They ran some zone read with Tebow. It wasn't traditional. McCoy was creative with it.
And again, I think you're selling Tebow short. He was a lot more elusive than you're giving him credit for. This is a guy who ran a 1.55 10 yard split with his 40 and a 6.66 3 cone drill. He's got burst and surprising quickness for his size. Just doesn't have the long speed of a guy like Nick Marshall or Terrelle Pryor.
Again, they had some success but the issue was that in games where teams clamped down on the run, they struggled to do much and in games where the opposition forced them into shootouts, they had troubles keeping up. Malzahn's tempo helps him a bit in those situations...but even still, the risk you run is that in games where you aren't winning the LOS...what do you do?
Even with a good OL, there will be games where you aren't winning the LOS in the run game.
That all said, I don't think what you're saying is necessarily wrong. I could see it working and if the choice is Schottenheimer and Shaun Hill/Austin Davis or Lashlee and Pryor/Marshall/Sims...give me the latter.
One last thing, I think Malzahn will get a shot at the NFL if he wants it.
We will have to agree to disagree on Tebow. IMO, he may have been a lot more elusive in shorts, but he sure wasn't on the football field.
Not only would Malzahn's tempo help out, but also the mis-direction, various formations, spreading the defense out, and adjustments on plays were the QB has 2-4 options counter what the defense does. McCoy's offense wasn't nearly as creative. There also can be, what WCO guys call, short passing types extensions of the running game via high percentage passes to backs.
And while the passing game isn't the main focus, it's not non existent. This guy is still taking his shots down the field ala Arians where two good things can happen (reception, pass interference) or one bad thing can happen (INT). But, at least the bad thing can amount to a punt. And we will have to agree to disagree on whether guys like Marshall, Pryor, Taylor, Sims, or whomever they bring in can accomplish that, as I believe that they are ALL better passers than Tebow.
All in all, with a strong defense, run focused offenses can work in the NFL. The 49ers went to a Super Bowl and 3 of the last NFL Championship Games. The Seahawks won the whole shebang last year with Russell attempting the fewest passes of all starting QBs besides Kaepernick. And in that postseason he only threw for 103, 215, & 206 yards. Schottenhiemer should even know this in New York. Fisher watched the Ravens beat him doing it over and over in Tennessee. Malzahn's offense simply takes it to another level.