While I know a lot of us don't have much faith in Geno at this point based on what he's done on the field, it's encouraging to see him working hard in the offseason with the right people. I am encouraged to hear it wasn't just some quick trip....that he spent time over a span of two months with House. '' A few weeks after the season, Geno Smith showed up on the USC campus to work with one of the nation's top throwing specialists. It was more than a few passing drills, a pat on the back and a plane ticket home. He stuck around for the full House. Smith spent nearly two months under the supervision of Tom House, who introduced the New York Jets' quarterback to the high-tech world of physical and mental performance. He evaluated Smith's throwing motion by sticking tiny sensors all over his body and hooking him up to a computer. When he threw a football, it generated data in a three-dimensional representation that detailed every nuance in his delivery. A 1,000-frame-per-second camera allowed House and his team of instructors to break down every phase. Science! And that was only part of the program. As he does with every quarterback, House assessed Smith at the outset, focusing on four basic metrics: biomechanical, functional strength, nutrition and a mental/emotional profile. His progress in those areas was charted throughout his stay. "I think he left incrementally better in all four metrics," House told ESPN.com. House spoke in generalities, saying he doesn't get into specifics when discussing his clients. Fair enough. He described Smith as a hard worker who's "not afraid to put in the time. ... He was challenged, and he met the challenge perfectly." Some of the biggest names in the sport, including Tom Brady and Drew Brees, have gone to House for advice and help. The man knows throwing. He pitched in the major leagues for eight years (he caught Hank Aaron's 715th homer while standing in the Atlanta Braves' bullpen) and later became a pitching coach. In 2014, he crossed over to pop culture. Bill Paxton played House in the Disney film "Million Dollar Arm," a true story in which House teaches two teenaged cricket players from India how to pitch a baseball. So yes, he knows big projects. Smith isn't a big project, according to House. "He's really good," he said. "None of them are perfect -- Nolan Ryan and Greg Maddux weren't perfect when they came to me -- but we try to train for perfection." Smith spoke positively of his experience with House, but he downplayed the notion that his mechanics needed to be tweaked. House said he made "incremental changes in his delivery and incremental changes in his conditioning." He also said he adjusted Smith's diet, which should help. He expects Smith to return for a "tuneup" before training camp. You won't be able to notice any differences in Smith's delivery, at least not with the naked eye. House said half-jokingly, "If you recognize big changes, I need you to come work for me." There will be skeptics, of course. Will a scientific study of his throwing motion help Smith avoid multiple-interception games? Will a healthier diet make him better in the red zone? So much of the quarterback position involves innate ability. But in House's world, the objective is to help every athlete improve by 5 percent. That, he said, can separate a Super Bowl champion from a marginal starter. Say this for Smith: He's trying. "This," House said, "should make him a more consistent performer for a longer time."
Nothing would make me happier than seeing Geno turn it around and become a viable QB. It would allow us to go every other direction in the draft, and have a 2nd round cost controlled QB. That said, I dont see that happening lol.
Regarding the OP and in keeping with my standing here as a confirmed Smith skeptic, it sounds like the focus of his work with House is all wrong. To be clear perhaps the mental/emotional part might bear fruit depending (which I will get back to). But in short I don't think Smith's problems have generally to do with the physical. Smith's problems have to do with exercising judgment during the game, during games that count, when the season is on the line. His expresion may not give away that he is nervous, but he sure plays like it, and how that affects his decisions in the real time of the game. Yes, he does have some physical issues, like showing he can be effective behind center, but again that seems to be more a mental than physical thing even so - it's more about putting together seeing the D while he takes the snap and going to his drop than it is about where he physically is in relation to the center. Now of course the article lists mental/emotional as one of the four areas of focus, but nowhere else is there any mention of what specifically is being done in attention to that area. In fact no mention is made of it after it is listed. I tend to be skeptical as a result. Smith should be figuring out why viewing game film has not translated into his anticipating coverage by the D, or how to put together seeing the D with the timing and accuracy of his throws. I even find this choice of focus to be discouraging in the sense that by choosing to pursue the kind of more physical attention he seems to be getting from House he is failing to acknowledge what his real problem is, and that is what is between his ears, or the lack thereof. So in short I don't expect at least this particular program to make a significant difference in addressing his problems.
Sorry still have my doubts even with the last game against the Phins. ( PS that was Garbage time ) Was never able to look off his primary receiver and did not see the whole field clear enough to know when to throw and when to tuck and run or throw it away. Not sure if he was taught that at school.
Until he can take snaps under center, he's half a quarterback, and we'll be running half an offense. The rest is just eyewash.
Not one mention of watching film. Geno isn't improving, even so it's marginal at best. His ass needs to be locked in film room for an entire year. We know Geno can throw a pretty pass.
Since there's no "limitless" type pill out there, no one can affect this. House's method may be to put him in situations and train conditioned responses to these situations. This would take months and maybe years. In any case, people seem to forget the way GS quit and/or came entirely unprepared for the 3-int in 1 quarter game against the Bill last year. That performance said it all to me and it goes beyond intelligence.
What QBs have come out of this that have been able to turn it around? I feel like this is more for QBs who it's already clicked for fine tune their skills (Brees/Brady). 5% of terrible is still terrible. I'll give him credit for trying.
That was my first thought when I read the article. I knew I recognized House's name, but didn't know he had become a QB guru (in terms of throwing motion) or that Brady or Brees had worked with him. I agree that Geno's problems either had less to do or nothing to do with his biomechanics and a lot more to do with the short circuit in his brain or failure to recognize D alignments and coverages. He should have gone to work with a former QB who was great at breaking down film, recognizing coverages and making great decisions. I don't expect this to help Geno much at all unfortunately. I'd love to see him develop as well, but don't expect it to happen. He has physical and arm talent, it just seems that he's short on the mental aspects a QB needs in the NFL. Perhaps he can develop those things, but he needs to spend his offseason time focusing on that, not physical things imo.
It won't happen, normally you see some improvement in regards to decision-making / football IQ from year 1 to year 2. We saw the bare minimum. He's not going to be the guy for us. Throwing specialist ... you know the more I think about that, the more I shake my head ... no accountability what-so-ever.
This is all true but they don't play games or practice in March/April so he can't train for the decision making part or his biggest problems. He can only focus on the physical. By taking that time to focus on football and getting better it is very encouraging and shows that he's willing to work to get over all of his problems. Instead of taking all the time off to party or train dogs for fights or dwell on his failures he is putting in a strong effort to get better. This is all positive. By all means this effort isn't going to change him overnight and fix all his problems but its going to help at least a little and as a fan of the Jets it is very encouraging that the QB is at least busting his ass to get better.
