NFL

Weight loss could help Jets’ Coples live up to billing

CORTLAND — When Quinton Coples returned to his Kinston, N.C., home this offseason, he did so with a rule.

“No barbecue, none of that,” the Jets linebacker said Friday.

Coples was on a mission to lose weight this offseason and he would not even let home cooking get in the way.

He cut out red meat, sauces and breads and ran two miles every day in addition to his normal workouts.

The diet worked.

Coples reported to training camp at 270 pounds, 20 pounds lighter than he was last year, and his body fat is down to 8.9 percent.

“I feel great,” Coples said. “I’m healthier. I understand my role now. I understand what the coaches are asking me. It’s all about going out, executing and being productive.”

The 24-year-old is under a microscope this year. The Jets took him with the 16th overall pick of the 2012 draft and he has had some good moments, but at this point he has not had anything close to a dominant season.

Quinton Coples #98 seen in 2013.Anthony Causi

He finished with 4 ½ sacks last year after registering 5 ½ as a rookie. This year, Coples plans on topping those totals.

“I won’t put a number on it, but it will definitely be a lot more than last year,” he told The Post after practice Friday. “I can tell you that.”

Coples’ production was an offseason topic after Jets legend Joe Klecko said of Coples: “A little bit of the time he looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane.”

It was not a new criticism. Coples’ effort has been questioned since he was in college and has been a source of frustration for the Jets coaches at times. Coples said he was unaffected by the criticism.

“I just kept moving,” Coples said. “I didn’t have any feelings toward him or anything else. I heard it and kept moving. Right now, it’s about me and my teammates now.”

Jets coach Rex Ryan said Klecko is entitled to his opinion, but he disagreed.

“I think Quinton might get a bad rap a little bit about that,” Ryan said. “He did have 50 hits on the quarterback. That actually led our team. So I think there’s some production there.”

The Jets expect that production to increase this season. Coples moved from strictly playing defensive end last year to rush outside linebacker, too.

New York Jets’ defensive line coach Karl Dunbar, third from right, poses with Damon Harrison (94), Quinton Coples (98), Sheldon Richardson (91) and Tevita Finau (92) at training camp.AP

He was in the middle of that transition when he suffered a hairline fracture in his right ankle during the team’s second preseason game and missed the first two regular-season games.

“It was my first injury,” Coples said. “I was down emotionally, down physically and I was trying to get back and be productive for my team. It was a humbling experience, but through God’s will, I made it through.”

Defensive assistant Jeff Weeks said you can see a difference in Coples already this year.

“You can see he’s getting more comfortable with the playbook,” Weeks said. “You can look at him as far as he’s gone from 295 to 270 and 8.9 percent body fat. That tells you, not only as far as a football standpoint on the field, but as far as his mindset, I want to be a better player. Guys say it all the time, but Q is showing you now. He comes in here and he’s in great shape.”

Coples said Ryan, who knows something about losing weight, realized the third-year pro was ready this year after seeing him drop the pounds.

“He’s excited,” Coples said. “He saw me lose the weight, so he understands I’m taking it serious and he’s seen a difference in me and that’s what is important. He hasn’t spoke to me directly about a message, but I know his expectations. I know what’s expected of me ever since Day 1. I’m excited about it.”