Tim Tebow and Jets Run Wildcat in Practice - New York Times

CORTLAND, N.Y. -- At about 9:15 a.m. on Monday, at the far end of a dewy practice field surrounded by empty bleachers and only a handful of people who were not wearing helmets or whistles, Rex Ryan engaged in what might have been his most audacious piece of gamesmanship yet.

Just three days before the end of training camp -- but 27 days before the Jets’ season opener -- the Jets practiced their version of the Wildcat offense, for which they had acquired Tim Tebow, the elusive quarterback who, Ryan insisted later, is still the backup to Mark Sanchez. The Jets had earlier placed restrictions on about 20 reporters who were present at the practice that they could not divulge the formations or personnel used in what Ryan later said were “just standard Wildcat plays.” But maybe that was Ryan’s point.

“It takes up a lot of preparation time,” Ryan said. He was talking about the extra time that opposing coaches may spend planning for the Jets, or Tebow specifically, which would result, perhaps, in less time planning for Sanchez.

As for Tebow, his reaction to Monday’s practice was simple: “Anytime you get an opportunity to go out there and run around a little bit and play football, it’s always fun.”

Ryan remembered a loss in 2009 to Miami -- whose head coach, Tony Sparano, is now the Jets’ offensive coordinator -- in which the Dolphins were so effective at using the Wildcat that it freed up Chad Henne, their quarterback, to throw for 241 yards and 2 touchdowns.

“We’ll have an offense, and the Wildcat will be part of our offense; we’ve said it from Day 1,” Ryan said. “The great thing is, you don’t know if we’re going to run it once. You don’t know if we’re going to run it 20 times, 50 times, whatever. That’s up to us. If you’re not prepared for it, why wouldn’t we run it?”

He stopped, then added: “Not necessarily prepared, but if you’re not defending it well, why wouldn’t we run it? You’re going to run something until they stop it.”

Sanchez seemed to be fine with the idea of implementing the Wildcat, because, as he made sure to say several times Monday, he thinks it is a great scheme.

“If we run it the right way, which Coach Sparano will do, we can be pretty explosive with it,” Sanchez said. “We have some great athletes, and we want to use all of their talents.”

Ryan might just want opponents to know that he does not need to lean on Sanchez. The Jets missed the playoffs last year by losing five of their last eight games. Sanchez had only two games in that stretch in which his efficiency rating exceeded 90. Sanchez completed four of six passes in just 14 snaps in the Jets’ preseason opener Friday against Cincinnati, but he was also sacked twice. Tebow was not sacked and rushed four times for a team-high 34 yards. He also led the Jets on their only scoring drive.

During a news conference Sunday, Sparano, referring to opponents preparing for the Wildcat and Tebow running it, said, “I’m more concerned about letting them worry about it than giving them the answers to the test. With the guy that we have, obviously, it’s going to be out there that we’re going to do something like that. The ‘how’ is the question.”

Tebow, who ran the option in high school and in college at Florida, said he was more accustomed to operating out of the shotgun formation. But, as he said Monday with a smile: “You know why I’m here. Whatever I can do to help, I’m going to do with all my heart.”

Ryan made a convincing case for having Tebow run the Wildcat, mentioning that he is bigger and can throw the ball a lot better than Ronnie Brown, the running back who was the first and most notable player to operate the scheme for Sparano in Miami.

“We just want to win,” Ryan said. “But clearly, we have a starting quarterback. It’s Mark Sanchez. Period. There’s no question about it. We’re going to do what it takes to win.”

Ryan then quipped: “If Tebow can help with protection, we’re going to put him in there. Mark is our quarterback. As much as everybody is trying to make it into a quarterback controversy, Mark’s our starting quarterback.”

But he is not their only quarterback. Ryan said Tebow was an “excellent football player” whose mechanics as a quarterback were improving and who appeared to be becoming more consistent. Later, Ryan was asked if a Tebow-led offense might become more preferred.

Ryan smiled, then laughed and said, “Anything’s possible.”

EXTRA POINTS

Antonio Cromartie, usually a cornerback, practiced for the first time as a wide receiver during individual drills. Cromartie, who earlier in camp had described himself as the second-best wide receiver on the team, said he was not sure how much offense he would get to play in the Jets’ three remaining preseason games, but he was thrilled that he was getting a look. “I’ve been asking for it since I was a rookie in San Diego,” Cromartie said. “I’m just looking forward to the opportunity.”