SEATTLE — Tim Tebow finally lost his cool yesterday.
Nine games into his curious Jets career, Tebow finally had a chance to turn a game into Tebow Time. He finally had a chance to make a difference.
But he had it taken away from him by a false start penalty from tight end Dustin Keller on a third-and-goal play from the 1-yard line in the second quarter of yesterday’s 28-7 loss to the Seahawks.
After the penalty, which pushed the Jets into a third-and-goal from the 6, Tebow looked to the Jets sideline and saw the coaches signal for him to come back off the field.
And for the first time in what has been a season of growing frustration because of a lack of opportunities on offense, he was visibly upset.
On the ensuing play, Mark Sanchez threw an interception at the goal line to squelch the Jets’ only scoring chance of the game inside the red zone.
“More than anything there was frustration because I knew we let an easy one slip away,’’ Tebow said. “If you watched their defense, they were over here, over there and shifting and they didn’t really know where [the play] was going. It wouldn’t have been very hard to score there.
“I thought we had an opportunity to score a touchdown. I didn’t think they were in a good look defensively to stop us for that play. When you get opportunities, you have got to make the most of them and that didn’t happen there.
“It’s definitely frustrating. If I push that one in there on the goal line we’re leading 14-7 and it’s a lot different game. We can keep managing the game, which is how our offense is best suited.’’
Tebow has not contributed to a single touchdown all season. He was on the field for 10 offensive snaps in the game (about double his plays in recent games), three of which were nullified by penalties — two by Keller false starts.
But the Jets used Tebow in the spread formation and it seemed to generate some more opportunities. He completed three passes to Jeremy Kerley for 8 yards on quick, short screen passes and rushed four times for 14 yards.
Asked about his visible frustration, Tebow said, “It’s just more about winning. It’s frustrating to lose regardless of your role and how many plays you play. Everything is a lot easier and better when you win.’’
When he was asked about Rex Ryan’s defiant defense of Sanchez as the starter, Tebow cued the broken-record response he has been delivering all season.
“You just continue to work hard and do my role and that’s it,” he said. “I just try to do the best I can with the opportunities when I get them. It’s out of my control.’’
Most of Tebow’s plays have resulted in uncreative runs into the line, and he said playing out of the spread “puts stress on defense.
“You’ve got to cover 53 1/2 yards,’’ he said. “We were able to get some really easy dump-off passes to JK [Kerley], because they weren’t playing in the box.’’
Tebow said he did not have the option to throw the ball down the field on those plays, however.
“You have to keep them honest by going vertical,’’ he said.
Sanchez said the plays “worked pretty well, got us a couple first downs.’’
Asked if coming off the field ruins his rhythm, Sanchez said, “It’s something we’re all just getting used to. I’m getting a better feel for it.’’