton is doing it sharing time at quarterback with John Brantley and contributing at three other positions — fullback, slot receiver and tight end. In eight games, he's already scored 11 touchdowns (Tebow had 13 for the season in '06).
On Wednesday, UF coach Urban Meyer was asked if he could compare the value Burton has to this year's team to Tebow's value to the '06 team that won the national championship.
"Tremendous value," Meyer said. "I don't know if I can do that because they're both unique guys. I think very similar because they brought so much to this team.
"We went through (Burton's) job description yesterday when we were game-planning, and it should be illegal what we ask that kid to do. The fact he can do it all and still manage taking the shotgun snap and run this offense at a high level, that's enough.
"The fact we've got him playing all the other positions, it's just a marvel. He's a tremendous player."
Given the fact Burton is now sharing time with Brantley and still playing at the other positions, is his value bigger than what Tebow's was to the 2006 team?
"I can't make that," Meyer said. "I can't and I won't make that (comparison) because I don't know."


Meyer on Brantley's production
Meyer was asked Wednesday if he was disappointed that Brantley has thrown only six touchdown passes this season and none in the past four games, to go along with five interceptions.
"It's a little disappointing," Meyer said. "To say it's all on John Brantley. ... We've had a lot of issues. I don't believe. ... As a matter of fact, I know it's not all on John Brantley. It's on a lot of young players, injuries and we haven't performed well.
"(Brantley) is handling it like a grown man. I think he's getting better. He played one of his best games Saturday (against Georgia). I'm anxious to see him play an even better game this Saturday."
ORIGIN.....

 

[robdog]

Kid can straight up play. Going to be interesting to see how he develops over the next couple of years.

 

[DRU2012]

Take a look at Escambria94's breakdown @ "Spread QB Comparison"-thread. The implications/possibilities (which we go on to discuss) are huge.

 

[Leakfan12]

The big differences is Leak was better and so was the offense.

 

[crmixon]

Burton's a beast right enough. The team seems to be lacking in on field leadership and fire. If he develops into his leadership potential then he will be huge as a gator.

 

[DRU2012]

I want to look ahead, try to see things in terms of how best to use who and what we've got, and above all to get better. I truly believe that the raw material is there for this team to be dynamic on offense; it is therefore to a great extent up to the coaching staff. If it's going to happen, they will be responsible for getting it done--choosing the personnel packages and what they'll run is a big part of that.
In that light, take a look at Urban Meyer's comments regarding the two different QBs. Don't you think that by his own analysis, Burton is "the guy"? I like the "3-headed-monster" approach they unveiled last Sat., and look forward to seeing it further developed (they used it sparingly after that first series), but I also feel Burton needs to be given more time in control of drives, running AND passing, when the situation calls for that approach.
I'm tired of trying to answer why things have gone the way they've gone, been done the way they've been done, why this guy is or isn't working out, and so on. It's time to start making choices that improve on-the-field performance. Some of them are easier than others, if you go by performance. The more "other factors" dominate, the further off course this program will drift.

 

[GainesvillebornNraised]

burton throws look pretty weak imo i dont like him as our next starter much more then i like JB :no:

reed on the other hand i remember tossing it pretty good in the spring game

 

[Escambia94]

MSU QB Chris Relf's throws are pretty weak, and he has a 50% completion average. His team has more wins than us, is ranked, and beat us in a shootout. Stop laughing. 10-7 is a shootout with our situation. Any way, if Relf can sissy throw and battering ram his way through the SEC West, there is no reason to believe Burton cannot do the same in the East. The difference is that I think Burton is coachable and could improve to be better than Relf. Now, look at Brantley's numbers outside a vacuum and tell me that he is much better than Relf.

Burton could be the starter, just as Reed could. Make all three co-starters. Doesn't matter. Next year, bring in a fourth QB. Have a whole offense of QBs. Who knows? Replace the entire offensive line with QBs that can run and throw, since they sure as heck can't block. Pouncey passes the ball pretty well as a center. Put him in at QB.

Weak throws or not, Burton will get better with time and coaching.

 

[DRU2012]

I know there has to be SOME reason Burton's STILL seen as an "athlete" by the coaches...
Still, bet he's fine out to 15 or 20 yards--with imaginative play-calling, that would serve the purpose, especially with the "No Huddle" and/or the "3-Headed-Monster" offenses the coaches have been tinkering with, and talk about continuing to phase in. Add to that JB actually THROWING LONG now and then and, well, with some of our proven playmakers back this offense COULD outscore practically anyone, in theory.
Just trying to find cause for hope and optimism in the reality at hand. It ALL depends on coaching, so take your pick if that's going to work for or against all of the above.

 

[DRU2012]

@ Escambia94:
Wait a minute, man--you could be on to a fundamental shift in how offense is played! I'm seeing big ol' Pouncey with his back to the D and opposing guys hanging off him, SNAPPING passes to the sidelines (he aims to the middle--we run receivers out to either side). QBs all over the field. Everyone might throw it to anyone, ANYTIME. On 4th downs outside the 30, we sneak Chas Henry out there, bringing back the "Dropkick" when we have to settle for 3's. Brilliant!

 

[GainesvillebornNraised]

jordan reed i really think could be a beast he kills burton in size and he's prolly pretty close in speed, def harder to take down he could stiff arm alot of corners for another 3 or 4 yards

 

[Escambia94]

@ Escambia94:
Wait a minute, man--you could be on to a fundamental shift in how offense is played! I'm seeing big ol' Pouncey with his back to the D and opposing guys hanging off him, SNAPPING passes to the sidelines (he aims to the middle--we run receivers out to either side). QBs all over the field. Everyone might throw it to anyone, ANYTIME. On 4th downs outside the 30, we sneak Chas Henry out there, bringing back the "Dropkick" when we have to settle for 3's. Brilliant!

Do you remember Burton's rushing TD where you could not tell if the snap was meant for Burton or Rainey? I think Dazzler Addazio invented that one--just snap the ball and hope any of your three QBs, or two RBs/WRs field the snap. Up next: when Sturgis is healthy we are going to have Pouncey on special teams long snapping to two kickers/placeholders. The opponents won't know which kicker to chase. One kicker will be lined up on the hash and the other will be lined up elsewhere for the dropkick, since the rules state one can dropkick from anywhere. It's going to be awesome.