“We don’t need Tebow.” That was the now infamous tweet from New York Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie, as the AFC East outfit prepared to trade for then-Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow.
The final deal saw a handful of low draft picks heading each way. That wasn’t the story though.
What was really significant was the decision by the Jets to bring a player who, until Peyton Manning’s signing, was set to be the Broncos’ starting quarterback in 2012 in an offence that already included Mark Sanchez.
In fact 12 days before the Tebow trade, Sanchez had signed a three year contract extension, which included $20 million guaranteed.
Doubts might remain over Sanchez’s ability to elevate the Jets’ game, but Cromartie was right – they didn’t “need” the former Broncos sensation.
As it turns out, the Tebow move is part of an ambitious, but very high risk, plan from head coach Rex Ryan.
Sanchez will take most of the snaps and run the offence as per usual, with Tebow and his Wildcat package (where the ball is snapped directly to the running-back) to offer variety.
The Jets are looking for a surprise packet to stretch opposition defences.
Of course while Tebow’s Wildcat is meant to unsettle their opponents, the concern is the Jets might do just that to themselves.
Jets’ legend Joe Namath is possibly the Tebow move’s biggest critic.
“I’m just sorry that I can’t agree with this situation,” stated Namath on ESPN radio in New York earlier this year.
“I think it’s just a publicity stunt. I can’t go with it. I think it’s wrong. I don’t think they know what they’re doing over there.
“And I’m a Tim Tebow fan, but I’m a bigger Jet fan than I am a Tim Tebow fan.”
There is a legitimate concern here – in looking for an edge over playoff rivals, the Jets risk upsetting their entire offensive machine.
Yet I firmly believe they are right to try it.
American football is a specialist sport, where a flexible and variable offence will work if it’s well-rehearsed.
Having a specialist unit (or quarterback) to run a Wildcat package in hurry-up situations is a legitimate alternative to asking Sanchez to change his game midway through a quarter.
Having Tebow standing on the sidelines shouldn’t affect Sanchez either – enough pressure comes with being the Jets starting quarterback as is and Ryan has given Sanchez his full backing already.
For his part, Tebow isn’t concerned.
“No, it’s not difficult,” the 25-year-old said about his clearly defined smaller function.
“You just know your role and you try to do it the best you can. When you get opportunities, you make the most of them.”
It’s far from the first time a situation like this has happened around the NFL either.
There was a period when the Arizona Cardinals used Matt Leinart as a starting quarterback with Kurt Warner coming on in two-minute situations to play a no huddle system (though instructively, it was with Warner as a sole starter that the Cardinals made the Superbowl in the 2008 season).
If the Jets do employ the Sanchez and Tebow combination, it should work.
Though if it doesn’t, there could be a massive cleanout across the Jets organisation.
Rex Ryan is playing a high stakes game.
falcore
Guest
I say tactical tomfoolerywith light-hearted respect. I was referring to stunt plays. You asked who decided a passing QB and spread offense was the best way to play, I was simply having a crack at answering why it's the prevalent system in the NFL. By and large, stunts are only work when a D isn't expecting it. If you're bringin on a specialist QB to run the occasional wildcat or stunt, defenses will adust accordingly right? It's hard to understand the Jets move because they had just re-signed Sanchez, and Rex Ryan had been till that point talking him up for the past few years. Stashing Tebow in the back-up spot, given his profile and the fan-power he commands puts a lof a lot of pressure on Sanchez when he probably doesn't need it. I'm not trying to be negative. I think if the Jets do well and Tebow has an impact itll be a great shot in the arm after last season. A far more interesting story that's overshadowed by this is Derelle Revis playing both ways!
Adam Vaughan
Roar Pro
Tebow goes very well considering he's a TE playing in the QB position...
TC
Guest
On a slightly different note, both NFL and AFL fans might be interested in the progress of former Lion/Power footballer, Scott Harding, who plays with the Uni of Hawaii as a wide receiver. He was intereviewed today on SEN radio: http://www.sen.com.au/audioplayer/Audio/University-of-Hawaii-wide-receiver-Scott-Harding/5786 He scored a touchdown against USC in front of 93,600 fans. He is also currently doubling as a punt returner, and temporarily filling in as the punter, which is the position ex-AFL players normally fill in the NFL. Interesting trivia re Scott Harding, his sister is Karmichael Hunt's partner. TC
crip
Roar Pro
Falcore, why is it "hard to understand the Jet’s move on this one"?. Please explain how the Jets plan is tactical tomfoolery. Sanchez is the starting QB and Tebow is there to give the offence more options. Options that were good enough to get a team with good defence into the playoffs? Simple.
Jared
Roar Pro
The reason that Tim Tebow was able to win games last season was due to the predictability of NFL defences in the 4th quarter when their team has a lead. Tebow was able to flourish in the fourth quarter when behind as defences started playing a prevent defence with deep safeties and they stopped sending blitz packages at him. When no pressure is applied to Tebow he can throw well enough or he can take off on a run if all the secondary drop deep. If teams had continued to harass him through the final quarter I feel the results would have been much different.
falcore
Guest
88 years of cut-throat evolution in professional competion I think decided that that was the most efficient, consistent way to play. And not all teams play that way, but do you think it's a fluke that the teams with elite passing QB's and recieving corps are the most successfull at pro level? "One player's ability to throw the ball" is also dimishing the role of the rest of the team a bit perhaps NFL isn't about having a crack at something new. Most coaching risks that are taken at NFL level are a flow on effect from the NCAA system which is far more forgiving on tactical tomfoolery. With that said, I love seeing something different work as much as the next guy, so I hope the Jets can implement this Wildcat successfully - it's all a mystery so far, been kept under wraps in the pre-season, to the point of not even running it in open practice. It's hard to understand the Jet's move on this one, other than the obvious pr bonus. People will definitely turn up to see if Tebow can get on the field. But it's the NFL, people were gonna turn up anyway. There's been enough pressure on Sanchez over the last 12 months to think they may be setting up to ditch him, but other than his rabid fans, not many see Tebow as a long term solution at QB. On the Steelers game, if I recall, there were at least 2 defensive mis-reads that hurt pittsburgh - one of my fav guys Polamalu copped a pasting in the press over one which resulted in points, which I thought was harsh. Polamalu requires a solid secondary around him so he's free to play a bit shallower.. Bottom line, and this is just an idiot's opinion, is that if Tebow didn't constantly bang on about Jesus and stick his nose into politics, this conversation wouldn't happen. But he is a good athlete, and he's makin a motza.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
To be fair, he had a very good game against Pittsburg. But he just isnt good enough to do that reliably.
crip
Roar Pro
Good read Davidde and I to "firmly believe they are right to try it". The beauty of football is that it is not as predictable as stats men and media analysts make out. I think that it's awesome that the Jets taking are trying something different offensively rather than banking their whole season on one players ability to throw the ball (who decided that that is the only way to play football?).
Kevin
Guest
Ian well said, throwing long to one on ones your always a chance ,and for mine says more about the WR... Last play of the playoff game vs steelers perfect example
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Tim Tebow - 6.4 yards per attempt. 10.9% sack percentage. 47% accuracy. Yup, he got 660 yeards as a runner on 122 attempts ... involving 14 fumbles ! 5 of his wins last year had his defence hold the opposition to 15 points or less. He's an option quarterback, all he has is a long ball against defneders in single man coverage, and he cant keep hold of the ball.
Kevin
Guest
The jets are a circus and always will be a circus bi polar and all the rest All the talk around NY is how bad tebow is at throwing, he couldn't hit the side of a barn I for one think that the media have been so hard on Sanchez / Ryan and co, these are the same guys that got them to two championship games, and beat Peyton and Brady in consequetive weeks ( away) when those guys were hotter than hot , and then got stitched up against the steelers I think the knives have been out since last years capitulation against Miami, that was sooooooooo bad, and unacceptable , but to throw the baby out woth the bath water is crazy....
Frank The Tank
Guest
Eric as a Broncos fan you should be celebrating this Muppet has gone. I'm not a Broncos fan but you really shouldn't be defending this bloke. He was not very good, the stats don't lie in this game. It was one of the weakest years of NFL due to the lockout, let's see how he goes this year. Who will he be playing for next year?
Eric George
Roar Rookie
As a Broncos fan, mushi, I'm assuming you watched the games (as I did). Are you honestly saying you weren't confident when he lined up close to the goal, or going for a 2-point conversion?
mushi
Guest
that's cause you left the "QB" of the end :)
mushi
Guest
Well he must have been the worst QB in the history of the game then from the 10 to the 20 then because denver was 26th in red zone effectiveness.
Eric George
Roar Rookie
Fair enough, I don't disagree with any of this. I simply misunderstood you're initial statement as "Tebow isn't effective at running".
mushi
Guest
Okay sorry for the confusion I still don’t see how pure rushing stats makes you a good “running QB” because your job isn’t just to run the football, that is running back’s job and as a running back he would be horrendously slow to the hole. A running QB is still required to throw the football as well to balance the offence, which Tebow did very poorly. Saying he can he ran better than most QB’s is different to being a good running QB as he still needs to be a QB at some point.
Eric George
Roar Rookie
No need to get carried away FTT. Tebow did beat up on some weak teams last year, but he also beat some pretty solid defensive units: the Jets, the Bears, and the Steelers were all pretty elite defensive units last year. Tebow isn't incredible, but he did a pretty decent job of protecting the ball and allowing the defensive and special teams components of his teams to keep the Broncos in it.
josh
Guest
How'd he go in the Playoffs, against a proper team? He's a junktime QB. You can't run fluke plays for an entire game.
Eric George
Roar Rookie
Was there anyone as unstoppable as Tebow when running a goal line offense last year? You could maybe put a claim in for Cam Newton, but I honestly can't remember that wildcat play failing much when they got inside 10 yards from the end zone.