Why Tim Tebow Will Have a Bigger Impact Than Brad Smith Did for New York Jets

Rex Ryan puckered his lips and looked down at the podium, the brim of his hat narrowly concealing the agony of defeat the New York Jets had just suffered after another Tim Tebow fourth-quarter comeback.

"It's tough to stop 11-on-11 football like that," Rex said. "Tebow made the play, so you have to give him credit." He looked back up, stared off into the distance and sighed.

"We thought that play was coming," he added, "but we never got it defended, and that's what happens when you've got a good athlete—a big, strong guy like that—kind of like we had with Brad Smith."

And with that last statement, he puckered his lips and again looked down at the podium. As if it wasn't bad enough that they had lost their jack-of-all-trades weapon that offseason in free agency, they had just lost to a quarterback who reminded Rex that you don't know what you've got until it's gone, comes back and makes you pay.

But in the world of constant upgrades and new editions, consider Tim Tebow a version 2.0 of Brad Smith.

Up to this point, it's been unclear as to what Tebow's role will be. If you ask Jets offensive coordinator Tony Sparano, you won't get much of an answer, but special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff obliged Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.

"

...Westhoff told the Daily News he will use Tebow on his unit. Westhoff has already discussed his vision with Tebow, who was amenable and eager to contribute on special teams, according to the coach.

Although Westhoff didn’t reveal his exact plan, he called Tebow a “more potent Brad Smith” with an ability to make a difference on special teams.

"

We've been hearing speculation about the impact Tebow could have on special teams for some time, but up to this point in his career, he's had no impact on special teams—he's never played there. 

That being said, it was Westhoff's creativity on special teams that helped the team maximize Smith's talents. He had never returned kicks before 2007.

Tebow's lack of experience won't stop the Jets from trying, and it's not hard to see why. He may not have experience, and he may not be taking kicks to the house anytime soon (or ever), but his work ethic, attitude, intensity and never-say-never mentality will be great tools as he learns his new responsibilities.

And he's certainly physically capable of carrying them out.

"People get tired of me saying it," Rex said to the News, "but how do you not describe this guy as a football player? That’s what he is. He’s got size. He’s got strength. He’s got speed. And he can throw the football."

That last sentence may be the most important aspect of Tebow's game. No, Tebow may not reel off big touchdown runs like Smith did, but Smith never threw a bomb like Tebow can.

While Rex Ryan has effectively diffused almost all speculation of a quarterback controversy now or in the future, the fact remains that when Tebow is in the shotgun running the option, defenses must be prepared to defend the run and the pass.

In that sense, Tebow adds to the passing game, which Brad Smith rarely ever did, reeling in just two touchdown passes in his career. When Smith lined up in the shotgun, though, teams were rarely ever preparing for a pass. It bears mentioning, also, that Smith wasn't a dynamic passer in college, either.

Say what you will about Tebow's accuracy, but he can throw the football. And while newspapers are busy writing about his impact on special teams, and while teams are busy preparing for it, the Jets are loading their weapon and taking aim.

Follow @ErikFrenz