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Chaney graduate Cavanaugh is pleased to be back
Youngstown
The first question posed by a St. Christine School fourth grader to Jets quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh on Friday morning was simple and tactful.
“Will Tim Tebow get to play in the fourth quarter of games?” he asked.
Cavanaugh, a Youngstown native, smirked and confidently responded, “he won’t just get to play in the fourth quarter,” he said. “We’d like for him to play for a good portion of games.”
Peyton Manning’s free agent signing with the Denver Broncos has been the top headline maker in the NFL offseason. What was going to happen to the former Broncos QB, Tebow, turned out to have been a just as — if not more — entertaining sideshow. The University of Florida legend and media darling was traded to the Jets for a pair of draft picks just a day after the Manning deal.
“He is what he’s advertised to be,” Cavanaugh said. “The first thing he said to me was, ‘Coach, I’m a football player first and a quarterback second, but I’d like to be an even better quarterback.’”
Tebow will be the backup to Mark Sanchez, who set career highs in passing yards and touchdowns in 2011 under Cavanaugh’s watch. With his size, versatility and running ability, Tebow presents an added dimension where a wildcat-style will be implemented to the New York offense. The Jets were second in the league in red zone scoring (65.38%) last year. It’s suggested that Tebow can further bolster those formations and also line up on two-point conversion attempts.
“He’s going to help out in anyway he can and we’re going to have some special plans for him to showcase what he’s got and what he has is going to make us a better football team,” Cavanaugh said.
A 1974 graduate of Chaney High, Cavanaugh went on to play football at Pitt where he led the Panthers to an undefeated season and national championship in 1976. He was back in Youngstown to be the inaugural inductee of St. Christine’s athletic hall of fame, where he attended grade school.
Cavanaugh was drafted by the New England Patriots in 1978 and served as a backup QB in Super Bowls XIX and XXV won by the San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants, respectively. He was the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive coordinator when they won the 2000 Super Bowl.
“As a coach, it really felt special,” he said. “I was calling plays and making players better. It was great to share it with a coaching staff and to see our work through to the ultimate goal.”
Still, his greatest life accomplishments came right where he was standing on Friday.
“The greatest thing that’s ever happened to me was being raised in Youngstown, OH,” he said drawing loud cheers.