NFL Network's Mike Mayock today offered his opinion on the player who may go down as the most scrutinized pro prospect ever, Tim Tebow. Mayock on the Dan Patrick Show predicted that the Florida quarterback, who struggled at times during last month's Senior Bowl, will fare very well during the interviews at the combine. Mayock thought Tebow probably would be selected in the second round, although he thought he should be a third-round prospect.
Said Mayock: "If I had a third-round pick and I wanted to develop a quarterback for two years. ... If I could shorten that (throwing) motion down and get his footwork together, and if the kid's willing to work at it - three years from now, do I believe I have a kid who I believe can win football games? Yeah, I would take a shot on him."
The 49ers used that reasoning in selecting Nate Davis in the fifth round last year. Davis looked very promising in the preseason last year, which is why I don't think the 49ers will draft Tebow or any other quarterback in a weak quarterback class. One scenario in which the 49ers could draft a QB: They were so impressed with Davis that they think he can take over the No. 2 role from Shaun Hill this season. I suppose that could happen, but the team's overall attitude on offense has been one of caution. Elevating Davis, who took almost no practice snaps during the regular season, to No. 2 might be too bold a move for Jimmy Raye and the 49ers.
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Speaking of throwing the ball ... Teams that were good at it made the postseason in 2009. Eight out of the top 10 passing offenses belonged to playoff teams. The two teams in the top 10 that didn't make the postseason - Houston (No. 1-ranked passing offense) and Pittsburgh (No. 9) -- finished 9-7 and were in the playoff hunt until the very end of the season.
I'm not arguing that teams that like to run the ball can't do damage in the playoffs. The New York Giants won a Super Bowl two years ago doing just that. But in recent years the postseason has been trending toward putting the ball in the air. In 2005, for example, three of the top 10 passing offenses were in the playoffs. In 2006, that number rose to four and in 2007 it was five. In 2008 five of the top 10 passing offenses made the postseason, including the NFC Champion Cardinals, who had the second-best passing offense in the league and the worst rushing offense.
-- Matt Barrows
