Jets offensive coordinator Tony Sparano not concerned about managing Mark Sanchez vs. Tim Tebow talk [/B] BY Manish Mehta New offensive coordinator Tony Sparano wasn’t overly concerned about managing what will undoubtedly be the most scrutinized quarterback situation in the NFL. So, could Tebow actually play as many as 20 snaps in a game as Rex Ryan suggested earlier this offseason? “I won’t give you the vision on what I think his role will be in the offense,” Sparano said. “I would just say that… I believe what Coach says. He can play anywhere from one to 20 snaps… somewhere like that. What coach said is 100 percent correct. As far as how we’ll use Tim or what we’ll do with Tim in that way, we’re going to keep that to us right now.” Tim Tebow’s enormous following coupled with Mark Sanchez’s penchant for inconsistency could mushroom into a controversy at some point, but the Jet’s new play-caller believes there’s room for both players in his offense. “We’re just excited to be able to add another good football player to our team,” Sparano said Thursday about the Tebow trade. “It’s about trying to find good football players. Mark Sanchez is one hell of a player. I am so excited to coach him. Tim Tebow is a good football player too. When you put both of these guys in a room and they’re playing checkers, they’re going to compete at it. They’re going to go like heck to win. The more of those people you can get around your football team and in this environment, the better off your football team is going to be. I think we helped our football team tremendously. I don’t think it’s a problem managing it.” Sparano, speaking to the media for the first time since he took over for Brian Schottenheimer in January, watched every play of the Jets’ 2010 and 2011 seasons to get a grasp on his personnel. He maintained that he supported the organization’s decision to add Tebow. “I was involved in the conversation -- which I appreciate --with Mike (Tannenbaum) and Rex (Ryan),” Sparano said. “We sat down and had a conversation about it. That was really it. At the end of the day, it’s a decision that Mike and Rex made obviously for the better(ment) of our football team. I was completely on board with it.” Sparano admitted that one of his points of emphasis for Sanchez and Tebow, who had both had plenty of turnovers last season, will be to take better care of the ball. “It’s going to be critical” to cut down on turnovers, he said. Sparano also wasn’t concerned that Tebow’s involvement will stunt Sanchez’s growth in his fourth season. “I think we have to remember that Mark’s been under center here for a lot of games for the three years that he’s been here,” Sparano said. “Between now and training camp and thru training camp with all the snaps that Mark will get, I think we’ll be in good shape.” Although Sanchez committed a career-high 26 turnovers in 2010, Sparano “You can’t take turnovers out of the equation,” Sparano said. “Turnovers are turnovers…. (Turnovers) can occur in a bunch of different ways. Now having a chance to go through and watch the tape and really see the way some of the turnovers occurred, a lot of that falls obviously on the quarterback’s shoulders sometimes…. We here in the film room really understand how some of those things come about every once and while. With that being said, if you take the turnovers out, this guy really played last year. His numbers were better last year than they had been the previous couple years. You saw improvement in a couple areas, which is what you want to see. We forget. I think this guys’ a young player that has won a lot of football games. I’m excited about where he is. He has had a tremendous offseason… has really got himself in good shape and has come in here and really worked hard this offseason physically and mentally here as well in learning what we’re doing. So I’ve been really impressed with him.” Sparano also praised Tebow’s growth as a passer. “Our first goal here is to continue to work with Tim and continue to have him mature as a quarterback,” Sparano said. “That’s what we’re trying to do here. With being said, he comes with a different skill set obviously from college. That’s a good thing for us. He has the ability to do a lot of different jobs. At the game, that’s what you really want. You want players that can do a lot of different jobs for you.” “I saw him right out of college, because I coached him at the Senior Bowl,” Sparano added. “In coaching Tim at the Senior Bowl that year and seeing where he is right now…. that has been eye opening. I thought fundamentally Tim has gotten much better. This kid has put a lot of time in in the offseason from a fundamental standpoint. He’s completely different now than he was when he came out of college.” Although Sparano wouldn’t delve into specifics, Tebow’s ability to pass out of Wildcat/read-option sets gives the new offensive coordinator a dimension that was lacking for the most part with the Dolphins. “At that point (in Miami), there was very little element of pass involved,” Sparano said. “Obviously with Tim, that’s a different element. If we decide to go down that road, the element of being able to throw the football out of that brings a completely different dynamic into the picture.” http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/je...t-concerned-about-managing-mark-sanchez-vs-ti
A key chunk for me was this.... This, along with a quote he gave that mentioned an emphasis he'll be placing on implementing a "player friendly offense" (i.e. - a less complex offense than we've seen here the last few years)....tells me that in watching game tape, he saw a number of turnovers that were a result of an overly complex/confusing offensive game plan from Schottenheimer. I concede I may be reading too much between the lines....but to me, it certainly seems like he was impressed with what he saw on tape from Mark, and feels confident he'll be able to minimize he mistakes, going forward.
Or because the OL didn't give time and he was sacked and fumbled or because the receivers ran the wrong route or.....................
...or they were simply Mark's fault. Unquestionably he'd have seen a myriad of causes for various turnovers, but given that he mentioned a "player friendly offense" not long afterwards, I think it's fair to assess that he felt last years offense was unnecessarily complex (something many observers have also felt) As much as people may think our offense will be complex due to the Wildcat/Tebow, I think when Mark is on the field, we're going to see a far more simple offense, that enables him to make best use of his abilities.
The reality of the situation is that no one person was to blame for the turnovers last year, and that they happened for a variety of reasons. Pocket pressure, complexity of the offense (players not being on the same page), receivers mishandling the ball, Sanchez making mistakes, yada, yada, yada. ALL of these were to blame.
agreed....and ultimately it's on Sparano to do everything he can to minimize those same mistakes going forward, and give Sanchez and the offense the best chance to succeed.... - improve the blocking schemes. - simplify the offense. - give Mark more QB friendly situations, via an improved run game. - get Mark to work on his fundamentals, and get his footwork, timing, mechanics back to where they should be.
Sanchez was definitely to blame for some of the turnovers last year, however, I think at least half of them were not his fault. There were quite a few where he was blind sided because of poor oline play. I'm excited to see how this new system takes flight. If Sparano can make a real RT out of Ducasse I will be impressed! I agree that Schotty's system was too complex for a developing QB.
What I take away from Sparano's comments are: 1) He appreciated "being involved in the conversation" to bring in Tebow and Manish reports that "he maintained that he supported the decision to bring in Tebow." He also coached Tebow at the Senior Bowl and liked what he saw. 2) He discussed the 26 Sanchez turnovers and says he watched every tape from 2010 and 2011. He says there are "circumstances," yet he still "really understands how some of those things come about every once and awhile." 3) Sparano praised Tebow’s growth as a passer. From this we can deduce that Sparano wants to kiss Sanchez' ass but was part and parcel in the decision to bring in Tim Tebow because of lingering doubts about Sanchez. It also tells us that Sparano acknowleges "circumstances" along the O-line, but is not afraid of bringing in a Tebow and creating QB competition/controversy and thinks that Tebow is more than able to compete with Sanchez for the starting job. Nothing much is learned from this other than our coaching staff is endorsing a full-fledged, knock down, QB Controversy. Let the fun begin in September.
i guess you get out what you want. i didnt see any of that. i saw a guy who was glad the asked his opinion,who sees a good football player in tebow,a good qb in sanchez and thinks a simpler offense will help this team win.
Sparano's job is to make the offense competent and improve the O-Line. I don't care what he says. I'm just waiting for him to prove his worth on the field or to earn an early pink slip.
Because he lost a fumble after being hit .8 seconds after the snap of the ball by Ed Reed who was completely untouched and crushed Mark on his blindside. I know, I know. OUr QB sucks and even Tim Tebow is a better pocket passer than Mark.
I hatted Shotty's offense. Especially those 5 yard dump off's to the defensive lineman. They were soooo confusing. In fact I STILL don't get those plays. Shotty really really dialed up some baaaad plays.
What I took was: 1. On Tebow trade: Sure, they did ask me about it, but at the end of the day, they made the call. I support THEIR decision. (Instead of taking the leadership in the situation, as in, "Since I liked what he could offer on the table, I urged them to get the guy for the team.") 2. On turnovers: Man, Schottenheimer really made some serious disaster here in New York... 3. On Sanchez: he still managed to improve with that disaster of a OC calling the shot for him. Let me see how much more I can make him produce.
