Coach Rex Ryan reportedly believes DE Quinton Coples is "poised for a monster season" in 2013.

Coples' rookie campaign was a bright spot for the Jets as the No. 16 overall pick led the team with 5.5 sacks -- 3.5 of which came during the final three weeks. Along with Muhammad Wilkerson, he's a bookend for the Jets to build on in Rex's 3-4 scheme.

Coach Rex Ryan noted that first-round DE Quinton Coples is "kind of hitting his strike a little bit" in the past few games.

"This is going to be a guy who is going to obviously be a huge part of what we do in the future," said Ryan. "It's rare to get a guy with his kind of height, weight, speed." Coples is tied for the team lead with four sacks, which says more about the Jets' lack of pass rush than his own success.

Coach Rex Ryan suggested DE Quinton Coples is on the verge of taking on an important defensive role.

Still learning offensive formations and blocking schemes, Coples hadn't practiced with confidence until this week. The first-rounder had played just 30 percent of the snaps through three games. The Jets will likely use more four-man fronts against the 49ers' run-heavy approach on Sunday.

Jets coach Rex Ryan compares first-round DE Quinton Coples to Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul.

No pressure, Quinton. "They are two unusual talents. ... They're unusual guys," Ryan said. "Hopefully Quinton can be the same kind of player Pierre-Paul ended up being. This guy really gets it." Coples had a big night in Friday's preseason debut, and could put himself on the preseason shortlist for Defensive Rookie of the Year with two more big exhibition games.

First-round pick Quinton Coples recorded a batted pass, a strip-sack, and two tackles for loss in the Jets' preseason opener.

Coples looked like the real deal, and afterwards coach Rex Ryan described his impact as "tremendous," even if Coples' snap-to-snap consistency was a bit lacking. Still, Coples was one of the most impressive first-round picks of the first week of preseason. Other high-impact first-round defenders included Whitney Mercilus, Luke Kuechly, Melvin Ingram, and Chandler Jones.

Jets first-round DL Quinton Coples has been removed from the starting base formations.

For now, the Jets' plan is to use Coples in passing situations and as an end in the 4-3, but will leave him as a backup when in the base 3-4. "We'll work it from back to front," DC Mike Pettine said of Coples' role. "He'll be a third-down guy, similar to [Aaron] Maybin." Pettine still says that he eventually expects Coples to play on 50 to 80 percent of the defensive plays per game. The Jets are desperate for pass-rushing help after Maybin led the team with a meager six sacks last year.

Jets DC Mike Pettine may not play "a snap of base defense" in division games this year.

The idea of a base defense is going out of style in today's NFL, and the Jets plan to combat the spread offenses of the Pats and Bills with more 4-3 looks. The shift not only allows the Jets to better utilize Buddy Ryan's "46" defense, but also takes advantage of young talent up front in Quinton Coples, Muhammad Wilkerson, and Kenrick Ellis. Coples, in particular, has the coaching staff excited after spring practices.

Jets DC Mike Pettine says he'll feature more 4-3 alignments in 2012.

"It just makes sense to use four true defensive linemen," Pettine said. It means No. 16 pick Quinton Coples could see even fewer snaps at outside linebacker than previously thought. Coples is expected to play primarily left end, but has also seen time at right end and tackle in Jets OTAs.