Jets' Tebow targets the long ball - New York Daily News

Robert Sabo/New York Daily News

Tim Tebow looks armed and ready as QB known for running ability focuses on throwing deep. Photo by Robert Sabo/Daily News

CORTLAND â€" Tim Tebow conjures the image of a quarterback who chooses to tuck and run rather than risk throwing the ball. Undoubtedly he’ll be a threat to dash when he hits the game field for the Jets, but he’s been showing off another weapon in training camp so far: the deep ball.

Dexter Jackson’s outstretched hands couldn’t quite hang on to a perfectly placed long ball over Antonio Cromartie in Saturday evening’s scrimmage. Tebow has yet to connect on a true deep pass in camp thus far, but it hasn’t been because the balls weren’t well-thrown. A combination of inexperienced wide receivers paired with talented defensive backs covering them has prevented the completions from happening. Jets fans should hope that had it been Stephen Hill running down the left sideline Saturday night instead of Jackson, the 50-yard pass would have been complete.

“That’s something that, when you get that opportunity, you want to take,” Tebow said, speaking of long passes. “I thought we had it. Great route, it was something that I felt we had really good timing on. We just have to be able to hit those.”

Rex Ryan has said throughout camp how impressed he has been with the touch that Tebow puts on the deep ball. His only weakness in that department, Ryan said, is not getting the ball out of his hand soon enough. That will be something that Tebow will work on throughout the rest of the preseason. While in practice, Tebow acts as a pocket passer as much as he can.

“If I had to choose one (area to work on), it would be rhythm and timing just in our passing game,” Tebow said. “Just in understanding Coach (Tony) Sparano’s timing, the rhythm, from hitch to hitch to checkdown, and getting that.”

Part of that process will be learning how to be effective in formations other than shotgun, including better execution on play action.

“Dropping back from under center five, seven (steps) and not just being in the gun. I don’t think you saw me throw one pass out of the gun today,” Tebow said. “That’s something we’re definitely working on.”

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