Tim Tebow suggests Florida balance DJ Lagway's playing opportunities vs. Texas A&M
Tim Tebow and Roman Harper disagree on how or how much that Florida should utilize DJ Lagway this weekend.
The pair spoke about the Gators’ freshman quarterback to open ‘The Paul Finebaum Show’ on Friday.
For Tebow, he has all the belief in the world in Lagway, especially as his collegiate career continues on in the future. However, putting the weight of being their starter at this moment of their season in this important of a game to their record feels like a lot for his present.
“I think DJ is really someone that can handle the pressure. He’s an incredibly poised, mature young man,” said Tebow. “He is exciting, he is mature, he’s poised, and he’s athletic. He’s got a chance to be a superstar.”
“He is the future of Florida and the future looks bright with him. But, also, how can you handle, encourage, and prepare for the future and prepare this young man to handle that without giving him all of the pressure all at once?” Tebow asked. “I think there’s a balance with letting him play, letting him gain experience.”
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Tebow especially feels this way because of this opponent and their defense with Texas A&M. He’s concerned that, at his age, Lagway isn’t going to be able to handle what is going to come his way. That’s in contrast to the veteran who could at least better understand what he’s looking at.
“We have to understand, if it gets in the game, it’s second or third and long and Florida can’t run the ball? Then Mike Elko is going to be dialing up so many different pressures that DJ has never seen before. It’s not his fault,” said Tebow. “You put him in a situation where you’re second or third and long and you have this A&M defense? Like, A&M’s defense is not the reason that they lost to Notre Dame. This defense is a really good defense and Mike Elko is one of the best to do it. He will be dialing up a lot of pressures that DJ has never seen.”
“It’s not like they’re going up against a defense that has weaknesses. This defense is really good,” Tebow continued. “It’s even harder for a quarterback that hasn’t done it. So, should he play? Absolutely. Should you put him in positions to constantly get him better, gain experience and gain confidence? Yes. But it’s really hard if you’re in second or third and long and you’ve never seen the looks. Graham Mertz has seen every look.”
To Harper, though, Lagway is the only choice for the Gators. He’s one of their best hopes for a win tomorrow in his opinion, which, considering how the year could unfold from here, makes it crucial for him to have a role, even if it’s the starting one.
“Whatever wins the game is called DJ Lagway. This is what it’s going to have to take. You have to do certain things,” said Harper. “You don’t want to just roll him out there and throw him to the wolves – you don’t want to do that. But, at the same time, if you don’t do that, if not today then when? It’s not a long season.”
This is a calculated conversation about how ready a player like Lagway is for a moment like this. It’s just that, to Tebow, he wants to be cautious in how the Gators go about using him in case it goes badly.
“To put all of that on him at once? I think that’s really where you have to step back and ask is that the wisest thing to do,” thought Tebow. “If he’s playing and it’s going well, can you give him more and more and more? Absolutely. But I think it’s important to look at it and balance what is best for the young man and, at the same time, what is best for the team.”
“I’m not saying that DJ shouldn’t play. I do think he should play. I think he should play a lot and I think he is the future of Florida. I’m just saying that you also want to take care of your future,” Tebow said. “There’s just a balance in that that I think is really hard to find where is that perfect balance in it.”