New York Jets’ Geno Smith Talking More Like a Leader Each Day

Aug 3, 2013; Cortland, NY, USA; New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) waits for a shot gun snap during training camp at SUNY Cortland. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

We all know how I feel towards Mark Sanchez as a quarterback. Heck, I think that Stevie Wonder might know how I feel. It kind of jumps off the screen, doesn’t it? It’s not like I had it. Anyway, I have to give credit where credit is due. And Geno Smith deserves credit, as he is maturing every day and sounding more and more like the soon to be leader of the New York Jets.

Yesterday, Geno Smith had one of his weaker practices so far. He threw 2 interceptions during 7 on 7 drills. As has been reported, it has been against the norm for Geno Smith to throw any picks. He has had some during 7 on 7s, but he packaged a couple today. But, to his credit, Smith doesn’t get bogged down and worried by mistakes:

Well, I mean, you’ve got to look at it in a positive manner. I don’t see it as a setback. I see it as a learning experience. I see it as something that I can improve on. Just as I stated earlier, it’s a drill, there’s no rush but still, you’ve got to be mindful of taking care of the ball and the two interceptions that I had down there in the red zone were forced balls and it’s just a mindset. If I (am) a little more cautious with the ball then we don’t have those turnovers and then we at least walk away with three points. That’s something that I’m pretty sure I’ll be drilled hard on once we get into the film room and I’ve just got to go back in and improve on it.

He understands that he should have taken a checkdown or thrown the ball away instead of taking an INT.

He’s a very positive guy, that wouldn’t even acknowledge that he had a bad practice:

I wouldn’t say so. Down in the red zone I think I need to do a better job at taking care of the ball. I know it’s seven-on-seven and you kind of want to force the emphasis and try to get the ball to the end zone but still be mindful of we’re still working game reps and that drill is made for us to kind of pretend that we’re in the game and we’re down there in the red zone and we’re passing the ball and you’ve always got to be mindful of not turning it over and that’s something that I did today and that can be fixed and now I’ll improve on that.

You have to love this attitude. You cannot get yourself crazy over mistakes, or you will never rebound from them, which is what we have seen from Mark Sanchez. This guy just stands up and says “We will get the next one”. He sounds a lot like Chad Pennington, who despite the injuries, was a good leader.