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Stopping Tebow Is Now FSU's Concern

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By SCOTT CARTER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 24, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - At his weekly news conference Monday, Florida State defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews apologized to the assembled media after opening with some comments about FSU's victory against Maryland two days earlier.

"I'm sorry I wasted five minutes for you," Andrews said.

Andrews knew the FSU-Florida game was on everyone's mind, and more specifically, questions about how the Noles planned to stop Gators quarterback and Heisman favorite Tim Tebow. When asked if there was a blueprint to follow in slowing Tebow down, Andrews quickly fired back a Bobby Bowden-like quip.

"Yeah, but you get put into jail for it," Andrews said. "They don't let you do that."

Unfortunately for the Noles, they don't allow 12 players on defense either, so they'll have to try to limit the damage done by Tebow the old-fashioned way, 11-on-11. That won't be easy, since Tebow accounts for 72 percent of the Gators' 454.8 total yards a game and he has run or thrown for 46 of Florida's 64 touchdowns.

"We like challenges," said FSU linebacker Dekoda Watson. "If you want to get your name out, this is a game you need to play to the best of your ability."

Shortly after Andrews hinted that about the only way you can stop Tebow is by illegal means, linebacker Geno Hayes made his now infamous "Tim Tebow is going down" comment. For the Noles to do that, Hayes said they must limit the big plays the 6-foot-3, 235-pound sophomore from Jacksonville makes running the ball.

"I've never played against a big quarterback who has the running ability he has," Hayes said. "It's going to be fun to see how that goes. If we get caught in a man-to-man coverage every now and then, he can take off running. That's probably the main thing that concerns us."

In Florida's 21-14 victory against FSU last season, Tebow was on the field for only eight plays, accounting for 3 yards. To defend him, Andrews devised a plan that had former FSU linebacker Lawrence Timmons shadowing Tebow's every move. Andrews isn't saying if he'll do the same this season, considering Tebow's role is much greater.

"You probably could, but there's no assurance you're going to tackle him when you spy him," Andrews said. "You take a man out of coverage, and you take a man out of pressure when you do that. It seems like to me you need all of them. I don't know how you stop him."

Reporter Scott Carter can be

reached at (850) 294-3088

or scarter@tampatrib.com.

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