Quinton Coples Slims Down

Kristian Dyer spoke with Quinton Coples. The conversation turned to the topic of how Coples was preparing for his second season at outside linebacker.

You spent last offseason thinking you would be returning to the defensive line, then come workouts and minicamp and suddenly, you’re playing standing up. How has an offseason knowing your role helped, especially as you continue to transition to outside linebacker?

Tremendously. That’s what I’ve been working on, being an outside linebacker. [I am] working on my drops, working on my coverage. I dropped 15 pounds. I’m faster too. Anytime you lose weight, you get faster. I think I’m in better shape for that role, for all the versatility it asks for.

Hopefully this does the trick for Coples. He just looked like a fish out of water off the edge last year. The guy coming off the edge needs to look explosive. Coples didn't. He looked way more comfortable using brute force on the inside. To protect the secondary this year the Jets are going to need a more dynamic Coples generating consistent pressure off the edge.