The Geno Smith Interception: Inside the New York Jets’ Film Room

Geno Smith, as we all know, has come under a lot of scrutiny during his first year and two games as the New York Jets’ quarterback. Most of that criticism has come from his decision-making. He has had trouble with remembering to protect himself by sliding, he has had trouble throwing the ball away to avoid a sack, and most of all, he has had issues with making bad reads, causing interceptions.

Geno Smith did throw one interception in the game against the Packers, and it too was debated. Why did Geno make the decision he made? Is he ever going to stop throwing interceptions down in the opponent’s end? Well, on this one, don’t get on Geno’s case. Geno made the right throw here. Let’s go inside the film room, courtesy of the All-22, and see how it happened, in slide show format.:

Geno is in the shotgun. Circled is the receiver on the play, Zach Sudfeld. He is simply going to run a “go” route, straight down the field. In the next screen you will see how open Sudfeld is, and why Geno made the correct read.

Look at Sudfeld. Notice how wide open he is? The only help over the top is a safety. If Geno is able to make a good throw here, a strong throw following the dotted line, the help will not have time to get there, and the pass would be complete. But, it didn’t turn out like that. Why?

The answer lies with our “friend”, left guard Brian Winters. Take a look.

The focus. In the circle is the Jets’ Brian Winters against defensive tackle Mike Daniels. See how he has Winters moving to his left, or Daniels’ right? Well, it turns out that Daniels was setting Winters up, as he is going to come around the other side, and get a free shot on Geno.

And here comes Daniels. He has left Brian Winters in the dust, as many have in the past, and has Geno Smith in his crosshairs.