Tebow heads to combine

The NFL combine could represent a second chance for former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.

Or a second strike.

Tebow followed up a 31-of-35, 482-yard passing performance in Florida's rout of Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl by throwing for just 50 yards and fumbling on consecutive plays at the Senior Bowl. His passing form was critiqued in Mobile, and that scrutiny could continue at the combine, which begins Wednesday in Indianapolis and runs through March 2.

"He made a mistake going to the Senior Bowl," NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper said. "I would not have gone to the Senior Bowl, and I would not throw at the combine. I would have waited until the individual workout. After that Cincinnati Bearcat game, nobody would have seen me throw until the individual workout, where I'm throwing to (Aaron) Hernandez and (Riley) Cooper in my environment."

Kiper believes the Senior Bowl exposed Tebow's elongated delivery, bringing to light his biggest negative. He no longer thinks the 6-foot-3, 245-pounder has any hopes of being a first-round selection and said a further drop is possible.

Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen (6-3, 223) is Kiper's top quarterback prospect for April's draft, followed by Oklahoma's Sam Bradford (6-4, 223), Central Michigan's Dan LeFevour (6-3, 228), Texas' Colt McCoy (6-2, 210) and then Tebow.

"I've never thought that Tim Tebow was an NFL quarterback and have said that for three years now," Kiper said. "I've told Tim that directly on two occasions. I think he's an H-back, but is somebody going to draft him as a quarterback? Yes, I think they will, but now I'm thinking second or third round."

Tebow's week in Mobile began with troubles adjusting to snaps under center. It ended with a subpar showing that included four carries for 4 yards, but he did not view the experience as reason for discouragement.

"I'm definitely open to improving my fundamentals," he said after his South team lost 31-13. "I think I showed that by being here, working and improving every day."

In four seasons at Florida, Tebow won a Heisman Trophy and threw for 9,285 career yards with 88 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. More importantly, the Gators won 48 of 55 games and claimed national titles in 2006 and 2008.

Tebow's productivity came out of the shotgun and in a spread system, but Kiper does not believe Florida's offense hindered his pro outlook.

"Alex Smith came out of that system and was the first pick overall," Kiper said. "You can't blame the system from preventing Tim Tebow from maximizing his ability. He won a Heisman Trophy and multiple national championships in this offense, but he also had Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy and Aaron Hernandez and Riley Cooper. He had a lot of help, and his center, Maurkice Pouncey, is going to be a late first-round pick in my opinion.

"It was the delivery more than anything else that's going to prevent Tim Tebow from being a first-round pick and maybe even a second-round pick, for that matter."

Kiper clearly is in the corner of Clausen, the brother of former Tennessee quarterbacks Casey and Rick Clausen. He projects Clausen going fourth overall to Washington, but fellow ESPN analyst Todd McShay doesn't have him in the first round.

McShay's only quarterback pegged for the opening round is Bradford, whom he has going ninth to Buffalo.

"That's a huge disparity and a huge difference of opinion," Kiper said. "Todd questions his leadership and his ability to be a good team player, but I've spoken to teammates of Jimmy Clausen, and they've raved about this kid. Jimmy is as competitive as it gets, and his accuracy is outstanding. His arm strength is good, and he played through two torn ligaments in his toe.

"The issue with Sam Bradford is that we have not seen him in an NFL-like setting, where he's getting pressured or has to throw into small windows. We have not seen that at Oklahoma. We did for a couple of games, and they lost both of those games."