It can be read different ways. If he's giving himself a "C for effort," he's admitting he didn't give anything close to 100%, which is troubling. If it's a "C for performance" he could be saying he's upset and knows he could have done more. The only one who really knows what he meant, and whether he's being truthful, is Coples himself.
Maybe he's really smart and after the NFL screwed the rookies in the last deal he figured why bust his ass. If that's the case I suspect he will be tremendous in his first contract year.
I had the same initial concern, but it was C for performance, he's clarified since the original interview: http://walterfootball.com/draftinterview_quintoncoples.php
Now I really don't know if Quinton Coples was the best choice at #16, but he could be, simply because I don't know everything about the nuances in the draft, and I suspect most of the people on this site do not either. But I do know this, Quinton Coples is a beast who can (and very very hopefully will) contribute a ton to the Jets defense. Although the position he plays isn't really considered an area of need on the team, having him on the team changes the whole dynamic on the field. Technically Mike DeVito is serviceable at DE, but that is part of why our pass-rush wasn't particularly intimidating. No one was worried about blocking DeVito, and it allowed guards and tackles to give attention to rush-LB's. What Coples will do is create a situation where nearly every play, two O-Lineman/TE/FB etc will be assigned to block him on every play, he will still even create pressure, and get some sacks. That is simply looking at his position, when you look at how it effects the defense as a whole, that leaves 3 O-Lineman and whatever combo of other blockers are on the field to account for Sione Pouha, Muhammad Wilkerson, and Maybin, and Pace (not always all at once) on passing downs. That sounds pretty interesting to me, and I like the odds. With a secondary like ours, who is going to be able to pass on us? Like, Ever? Obviously not every play works to perfection, but best case scenario this is what this guy will consistently do. Not to mention he's just plain athletic enough to stop the run on his side. You can talk about all kinds of reasons why this won't happen, but from a football standpoint this is utterly possible, and it's why he is now on the Jets.
Rex runs so many defensive fronts, get out of mentality that we stick with our 3-4 only. We run 4-3, 46, 3-4, and cover 2. Coples can play all over the field, hes not limited by any means, and frankly he's a great fit here.
Shaun Ellis is that guy that Laid that monster hit on Brady in their house that sent us to the Championship game. Ellis though going to the Patriots was a true Gentlemen and example of how to be pro and come to work with your lunch pail.
In Coples' best season (his sophomore year), he excelled playing DT and LDE in a 3-4 front. That's exactly how Rex is going to use him. Just because he was a 4-3 DE his last year at UNC does not mean that that's his best position in the NFL - a lot of scouting reports that I've seen seem to have missed that.
Rex has been here for 3 years and people still don't know they run other formations other than 3-4? Good lord ...
Point taken but Coples is great value at 16. No matter who the Jets took there would have been skeptics and pundit that didn't like the pick. The Gholston comparisons are not warrated yet because he hasn't even put on a Jets uniform yet. Gholston didn't produce a sack in 3 years under two defense minded coaches and two different systems. Not to mention getting cut by the Bears with another defensive minded coach in Lovie Smith. This guy could be our Richard Seymour and he will put on 10-15 more pounds and hopefully be a beast for the Jets. The Jets will play more 4-3 this year with a real DL coach in Karl Dunbar. It also allows more flexibility 3-4/4-3 Mo, Pouha, Coples or Mo, Pouha, Ellis, Coples in the 4-3 that 1200 pounds of stuff coming at a QB.
Excellent point and the bottom line is his athleticism in any situation. One look at his college highlights shows you he covers territory big time.
Not to make excuses for the guy, but that UNC program was a mess the last couple years. It's not a stretch to think all the turmoil going on made it more difficult for him to buy in and go balls to the wall on every play.
I can shorten it up: They had no need for a DE: Dixon DeVito Wilkerson are a solid trio. They have many need areas: OLB RT WR they could have addressed. Coples had too many red flags which is why he was dropping. Why draft a DE like him for this defense even Ryan said last night the OLBs get the sacks not the DEs. What are they gonna do switch to a 4-3: Coples and Wilkerson on outside and put Devito in as the other DT.
Don't you think a sack by an OLB is easier to get if their O-line has to struggle against the athleticism of a guy the size of Coples? Look at the bigger picture.
