NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

The Top New York Jets by Jersey Number: 98

By Alan Schechter

Oct 25, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) speaks to New York Jets outside linebacker Quinton Coples (98) during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 25, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) speaks to New York Jets outside linebacker Quinton Coples (98) during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The New York Jets, despite the lack of championships, have had a rich history of talented players.  We continue our countdown of the best by jersey number, continuing with 98.

New York Jets’ fans are some of the most loyal in all of sports, simply because they have had to live through some terrible heartache since the team became the Jets in 1963. Generations have gone by since Super Bowl III, and the team has given its fans more grief than it deserves. Jets’ fans have been through it all.

Related Story: The Top New York Jet to Wear Number 99

Despite all of that, they have a rich history of talented players all over the field. Today, we continue our countdown of the team’s best players, organized by jersey number. So far, we have covered number 99.  In reviewing the number 98, the production took a significant dip. It was tough to pick a player out, but we did, and we profile him here.

The profile is of one who some deem a bust, Quinton Coples.

Coples joined the Jets during the Rex Ryan era, selected in the first round of the 2012 draft.  During his Pro Day, Coples was given a personal workout by coach Ryan, who checked him out at both defensive end and linebacker, leading to the pick not being a total surprise by any stretch. Rex felt he finally had the dominant edge pass rusher that he needed to complete his defense.

Coples flashed during his time in New York. During his rookie year of 2012, he posted two sacks against the Colts, helping his team to a 35-9 win.  A rookie season with 5.5 sacks left Coples with something to build upon. Defensive line coach Karl Dunbar saw significant potential in him, and committed to bringing out all of that potential that he and coach Ryan saw.

After 4.5 sacks in his second year, Coples showed even more signs of a breakout year. He posted a sack against Tom Brady in the first matchup of the year, and over a span of four straight weeks, Coples amassed 3.5 sacks.

His 2014 season was his best in New York, where he posted 6.5 sacks. Over the final three weeks of the season, Coples racked up 3.5 sacks, including two in the final game of the year against the Dolphins.  Dunbar was excited, and really on board with Coples, believing he was going to take the league by storm in 2015.

However, Dunbar, Ryan, and the rest of the regime that drafted Coples were fired at the end of the 2014 season. In walked the Todd Bowles/Mike Maccagnan team, and it ended up meaning the end for Coples in New York. He never really meshed with Bowles’ schemes, his playing time decreased until it was nothing, and he was given his outright release following Week 10 last season.

He ended up in Miami for the final games of 2015, not making much of an impact. The Dolphins proved to be a temporary stop and he’s now currently with Pete Carroll and the Los Angeles Rams.

More nfl spin zone: Five Keys to Jets' Success in 2016

It was not a strong group to wear number 98, but the pick of the litter is definitely the most recent player to don the green No. 98, Quinton Coples.

Home/New York Jets