Where and when the wildcat will be unveiled still remains a mystery. The Jets have intimated that it might happen in the first regular season game against Buffalo. Offensive coordinator Tony Sparano would like the focus placed elsewhere.
Sparano, who never used the word ‘wildcat,’ when he answered questions on Tuesday, simply said, “We know there’s going to be some version of something.”
He also pointed out that if they run something in that vein 100 times out of 1,100 total plays during the course of the season, it’s not a big enough element of the offense to warrant all of the attention.
As for quarterback Tim Tebow’s take, he said Tuesday: “Hopefully we can do something good with it.”
Sparano moved on to praise both quarterback Mark Sanchez and Tebow. He commended Sanchez’s decision-making, footwork and overall progress.
Although Tebow went just 4-14 on Sunday against the Panthers, Sparano spoke glowingly about his performance, absolving him of responsibility for several mistakes and highlighting several good plays including a completion to receiver Joseph Collins and another to tight end Dedrick Epps.
The lack of touchdowns is on everyone’s mind. The Jets have scored just 21 points, but Sparano said that he’s not bothered by it, other than, “it bothers me for (the players).”
However, he quickly followed that with a qualifying statement. “We want touchdowns, not field goals. Make sure you put that in the headline."
The Jets offense has been criticized for being extremely vanilla during the course of the preseason. While most teams don’t show a lot (the Jets haven't shown the wildcat or any other wrinkles), Sparano was asked if he was concerned that the team wasn’t getting to work on their game before the regular season.
Sparano feels that by not showing his hand, he is removing preparation time from future opponents.
“I think the guys we play against every day our pretty good,” he said. “They’re a pain in the neck to prepare for. With all due respect to our opponents, this is a heck of a group.
I’d rather go out and deal with (linebacker) Bart Scott every day.”
Thursday’s final preseason game against the Eagles should show even less than the first three games. With most of the starters not playing, including Sanchez and Tebow, QBs Greg McElroy and Matt Simms will be taking their first non-practice snaps of the year. Sanchez and Tebow are putting their entire focus this week on getting the two younger players prepared.
“[We’re] giving them our full attention, helping them out as much as we can,” Sanchez said.
But, probably not with the wildcat.
Stay dialed in on the New York Jets by following correspondent Lisa Zimmerman on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLNYJ and @LisaZimmerman.
