CORTLAND — Nearly every aspect of Tim Tebow’s presence on the Jets has been scrutinized and analyzed by media coverage that has been supersized.
But one intriguing, new possibility came up after the Jets’ 17-6 loss to the Bengals in Friday’s preseason opener. Cincinnati pressured the Jets all night and had five sacks, with the only effective offense coming when Tebow was scrambling away from the rush.
So could Tebow be given a larger role in the offense during the regular season if the Jets’ pass protection falters due to his escape-ability?
“We’re open to anything,” coach Rex Ryan said.
Before anyone gets carried away, it should be pointed out offensive coordinator Tony Sparano was not as amenable to the idea. He cut off the question before it was finished being asked, and then mimicked someone fishing to the reporter who asked it.
“No, not in that situation,” Sparano said. “Mark Sanchez scrambled for a first down the other day, too, which I was impressed with. Mark is a good athlete and he is our quarterback. I thought he has been playing well right now for us, and I don’t see that kind of scenario at all out there.”
All of this talk came on the day of Tebow’s best practice of training camp. He went 9-for-12 with receivers dropping two of his passes. He also had a 25-yard run for a touchdown, a designed play with him under center, not in the Wildcat.
Sparano took issue with the idea the Jets had protection breakdowns Friday. He said some of the problems were caused by the Jets not having game-planned the Bengals, because it’s the preseason.
Even if Sparano wants to avoid any quarterback controversy, it’s hard to deny Tebow could be an interesting weapon against blitz-happy defenses. His ability to take off from the pocket could slow defenses down.
Against the Bengals, the Jets showed no Wildcat plays with Tebow, but Ryan again stressed how much of a weapon he believes it can be.
“Guys, the Wildcat is tough to defend,” Ryan said. “Are we going to do it? Of course, at some point we’re going to do it. Again, it’s more some people think Wildcat’s come and gone. No, it hasn’t. If anything, it’s just the opposite.”
The tight-lipped Sparano said he has “no reaction” to people who say the Wildcat can no longer be effective in the NFL. Sparano has been much more secretive about the team’s plans for Tebow than Ryan, who has not revealed much himself.
“I’m a quiet guy,” Sparano said. “Rex is the boss. He can put it out there. I think it is common knowledge that we might do something like that. I’m more concerned about letting them worry about it than giving them the answers to the test. With the guy that we have [Tebow], obviously it’s going to be out there that we’re going to do something like that. The ‘how’ is the question.”
Ryan revealed the Jets were thinking about a replacement for Brad Smith in the Wildcat long before Tebow came along. He said the team considered drafting quarterback Colin Kaepernick out of Nevada in 2011, a few months before Smith left the Jets as a free agent. The 49ers selected Kaepernick in the second round, and he ran for a 78-yard touchdown on Friday against the Vikings.
“I was really intrigued by him when he came out,” Ryan said. “I thought we were losing Brad. They drafted him before we could.
“You’re seeing these guys. It’s hard to defend that stuff. When you have the ability to throw as well as run, it makes it tough.”
At least Ryan hopes so.