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Post by shootmenow on Jun 24, 2015 13:52:53 GMT -5
It's worth going to the article for the videos, but either way, the guy makes some strong points in Geno's favor. It's easy to forget that perfect final game, but it was pretty awesome.
www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000498380/article/making-the-leap-no-19-jets-qb-geno-smith
Making the Leap, No. 19: Jets QB Geno Smith By Gregg Rosenthal Around The NFL Editor Published: June 23, 2015 at 10:14 a.m. Updated: June 23, 2015 at 11:35 a.m.
For the third straight year, the Around The NFL crew will document the players we believe will be "Making the Leap" in 2015. This could be a player emerging from no-name status to a quality starter. Or it could mean an excellent player jumping to superstar status.
Geno Smith showed more last December than Derek Carr or Blake Bortles showed all season. He torched the Dolphins in a nearly flawless Week 17 game, but nobody noticed because the Jets' season was over in November. Nobody noticed because "Geno" is already a four-letter word in New York.
There are different types of Making the Leap candidates. There are diamonds in the rough like Charles Johnson. There are guys like Le'Veon Bell last year, a great young player that we believed could develop into a true superstar. And there are guys like Geno, just trying to improve to "acceptable."
Though he is only 24, it feels like the book has already been written on Smith because of his propensity for big mistakes under pressure. But after being viewed as a punchline for two seasons, Geno is now in a perfect position to develop into a midlevel starter who survives a full 16-game slate. After a brutal start to his career, that would be quite a leap.
What changed in December
Geno's lowest moment as a pro was the last memory most folks have of him. In an ugly Week 13 loss to Miami on Monday Night Football, Rex Ryan was so afraid of letting Smith actually play quarterback that the Jets only attempted 13 passes compared to 49 rushes. Rex told a national audience that he'd rather set offensive progress back 40 years than allow Smith to do his job.
And then suddenly Geno started to do his job quite well. In the last four games, Smith completed 65 percent of his passes for 1,001 yards, six touchdowns, and two picks. He averaged 9.2 yards-per-attempt over that stretch, tied for best in the league. By the time the Jets played Miami again in Week 17, Geno was virtually flawless:
I re-watched each Smith snap on the coaches film from Game Rewind to see how he pulled off this turnaround. Here are my biggest takeaways:
1. Geno excelled over the final month because of his decision-making. His biggest issue as a pro has been panicking when under duress and throwing passes up for grabs. He's prone to the brain freeze. In the final month, Smith calmly found the open receiver. When no one was open, he made plays with his legs or got rid of the ball.
2. One huge reason that Smith made good decisions: He had time. The Jets protected Smith very well over the final month, which allowed him to show off his strengths. Smith has a strong arm and methodically goes through his reads better than plenty of his young contemporaries. A big question: If protection isn't so ideal in 2015, can he still excel?
3. Geno got me fired up enough to write this because he owns skills that are difficult to teach. He has excellent pocket movement, buying time to attempt passes. Some quarterbacks never get that sixth sense in the pocket; Geno has it. He is not afraid to make difficult throws, aggressively pushing the ball down the field. He looks off defenders. The play below is an example of him stepping up in the pocket and taking a hit before delivering:
4. The Jets didn't ask Smith to do too much. He ran the offense and didn't take too many chances.
5. In Weeks 14-16, Smith played solid midlevel starter football. He mostly stayed out of the way. But in the season finale, Smith put together one of the best games by any quarterback all season, throwing for 358 yards on only 25 attempts. He threw receivers open and even his incompletions were on point. The game showed off his big arm and his touch.
The Gailey effect
December was fun and all, but Smith wouldn't make our list if not for the arrival of Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey. In previous stops, Gailey has turned Tyler Thigpen into a starting fantasy option, helped Ryan Fitzpatrick get a $60 million contract and coached a Jay Fiedler-led Dolphins team to finish eighth in points scored.
Gailey accomplished all of the above by getting mediocre quarterbacks to play smart and get rid of the ball quickly. Smith has plenty of talent, and he certainly has the supporting cast. The Jets receiver posse -- Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker, Jeremy Kerley, second-round pick Devin Smith and tight end Jace Amaro -- form one of the deeper groups in the league.
Gailey has cooked up numbers with far less talent. His best offenses are similar to the one that Smith excelled in at West Virginia. It's almost like the Jets had a plan here.
Expectations
We aren't making the case that Geno Smith will be a Pro Bowler. We do believe he has the skills to be a competent starting quarterback who holds off backup Ryan Fitzpatrick all season. He can be the type of guy who finishes in the top 20 of our year-end QB rankings. Those guys have plenty of market value.
To put it another way: Geno, like Alex Smith in Kansas City, will no longer be the guy to hold the team back. The Genocoaster in 2015 should more closely resemble a Swiss train, staying efficiently on schedule.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast discusses the Bills' QB situation, the Odell Beckham Jr. drama and unveils the Superstar Club. Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW.
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Post by rexneffect on Jun 24, 2015 14:09:46 GMT -5
So Geno is great:
1. After a month of barely being asked to do his job;
2. When eliminated from playoff contention and the games no longer matter;
3. When playing teams also eliminated from the playoffs who are not risking injuries to make big plays;
4. When asked to do very little.
I'm not going to be excited about a guy who performs when it doesn't matter and melts down when it does. This isn't new. He did the same thing his first year and everybody thought the light had finally turned on but he came back in year two worse than the first year. I'd fear he comes into the regular season this year even worse but there's not much worse he can do unless he's intentionally throwing interceptions.
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Post by DDNYjets on Jun 24, 2015 14:15:04 GMT -5
We shall see what happens when the bright lights come on. This is the time of year for rainbows, unicorns and training camp fluff pieces.
Show me the baby.
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Post by HawkeyeJet on Jun 24, 2015 14:23:15 GMT -5
So Geno is great: 1. After a month of barely being asked to do his job; 2. When eliminated from playoff contention and the games no longer matter; 3. When playing teams also eliminated from the playoffs who are not risking injuries to make big plays; 4. When asked to do very little. I'm not going to be excited about a guy who performs when it doesn't matter and melts down when it does. This isn't new. He did the same thing his first year and everybody thought the light had finally turned on but he came back in year two worse than the first year. I'd fear he comes into the regular season this year even worse but there's not much worse he can do unless he's intentionally throwing interceptions. Blah Blah Blah. You won't get excited, I won't value such an inept analysis.
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Post by MDL JET on Jun 24, 2015 14:28:03 GMT -5
Rex Ryan was so afraid of letting Smith actually play quarterback that the Jets only attempted 13 passes compared to 49 rushes. Geno isn't very good, but this is one of the reasons why Rex is the worst for a QBs development. I'm all for running the ball 49 times but only because that's what the defense is giving. Can't keep putting your QBs on a roller coaster of game plans and limitations. Hopefully Bowles lets Geno do his thing and then move on from there.
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Post by HawkeyeJet on Jun 24, 2015 14:31:43 GMT -5
Rex Ryan was so afraid of letting Smith actually play quarterback that the Jets only attempted 13 passes compared to 49 rushes. Hopefully Bowles lets Geno do his thing and then move on from there. That's all I hope for. Figure out what he can do well and devise some stuff that allows him to do it. Rather than whatever the hell Rex's philosophy was on a given week.
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Post by Touchable on Jun 24, 2015 14:52:08 GMT -5
Rex Ryan was so afraid of letting Smith actually play quarterback that the Jets only attempted 13 passes compared to 49 rushes. Geno isn't very good, but this is one of the reasons why Rex is the worst for a QBs development. I'm all for running the ball 49 times but only because that's what the defense is giving. Can't keep putting your QBs on a roller coaster of game plans and limitations. Hopefully Bowles lets Geno do his thing and then move on from there. Pretty much When they actually took the handcuffs off Geno at the end of last year, he looked like a totally different player. He seems like he plays better when he doesn't have someone in his fucking ear constantly telling him not to turn the ball over. It looks like he performs at a higher level when he's allowed to just go out and play. I'm not sure how the hell you can get into a rhythm as a QB if you've only put the ball in the air 8 times heading into the 4th quarter. Is Geno the answer? Probably not But the kid definitely deserves one more shot with a much improved set of skill players around him.
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Post by JetRepulsion1 on Jun 24, 2015 15:23:07 GMT -5
We shall see what happens when the bright lights come on. This is the time of year for rainbows, unicorns and training camp fluff pieces. Show me the baby. He really hasn't had dick at WR to throw to either though. Again, I know he's played badly, but his #2 WR was cut when we signed Percy Harvin. Not a great WR corps last year and when Decker was out, which was alot last year, we had NO ONE. So, let's see what he can do w/ a healty decker, brandon marshal and the kid from Ohio State.
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Post by The Tax Returns Are in Kenya on Jun 24, 2015 18:38:32 GMT -5
So Geno is great: 1. After a month of barely being asked to do his job; 2. When eliminated from playoff contention and the games no longer matter; 3. When playing teams also eliminated from the playoffs who are not risking injuries to make big plays; 4. When asked to do very little. I'm not going to be excited about a guy who performs when it doesn't matter and melts down when it does. This isn't new. He did the same thing his first year and everybody thought the light had finally turned on but he came back in year two worse than the first year. I'd fear he comes into the regular season this year even worse but there's not much worse he can do unless he's intentionally throwing interceptions. Exactly. 100% factual "analysis". Geno has all the physical tools and none of the mental ones and that is not something you gain with more experience. He melts down and implodes when it matters; you'll never get anywhere with a QB like that. He's done it two years in a row now, the pattern is definitely emerging.
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Post by shootmenow on Jun 25, 2015 0:35:48 GMT -5
So Geno is great: 1. After a month of barely being asked to do his job; 2. When eliminated from playoff contention and the games no longer matter; 3. When playing teams also eliminated from the playoffs who are not risking injuries to make big plays; 4. When asked to do very little. I'm not going to be excited about a guy who performs when it doesn't matter and melts down when it does. This isn't new. He did the same thing his first year and everybody thought the light had finally turned on but he came back in year two worse than the first year. I'd fear he comes into the regular season this year even worse but there's not much worse he can do unless he's intentionally throwing interceptions. Exactly. 100% factual "analysis". Geno has all the physical tools and none of the mental ones and that is not something you gain with more experience. He melts down and implodes when it matters; you'll never get anywhere with a QB like that. He's done it two years in a row now, the pattern is definitely emerging. Jesus, how about knitting yourself a noose? Add one for rex'sneck as well. So are we done for the year? What are your solutions? Or is it just going to be whining for the rest of the year?
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Post by The Tax Returns Are in Kenya on Jun 25, 2015 0:57:31 GMT -5
Exactly. 100% factual "analysis". Geno has all the physical tools and none of the mental ones and that is not something you gain with more experience. He melts down and implodes when it matters; you'll never get anywhere with a QB like that. He's done it two years in a row now, the pattern is definitely emerging. Jesus, how about knitting yourself a noose? Add one for rex'sneck as well. So are we done for the year? What are your solutions? Or is it just going to be whining for the rest of the year? LOL I'm supposed to come up with solutions? I'm not part of the FO. Maybe some good LSD?
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Post by shootmenow on Jun 25, 2015 7:53:01 GMT -5
Jesus, how about knitting yourself a noose? Add one for rex'sneck as well. So are we done for the year? What are your solutions? Or is it just going to be whining for the rest of the year? LOL I'm supposed to come up with solutions? I'm not part of the FO. Maybe some good LSD? Now that's an idea I can get behind. 'cept when I go to the high school to buy some the kids call me a pervert and run away. All I've got is hope for that free flashback trip they used to promise us.
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Post by Jet Nut Sauce on Jun 26, 2015 0:23:32 GMT -5
So Geno is great: 1. After a month of barely being asked to do his job; 2. When eliminated from playoff contention and the games no longer matter; 3. When playing teams also eliminated from the playoffs who are not risking injuries to make big plays; 4. When asked to do very little. I'm not going to be excited about a guy who performs when it doesn't matter and melts down when it does. This isn't new. He did the same thing his first year and everybody thought the light had finally turned on but he came back in year two worse than the first year. I'd fear he comes into the regular season this year even worse but there's not much worse he can do unless he's intentionally throwing interceptions. I love how people who want to kill the guy think they can pick and choose the games on a schedule to look at. Geno did well bs the Pats, fuck it, didn't count. He ended the season really well. As good as anyone? Why see it as progress? I'm a fan who looks for reasons to trash my team so fuck it, don't count this games either. Why the fuck can't fans look at games he play d well in and see it as progress instead of digging deep to come up with reasons why what happened didn't happen.
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Post by Jet Nut Sauce on Jun 26, 2015 0:29:31 GMT -5
So Geno is great: 1. After a month of barely being asked to do his job; 2. When eliminated from playoff contention and the games no longer matter; 3. When playing teams also eliminated from the playoffs who are not risking injuries to make big plays; 4. When asked to do very little. I'm not going to be excited about a guy who performs when it doesn't matter and melts down when it does. This isn't new. He did the same thing his first year and everybody thought the light had finally turned on but he came back in year two worse than the first year. I'd fear he comes into the regular season this year even worse but there's not much worse he can do unless he's intentionally throwing interceptions. Exactly. 100% factual "analysis". Geno has all the physical tools and none of the mental ones and that is not something you gain with more experience. He melts down and implodes when it matters; you'll never get anywhere with a QB like that. He's done it two years in a row now, the pattern is definitely emerging. There's been thousands of NFL QBs who were drafted in the first few rounds. Name all the ones who got the mental part of the game down in the first two seasons. Should be a pretty lo list. Bet you have a hard time getting past 10. Imcant believe you said said the mental part of the game is not something you gain with more experience. That's th np biggest part of the game that just about every QB has to gain with experience. We hold Geno to standards ridiculously few QBs reach.
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Post by rexneffect on Jun 26, 2015 9:45:41 GMT -5
So Geno is great: 1. After a month of barely being asked to do his job; 2. When eliminated from playoff contention and the games no longer matter; 3. When playing teams also eliminated from the playoffs who are not risking injuries to make big plays; 4. When asked to do very little. I'm not going to be excited about a guy who performs when it doesn't matter and melts down when it does. This isn't new. He did the same thing his first year and everybody thought the light had finally turned on but he came back in year two worse than the first year. I'd fear he comes into the regular season this year even worse but there's not much worse he can do unless he's intentionally throwing interceptions. I love how people who want to kill the guy think they can pick and choose the games on a schedule to look at. Geno did well bs the Pats, fuck it, didn't count. He ended the season really well. As good as anyone? Why see it as progress? I'm a fan who looks for reasons to trash my team so fuck it, don't count this games either. Why the fuck can't fans look at games he play d well in and see it as progress instead of digging deep to come up with reasons why what happened didn't happen. So your argument about why you shouldn't pick and choose games is to pick and choose one game? At the end of his first season it looked like progress. Then he came back worse in season two. Why should I get my hopes up about the apparent repeat performance being different? I want to be wrong about him. I'd like to see him come out and not embarrass himself on the field. I'll be happy to come back here and say I was wrong. I just can't look at the end of last season and forget that the same thing happened the year before. It's on Geno to improve not on me to be perennially optimistic. There's been thousands of NFL QBs who were drafted in the first few rounds. Name all the ones who got the mental part of the game down in the first two seasons. Should be a pretty lo list. Bet you have a hard time getting past 10. Imcant believe you said said the mental part of the game is not something you gain with more experience. That's th np biggest part of the game that just about every QB has to gain with experience. We hold Geno to standards ridiculously few QBs reach. Name the ones who have run backwards out of the endzone, buttfumbled himself, threw three interceptions in a row and can't handle a time change. I bet that's a short list, too. I bet you have a hard time getting past 1. Nobody is holding him to the standard of being Peyton Manning on the field but he also doesn't seem to have the decisiveness or confidence needed to do the job. Last year he was making the same panicked and stupid mistakes over and over. What's frustrating is that Geno has the physical skills to be a great QB but mentally is playing at the bottom of the league. It seems like he is starting from a position far below where a first or second year QB with starting experience in college should be.
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