The problem is that the skills that he doesn't display are ones that aren't exactly learned or acquired through more experience in the NFL. Terrible situational awareness, pretty bad pocket presence, fear of getting hit, and bad short passing decision making (pick 6 waiting to happen on short stops, outs, etc.). The only thing he's displayed to me that has really impressed me is his intermediate passing. Outside of that, quarterbacks can slightly improve their pocket awareness and situational awareness, but it's not something that Geno has even proved to be average at. If he improved the slight amount that is generally possible in these categories he probably still wouldn't be average at them. I've said it a million times but the gameplan against him is fairly simple; blitz him early and often in the first 3-4 possessions and he'll feel it the rest of the game regardless of the rushers. It's a shame because he has the big boy arm and pretty good touch on the ball when he's not thinking he's about to get hit versus a three man rush. That doesn't even get into several poor decisions made off the field, and regardless of how many people want to use the age battle to defend it, I personally never want my quarterback doing any of the things he's done.
Fear of getting hit is definitely a problem acquired through more experience in the NFL. Geno used to stand up in front of anything and take the hit, sometimes with good consequences and often with bad. Now that he's no longer willing to do that his play has been somewhat capped, both the decent and the poor aspects of it. This is David Carr Syndrome and I think it happens to all young QB's who get hit too often early on. After his first game the TB Bucs were in awe of his willingness to take a hit to get a throw off. There were several quotes after that game about how he'd really showed them something with his willingness to stand in with a mountain headed his way and no way out. The Jets offensive line has been mediocre for 4+ years now. It's been outright bad at times due to a singular hole. The Jets have to fix that before anything else is going to come together for the offense. Ryan Fitzpatrick is 50/50 to be down for the season with an injury by week 8. Yep and yep.
Yes, that is my main issue with Smith. As in the bolded part. But I also as you say am concerned about his off the field behavior. I don't follow college ball, but all resports on him as the draft that year approached had assessments dropping on him, from where sometime before he was seen as a first round pick. Not for nothing did he drop. Then you had his cunty attitude at the draft itself, and then in camp he could do nothing to beat out a very vulnerable Sanchez. From that point on I've been a skeptic, and his awful play has only solidified my negative opinion on him. At this point while not impossible I think it very unlikely he will or would develop into an acceptable Qb, let alone a good one.
WHile I agree with your assessment of how Smith appears more gunshy as time has gone on, I think that is more a combination of his own lack of confidence in his in game judgment as well as quite simply holding on to the ball too long. His pass protection has been spotty to be sure what with first VD stil at LG and then replaced with Winters was bad in his first season. But overall it has been no worse than average.
One thing Geno could work on that would improve his game tenfold is his faking ability. He might be the worst Play Action faker and look off quarterback in the league. Those are two easy things to work on. 1) hide the ball better/sell the fake 2) Know the routes so well that you can look at one receiver while knowing exactly where another receiver is going to be. Pennington had many weaknesses, but his greatest strength was his play action; and that strength helped him move a lot of chains, and win games. The game is about misdirection to open gaps/holes in the defense. Pennington was a master of misdirection. Geno sucks at faking and hiding the football.
Geno is way more mobile quarterback though. I don't think Fitz will survive 4 weeks into the season. Fitz is a peg leg and a statue, he is going to get hit.
Nice post i agree... but when i look at the rosters & coaching staffs we had, would you agree that a lot of QB's would look pretty miserable in it as starters?
Could things have been done differently? Would the results have been different? Of course to the first question, but on the second, we can't really say if the result would have been better. In any event it doesnt' matter. Here we are, and all we can do is go forward from here. On that score, Smith is almost certainly not the way forward.
I think we can both agree that Petty's our guy of the future.. but that's not until next year maybe even 2017. You really think Fitz is going to be a better option until then over a kid with upside? I'm rooting for fitz but part of me can't forget how many times i've called that man garbage over the last idk how many years now. As much as the Jets fan in me wants to say he'll turn his career around now (for whatever reason that may be? lol) and lead a team to the playoffs... i just can't because we KNOW the truth on fitz already, he's not all that.
Very briefly, becaus I gotta go, but I've read an analysis of Fitz that says he's often played with teams that have poor defenses, and that many, most?, of his mistakes have come when they needed a score and he was pressing it. You do take chances when your team is down and running out of possessions. That's what you're supposed to do. Maybe there will be alot less of that for Fitz with this D.
Geno is doing us all a favor doing what he knows best : self destruction. Methinks the football Gods may make this a Fitzmagic year for us.xx Love how this is playing out.
I didn't know there was a Player's ATM machine right there in the lockerroom.. No wonder Geno got cracked..
Honestly, I just don't see Geno as smart enough to run an offense. It's not even his mechanics, as I've seen him make some decent throws. I've also seen some horrendous throws. I've also seen some really dumb mistakes, on and off the field. When you listen to him talk, you can just tell, the lights aren't on ...there may be someone home, but they're forever in the dark. Week 1 return to the LOS seems extreeeemely unlikely.
