Tim Tebow (
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As the Jets’ gross misuse of their prized offseason acquisition Tim Tebow has curiously stretched its way through half the season, the rants from second-guessers have grown louder and come with more frequency — and with good reason.
The only people the Jets fooled with this false advertising were fans and media, many of whom bought into the idea of Tebow being a play-making difference-maker.
Through eight games, Tebow has taken just 60 of 545 offensive snaps. He has rushed 23 times for just 78 yards and thrown only two passes on offense. And here’s the most glaring statistic associated with Tebow’s lack of contribution on offense: He has not produced a single touchdown.
So during their bye this week, Jets coach Rex Ryan and offensive coordinator Tony Sparano are presumably huddling together, trying to figure out how to do what they have failed to do so far, which is use Tebow properly.
The NFL trading deadline came and went yesterday with none of the rumored activity involving moving Tebow to Jacksonville coming to fruition.
Really, though, how could the Jets trade Tebow now? Haven’t they embarrassed themselves enough with their clueless misuse of him already?
And besides, Tebow might be the Jets’ only chance to put any fannies in the MetLife Stadium seats for their final three home games should the season continue to tank and become a lost cause.
“The Jets’ use of Tim Tebow has been an absolute joke,’’ former Jets right tackle and current ESPN analyst Damien Woody told The Post yesterday. “It’s not like they have a lot of other offensive weapons at their disposal. Use him.’’
Indeed, the Jets’ only recourse now, at 3-5 and flailing to remain in the playoff hunt as their second half of the season begins on Nov. 11 in Seattle, is to figure out how to turn their $2.1 million decoy into a playmaker.
That begins with a three-fold plan:
* Instead of the one-play-and-out way they’ve used him, give Tebow an occasional full offensive series. That will allow him to get into a rhythm and it will give defenses more to think about.
* Allow him to throw the ball — at least occasionally. Those Tebow direct-snap dives into stacked line of scrimmages for two- and three-yard gains have been fooling no one. Tebow’s only chance to deceive defenses is if they fear him throwing the ball.
* If Sparano is going to keep deploying Tebow as an H-back or slot receiver, he better have Mark Sanchez throw a pass to him occasionally or he is simply wasting a skill position player for those plays. With Dolphins defenders not even bothering to cover him, Tebow was so wide open a couple times last week he could have scored had Sanchez thrown to him.
“Mark is playing so bad right now, give Tim Tebow a couple of series,’’ Woody said. “You have to get him in the flow of a game. You can’t expect lightning in a bottle with Tebow when you bring him on the field for one play and take him off. Let him get in the flow of the game and then you’ll see what Tim Tebow can bring to the team.’’
Woody said he’s in favor of Tebow throwing the ball.
“He does know what a forward pass is,’’ Woody said. “The Jets have made Tim Tebow one-dimensional. He has to at least be a threat throwing the football. It’ll loosen up the defense and create rushing lanes.’’
Woody suggested the Jets put Tebow in a spread offense with running backs Shonn Greene and Joe McKnight and allow him to run some plays that worked for him in Denver and at Florida.
“Allow him to dictate to the defense,’’ Woody said. “That’s something he hasn’t done all year, because he comes in for one play and comes trotting off.’’
Woody said the Jets must rid themselves of their fear of a quarterback controversy and let Tebow loose.
“They are so scared of Tim Tebow having success and creating a controversy they don’t want to go there,’’ he said. “That goes back to them babying Mark. Either you produce or don’t produce. If Tebow is having success then ride him, ride the hot hand.
“It’s really becoming more and more apparent that this was an owner’s decision. It looks like the coaches never wanted the guy. They’ve been telling everyone they wanted the guy, but their actions say otherwise.’’