Much has been made of Tim Tebow's role on the New York Jets, yet the team has been uncharacteristically hushed when it comes to specifics about the former Heisman Trophy winner.
With the seasonâ€"and the beginning of the Tebow era in New Yorkâ€"just days away, it seems like a good time to break down what we knowâ€"and don't knowâ€"about Tebow's inaugural game at MetLife Stadium.
Will Tebow simply be a punt protector? Or, will he be able to carry his team to as many victories as he did last season in Denver?
Here's what we can expect from him in the Jets' Week 1 matchup versus Buffalo.
Punt Protection
Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images
The New York Jets haven't revealed much about Tim Tebow's role with the team, but we do know this much. Tebow is a member of the punt team, serving as the up-man.
Tebow's 250-pound frame will do wonders for the team's punt protection, as he's never been afraid to run into a bit of contact.Â
The buzz around the league is obviously the increased possibility of punt fakes and direct snaps to Tebow. This is certainly an asset for Gang Green's special teams squad but don't expect to see coach Mike Westhoff show his hand in Week 1.
The team's matchup versus Buffalo likely won't include the special gimmicks and gadgets that the football world is waiting on from the Jets. Tebow's role as punt protector, however, is secure. It wouldn't be surprising at all to see him flourish in this role as well.
Introduction of the Jets' Wildcat Offense
Brad Smith running the 2010 Jets' version of the Wildcat in that season's playoffs at Indianapolis.
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
New York Jets' offensive coordinator Tony Sparano made a name for himself in Miami by implementing the Wildcat offense. We can definitely expect to see more of it this season, especially with the system's prototypical player in Tim Tebow.
The team isn't willing to let anyone know the slightest bit of detail regarding the package, however (via Mike Sielski of the Wall Street Journal). Both players and coaches have steered all questions away from the trick-play formation throughout the whole preseason.
The organization even barred media members from tweeting about the Jets' Wildcat plays, according to a tweet from Manesh Mehta the New York Daily News.
New York went all four weeks of the preseason without running a single Wildcat play. We should expect to see some action out of that package Sunday, however, nothing too exciting. In all likelihood, Tebow will see some snaps from these gadget plays, but the team has repeatedly stressed that Mark Sanchez is their guy at quarterback (via NYDN).
Because of this, anticipate Sanchez to take most (if not all) of the snaps under center. This doesn't mean we'll never see Tebow given a chance to succeed in this system; just give it a few weeks.
Transition to a Non-Quarterback Role
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Tim Tebow has been at the controls of his teams from under center for as long as he's been playing football. At the age of 25, his days as a traditional quarterback may be numbered.
Despite his 2011 success in Denverâ€"leading them to a playoff appearance and a postseason win in Pittsburghâ€"Mark Sanchez appears to be the long-term option in New York, especially after signing a three-year extension this winter (ESPN NY breaks down that extension here).
For the first time, Tebow has been learning the ropes of other aspects of football, such as protecting the punter on fourth downs. While knowing nothing about the Jets' Wildcat offense, we can still be certain that it will primarily feature Tebow.
Week 1 against Buffalo will be the beginning of a long road for Tebow. He will have to adjust to a new set of roles he never saw before, and the speed of which he adapts to these new duties will determine whether he'll sink or swim as a New York Jet.
Decoy Factor
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Tim Tebow will likely be on the field more as a decoy than a playmaking threat in Week 1. That is, he probably will be used to draw attention to his mere presence, as opposed to the Jets actually showing their hand and running many of their Wildcat plays designed for Tebow.
The team's first game presumably won't be a pretty one for their backup quarterback. Teams will certainly be forced to draw attention to him whenever he steps foot on the field, though, which acts as a weapon for the Jets regardless of the play they're actually running.
Of course, the Jets may come out swinging and call Tebow's number on an assortment of passing and rushing plays, although we view this as unlikely. In fantasy terms (if you dare to own him in a fantasy league), you can bench Tebow with confidence for Week 1.
In Other Words...
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Simply put, Tim Tebow will not be much of a presence on the field during the Jets' first game against Buffalo.Â
He'll still be adjusting into his various new roles, while Mark Sanchez seems to have a firm grip on the starting job at quarterback according to everything we're hearing out of the Jets' camp.
Consider that the Jets have a full 16 games to implement and unveil their Wildcat plays designed for Tebow, and it's not logical to expect much out of Tebow in Week 1.
He'll become more of a factor in the offense as the season progresses, but it will essentially be Tebow's rookie year all over again, as he tries to hone his skills at various new facets of the game.
Postgame Praise of Mark Sanchez
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Regardless of Mark Sanchez's performance against the Bills defense, Tim Tebow will be on his usual best behavior in front of the media and his team.Â
He will continue his 100 percent backing of Sanchezâ€"as only a man as seemingly perfect as Tebow could.Â
The camaraderie between the two should-be rivals (via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk) battling for a job is astounding. As early as April, Sanchez was quoted by Brian Costello of the New York Post as saying he was "thrilled" to be playing alongside Tebow..
The happy-go-lucky relationship between the two has been under scrutiny of some in the football world, specifically College Football Hall of Famer Joe Theismann.Â
Theismann, in a radio interview on WFAN NY, ripped Sanchez apart for his open friendship with his understudy. "I’m sick and tired of hearing this nice-guy stuff: ‘Oh, Timmy’s a nice guy. Oh, Mark’s a nice (guy)," he said according to ESPNNewYork.com.
Theisman went on to say, "Enough of this nicey two-shoe garbage. Stand up for what you believe in. You’re the starting quarterback. This guy’s not. That’s the way it is. Deal with it."
Through the backlash their relationship has seen in their short time together, it doesn't appear that either Tebow nor Sanchez are the type to rip a teammate. Expect nothing other than high praise by the two Jets quarterbacks of each otherâ€"not just following Week 1 but all season long.
Prediction
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Counting on Tim Tebow for reliable fantasy statistics just isn't wise at this point. He's a glorified second-string quarterback playing in a limited role.
Despite having more athletic skill than possibly anybody else at his position, Tebow's numbers will tell the tale of his minimal usage in Week 1.
Prediction:
Passing: 0/1 0 YDS 0 TD
Rushing:Â 3 ATT 14 YDS 0 TD
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