Coples

So I sat, with eager anticipation, of the Jets pick. I watched players no one expected to go so high leave, offensive players go off the board, and somehow, the player I most wanted to see them draft, Melvin Ingram, was still there. So were some of the other pass rushers that I felt they needed. So was Riley Reiff, the offensive tackle who could replace the offensive turnstyle Wayne Hunter. I felt really good, and was elated when Seattle picked Bruce Irvin instead of Ingram.

And the Jets pick the guy who has "motor" issues. Who "disappears for stretches". Who has questionable motivation. Yay, the savior of our lack of pass rush is... Quinton Coples.

So you've got a guy who isn't highly motivated to be as dominant as possible when trying to get drafted, is suddenly going to have huge motivation when he gets the big bucks of being an NFL draft pick.

I'm pretty sure we drafted this guy back in 2008. Sigh.

And to think, almost all of the articles I read leading up to the draft talked about how the Jets "learned their lesson", and how Gholston would influence their moves in this draft.

I really hope Rex knows what he's doing. If this pick flames out completely, I think we are looking at a changing of the guard in New York. At the very least, we'll need to get a football guy in as GM, who can help Rex judge talent over, well, optimism.

Hope is not a strategy. 

Tebow

Just to be clear, I am not starting this blog because of Tebow. I've been a Jets fan since my father got season tickets back when they moved to the Meadowlands. It just happens that I've decided to join the blogging world while this is the biggest news story to hit the Jets since...well, honestly, probably since Namath. Not that I am comparing the talent level or success or expectation of the two, but like Namath Tebow is a player whose fame and attention transcends the sport itself.

What is this blog going to be about? It's going to be an opportunity for me to share my thoughts on the Jets. I'm not a reporter, I'm not an "insider", I'm just a regular fan. Up until two years ago when I moved to Ohio, I went to just about every home game with my father. Since I moved to Ohio, unfortunately my attended game count has diminished--last year the only game I made it to was the abysmal Eagles game. In any event, I hope that the blog is at least of interest to the casual reader.

So what are my thoughts on Tebow? I think it is a good move for the Jets. I think that, while I do not agree with his politics, Tebow is a hell of a football player. Not necessarily much of a quarterback, but if the Jets can maximize his abilities and make him into an offensive weapon, not just a gimmick Wildcat quarterback, I think we'll be pleasantly surprised with what he can do.

What about Sanchez? Well, this is the turning point in Sanchez's career. We've seen he can play solidly, we've also seen that he can fall into a funk. Some people are born competitors, some people aren't. That's why you have Tedy Bruschi's and Vernon Gholston's...I am hoping to see Sanchez emerge from this with the heart of a competitor, to accept that Tebow is here to help the team win, and use it to fire up his own talents. I am afraid that he will not, that he will pout and deject, and that we ended up drafting another player whose heart just isn't in the game. We shall see what happens when the season comes.

The optimist in me sees Sanchez emerging from his "sophomore slump", returning to and improving upon his second year's form, and using Tebow as a dangerous weapon coming out of the backfield or split out. If the Jets can use Tebow like a fullback (which, btw, I am quite confident he could do), and leave him in the majority of plays, it'll drive defenses nuts trying to figure out if this is the play Tebow is going to get the ball and possibly option, or if he's just there to block for Shonn Greene.

And the thing is, while I'm not part of Tebow's agenda, everything I have seen makes me believe that he is 100% genuine in what he says and does, and I truly believe that he will do whatever he can to try to help the team win.

Hopefully, it's enough.