Quinton Coples is making the transition from defensive end to outside linebacker this year, but he already appears to be pretty confident in his skills in the new role.
The 6-foot-6, 285-pound pass rusher thinks covering new Dolphins tight end Dustin Keller and Rob Gronkowski will be no problem for him and the Jets. In fact, he makes it sound simple.
“Dustin Keller? I wouldn’t let him get off the line,” Coples told Seth Walder of New York Daily News. “That’s the best way to cover, ain’t it?”
Coples had a similar plan with Gronkowski.
“Yeah. Just don’t let him get off the line,” Coples said. “I won’t just be one-on-one with him, I’ll have help.”
It’s amazing that Coples is the first person to come up with this game plan. If only someone had thought of it sooner. Then Gronkowski couldn’t have piled up 187 receptions for 2,663 yards and 38 touchdowns in 43 career games.
Coples racked up 5 1/2 sacks in 2012 playing five-technique defensive end in the Jets’ 3-4 alignment. He also had nine quarterback hits and 14 hurries, according to Pro Football Focus.
