Tim Tebow explains how valid personal comparisons are with Jake Fromm, Justin Fields
By Keith Farner
Published:
Not long after Justin Fields committed to Georgia, the comparisons with Tim Tebow and Chris Leak trickled in as fans and media wondered how Fields would split time with incumbent starter Jake Fromm.
The 2006 Florida season is a valid comparison to the 2018 Georgia season, Tebow said in Atlanta on Friday before the SEC Championship Game between Alabama and Georgia.
Fields has been used differently this season for the Bulldogs, and much more as a runner than a passer. In fact, he has more rushes (39) than passing attempts (38) as he’s appeared in every game this season, but against Florida.
Fields has 260 rushing yards and four TDs, while he is 27-for-38 passing for 328 yards and four TDs. But for the most part, the playbook has been relatively open for Fields, even as a freshman, and especially compared with Tebow.
“There’s definitely some similarities, but I think the way Urban used me and how they used Fields —they’re a little bit different,” Tebow said, according to UGASports.com. “I was used more in third and short and the red zone, which we were trying to get more toward, but I feel like we had more of a plan of attack. It was something we practiced and I feel like they’ve still been figuring out how they are going to use him.”
Fields hasn’t seen a marked improved in number of carries or passing attempts, as he’s played generally the same amount of time in most games since the beginning. That’s another difference between him and Tebow.
“When I played, from the third game on against Tennessee, we found some things that really worked, kept doing it more and more. We changed it based on game plans,” Tebow said. “For Georgia, they’ve been figuring out exactly how to use him, and exactly what plans they’re going to use.”
While a so-called quarterback controversy was promoted by people outside of the program, especially early on in the season, Tebow maintained that Fromm was the clear-cut starter throughout, and specific areas where he’s excelled.
“I think he’s shown he’s dynamic; he’s capable,” Tebow said. “But at the same time, Fromm is the dude. Fromm is really good, and I don’t think he gets enough credit. I don’t think he gets enough credit for how smart he is, how he never throws the ball in harm’s way, how he reads coverages, and how he makes it look easy out there.”
There has been some discussion about a possible Fields transfer after the season, but Tebow said while it can work in some cases, it’s not as easy as it may look from the outside.
“It will be interesting see what Fields does, although I think he’ll probably stay,” Tebow said. “Kirby has done a good job, but it’s hard managing that. That’s what happens when you recruit a lot of really good ones, man. They want to play. I think he’s done a good job managing it. But it’s a tough situation, especially when you see more and more quarterbacks leaving, and this year a lot of the best ones were transfers,” Tebow said. “Will Grier (West Virginia), Kyler Murray (Oklahoma)—they went other places to find a spot, and honestly it’s not something I knock.”
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
