Best and Worst Case Scenarios for the 2012 New York Jets

Aug 4, 2010; Cortland, NY, USA; New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum (left) and head coach Rex Ryan during training camp in Cortland. Mandatory Credit: William Perlman/THE STAR-LEDGER via US PRESSWIRE

These two guys pictured right (Mike Tannebaum and Rex Ryan) have a big year coming up in 2012. 2011 ended in a heaping mess, that we all want to forget. Mark Sanchez took some steps back at the end of the year, and in comes Tim Tebow, and all that comes with him. The point of this piece is not to debate the merits of the move.

Today, we are going to look ahead to 2012. I have made my view clear on how I feel regarding Tim Tebow. I have also talked about the scenarios they can use him in, where it has the potential to be successful. Today I am going to give you both my best case scenario, and my worst case scenario for the 2012 New York Jets season.

BEST CASE SCENARIO

It’s pretty clear what it will take for the best case scenario to happen. Mark Sanchez will step up and take the QB competition head on. He will take all of this negativity being shown towards him, and play with a chip on his shoulder. That chip, will turn him into the quarterback he expects to be. He will cut down on his interceptions and lead the team.

Tebow will not play 20 snaps at quarterback. He might play that many snaps, but it will be at any number of positions. He will see time at wide receiver, running back, fullback, as well as a couple of snaps in the Wildcat. The offensive plays that involve Tebow, will also have Mark Sanchez on the football field, making it impossible to know where the football is going, and where it’s coming from.

The defense will come back to the forefront, led by Quinton Coples and Demario Davis. Quinton Coples and Aaron Maybin both have double digit sack totals, and Calvin Pace is not far behind with 8 or 9. The defensive backfield has a re-birth, with Josh Bush and Antonio Allen making the lives of Rob Gronkowski and others a living hell. Demario Davis is active in pass coverage as well, and between the three of them, a good 9 or 10 INTs.

All of this leads to an 11-5 or 12-4 record, and a playoff appearance. It could even earn the Jets a home game, as they will fight the New England Patriots tooth and nail for the division title.

WORST CASE SCENARIO

Tebowmania takes over New York, even more than it has already, and it starts to break down Mark Sanchez. He has a very middle of the road preseason, and Tebow looks OK when he comes in to play against the second team defenses. Approximately halfway through the preseason, however, Rex Ryan comes out and announces that Mark Sanchez is still the starting quarterback, but the pressure is still mounting from outside.

The questions continue, when will Tim Tebow be named the starter? How is Mark going to respond? The answer to the latter question is, not well.

After barely escaping week 1 with a victory, a three game tailspin starts in Pittsburgh. Mark is feeling the pressure, and his game suffers. It culminates with a game that the Jets are losing at home in week 4 to the Niners at the half. Tim Tebow comes out to play quarterback in the second half, the Jets have a valiant comeback, but ultimately fall to 1-3. The week after that game, Tim Tebow is named the starting quarterback.

And it all comes unglued.

Tim Tebow starts, and shows the world what his quarterback mechanics are really like. He bounces passes to Santonio Holmes, throws passes over Stephen Hill’s head, and his completion percentage is well below 50%. Santonio Holmes’ attitude returns, and the locker room is a full on divided room, and Tebow can’t save it.

The Jets finish the season 4-12.

There you have it, my best and worst case scenarios for 2012. What do you think? Sound off below…