Rex Ryan on Geno Smith: “He’ll Bounce Back From This”

Dec 1, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan walks off the field after losing to the Miami Dolphins 23-3 following a game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

As we talked about earlier today, coach Rex Ryan ended the speculation yesterday, announcing that Geno Smith will remain as the starting quarterback for the New York Jets. Geno Smith hasn’t produced in several weeks, but yet he will continue as the quarterback. Coach talked about the decision yesterday:

(After) really watching the tape and once you get an understanding and you really evaluate the tape. To me, I just look at Geno as a guy (who), as I’ve said, I think he’s got a chance, a chance to be a really good quarterback. One thing about Geno that’s been impressive, he’s been through it already. He’s has the ups and downs and all that type of stuff. His perseverance is impressive to me. He’ll bounce back from this and I’m just waiting for him to have a great game. Obviously, it’s a challenge to everybody, not just him. I think he has it in him. I don’t think there’s a doubt that he has it in him. We’ll find out soon enough.

Rex talks about, in his roundabout fashion, how other factors than just the quarterback played into Sunday’s game:

Well again, look, if we’re just looking at that tape, the option doesn’t look very good for either guy if you’re just looking at how they played in that game. But it’s more than that. It’s the protection, we went a lot of eight-man protections and we’re still getting hit. So there’s different things. Were guys getting open? Not like you would think, not like I would want. So there’s a lot of contributing factors into it. I have confidence in Geno and that’s just the way it is. Not saying I don’t have confidence in Matt, but I feel that Geno has a chance to be a good one.

Rex had an interesting answer when asked if sitting back and watching would help Geno:

No, I don’t believe so. I really don’t. If I truly believed that, then that’s what we’d do. But I don’t see that. I think right now, number one, he’s our best shot in my opinion. But the other deal is, as I mentioned, I’ve seen him bounce back. It’s not like this is the only time it’s happened. It’s just happened three weeks in a row. I get it. I understand where everybody’s thinking. I believe that he’ll bounce back from this.

Um, Rex, it has happened the last three weeks. What HASN’T happen is this bounce back ability he is talking about? I’m not sure what evidence he is seeing that is making him so sure that Geno will bounce back out of this.

You know my feeling. Sitting would help him bounce back. He’s not getting better right now and a break would take him out of the line of fire. Rex and the Jets don’t agree. I hope they are right.