I will just say that if there is one thing Geno absolutely HAS to do this season is to avoid passing the ball between his hands behind the back while being taken down by a defensive player.
I don't mean to preach and if I come off that way, I apologize. But after a few posts, the discussion about Smith's mechanics just seemed to me to go too far and some of you sounded a little over the top. I watch the All 22 also. I understand that Smith had a huge transition from the Air Raid/shotgun he ran WVU to the NFL, etc. Mechanics are great to talk about, but I've never seen a QB in his 2nd or 3rd year kept on as a starter because of mechanics. It all has to translate into production and development. So we can talk about throwing motion and footwork all day, but if Smith improves his footwork, shortens his delivery, and quickens his release, but still does not cut down on turnovers, produce touchdowns, improve his accuracy (which translates to completion %), move the team in crucial moments, and win games, talking about his mechanics is meaningless. Improved mechanics may lead to improvement in the areas I discussed, but the NFL is a win now league. There are no style points last time I checked.
Good post. Here's my thing. The mechanics for most successful quarterbacks is basically muscle memory. They practice it intensely and it comes to be second nature, and then they can concentrate on the game in front of them. And their passes are more accurate because they are instinctively controlling their body to throw the best percentage passes. Geno's lack of experience in a dropback offense hinders his effectiveness because he is staying the play by thinking about his footwork, missing the initial moves by defenders because of that, and playing catchup in his head in the middle of the play. That's in a dropback set, and likely why he wasn't under center very much last year. The hope is that he spent every waking minute of the off-season working on that muscle memory, so that he doesn't have to use in-game brain power to make sure he rocks back on the last step and plants forward on the throw. Mechanics are as integral to efficient QB play as decision making, and can cause turnovers as easily as bad coverage reads. But you're correct that great mechanics don't equal great QB play. Sanchez had some very good fluid mechanics coming out of college, improved them, and still had a lot of trouble getting it right in his head when the play was evolving. I have how for Geno, but the thing that should be a huge priority right now is making sure he doesn't trip over his own feet trying to fake a handoff and throw a seam route half a second later.
I agree. And that's why Smith needs to get 75% of the reps in training camp and in the preseason. He needs the experience and the Jets need to find out if he is the future QB or not. Vick should only start if Smith fails or is injured. The Jets need to get off the QB carousel if they want to more than a playoff contender .
Based on reading the tea leaves, this seems to be how the Jets feel as well, though probably closer to 65% than 75%. Unless Geno 'wins' the job early in camp, then it could hit the 75%, and that wouldn't surprise me.
This pretty much sums it up for me. His improved Wr corps should help him out with more precise route running and better hands. The OLine still has question marks but with Vick's mentoring, Geno should learn how to use his legs even more effeciently. Geno has the tools and soon he'll have the supporting cast. At that point, it will be all up to Geno if he stays a starting QB in the NFL or not.
Nope. You either have that innate ability to run or you do not. Michael Vick cannot mentor someone to be Michael Vick. Geno is a drop back pocket passer who is a bit mobile, he is not a running QB. He's not a dual threat guy, he's a passer that can move. He looked awkward last year running and we shouldn't hope or expect him to become Kaep or Wilson or Cam. He's not those guys. _
I think Geno has a pretty decent mix between passing and running. He doesnt look for the run right after he snaps the ball which is something I like. He'll wait until the last possible second to take off he doesnt see anything open.
Mechanics...shmanics....some of the worst looking throwers have had stellar careers. Geno needs time and experience. It's his decision making that is circumspect. THAT is what the 75% reps is going to fix. His absorbing the offense and comfort level with Marty will far outweigh the mechanics issues. Oh...also having some real honest to goodness WR's on the team will help tons too...
I can't remember the game but I loved that Geno TD run from about the 10 yard line. He took the snap, started to back peddle, then ran up the middle. That was a great run, one that 80% of other QBs could never pull off.
I couldn't find the numbers, but I seem to remember that in the last 4 games, the majority of pass plays were out of the gun. Morningwheg is gonna have to decide whether to play to his qb's strength, if Geno can't work from under center efficiently...or give Vick a shot. I think we have a real shot to get deep into the playoffs...but only if Geno plays well or they sit him early.
Geno also had 6 rushing tds, second to none and tying only Cam, who had nearly 40 more attempts. I expect to see Geno tuck the ball and run a lot more when he is under pressure rather than believing in his arm too much and throwing interceptions in heavy coverage. He said in college that he wanted to break the mold of black running qb's, and that he wanted to be a pocket qb exclusively. It worked in college, but I think he is beginning to understand the advantage that running qb's have in the NFL.
Tis my favorite number but I was wrong about the score of that bowl game. Syracuse was his bugaboo. Although I do think a lot of it had to do with wvu's terrible defense his final two years.
They damn sure didn't help. But you can hold those 3 games close to you considering you lost 8 straight to wvu before that. Guess it all lands on Geno.
Who's holding anything close, you're the one that thought I was bitter or held a grudge because of Geno. You're starting to sound more like West Virginia redneck or a Geno fanboi masquerading as a Jet fan. Here's a clue (before you feel compelled to Google more SU-WVU facts)--we've been a shitty team for a very long time and WVU has been a much better program over the last decade plus. A really really good college QB is supposed to beat a really shitty football team. At least once. In three tries. Or at least not look awful in losing all three times. _
