| My Turn, No My Turn, Wait Your Turn, It Is My Turn..... |
Realistically, Rex Ryan has said the Jets will be using Tebow as a "Football Player" for 20-30 plays per game. Listed as the back up QB that means Tim Tebow will be leading a "Wildcat Offense" for up to 50% of the offensive plays from scrimmage. What is particularly scary for Mark Sanchez, Jets #1 QB, is that his head coach has lost confidence in his ability to score in the Red Zone and 3rd down situations. This are scenarios that Tebow is well suited as a natural leader, motivator and all around athlete.
While it might be a good patch for the Jets offense this season it is not the ideal situation for the franchise, or Quarterbacks, long term. If Sanchez is ever going to break out and become the Hall of Fame caliber QB his talent and skill suggest then he needs a "Tebow Time" wake up call. Rex should man up and tell him he sucks as a leader and help him earn the trust of the team. Tebow is such a nice guy he won't go for the jugular to finish off Sanchez and move up. The fans have already left Sanchez and thrown all in with "Tebow-mania" or at least "Next QB-mania". Finally the team. In order to succeed this season the have two strategic choices. Split practice time and reps, or, divide the offense into two packages and practice separately together......
Any one who has ever played team sports knows there can be only one field general calling the plays and leading the team. Either option kills Sanchez as a future franchise QB since Tebow will get the Red Zone reps and hero points from the fans. The players may all understand Sanchez got them to the 16 yard line but Tebow will get the TD stat. In football grace under pressure is a learned trait that can only develop under fire and intense pressure on a world wide stage with 80,000 fans screaming their heads off. That is what Mark desperately needs from Rex Ryan but he won't get that now. Sanchez should have said "Play Me or Trade Me."
What about Tebow? Everyone knows Tim Tebow has a limited NFL QB skill set but is an outstanding all
around football player with the manners of Mother Theresa and the fire in the belly leadership style of General Patton. With Tebow as a starting QB the Jets will score based on the force of Tebow's will and they would more than likely make the playoffs. But no further, post season defenses are so finely tuned the Tebow led Jets would suffer an embarrassment not unlike Denvers loss last season to the Patriots. Tim Tebow, if properly developed and mentored, will be a great journeyman QB and give a team 5-7 years of playoff appearances. The problem is he will not get that development in New York. The Jets have to win right now in order to cash in on the expensive free agent WR/TE corps they signed. So Tebow gets the "Red Zone"/ Band Aid role.
Someone in the NFL Chairman's office should swoop in and find a reason to send Rex Ryan fishing with Sean Payton this season. Just to save the careers of two potentially great Quarterbacks.
