Inside the New York Jets Film Room: The Geno Smith Interceptions

Time to go “Inside the New York Jets Film Room”. We are going to break down the plays that have driven Jets fans crazy this week. These are two of the major reasons that there has been a call from some to see Michael Vick under center this week. I wholeheartedly disagree, but it is out there. Yes, we are talking about the Geno Smith interceptions.

These two plays will show you why the frustration level goes high when the discussion turns to Geno Smith. The reason is one word, inconsistency. The first interception was actually designed, and executed well, until the throw of course. Let’s take a look.

Geno Smith is in the shotgun, with Chris Johnson, circled, next to him. Geno Smith is going to take the snap, fake to his left and roll to his right. Johnson is going to roll into the right flat, with two blockers in front.

Let’s roll along, (in slide show format, move ahead to continue the post)

Geno Smith executes an excellent pump fake to his left, shown here. It’s excellent as he gets the two Bears’ linebackers, also circled, moving to their right, or his left. With the play design going the opposite way, Marty’s design here is working out. Chris Johnson is moving into the flat to get ready to receive the screen.

Take a look at where we are.  Chris Johnson has slid off of the defenders in the right flat, and has turned to receive the pass.  Chris has three linemen out in front, Willie Colon, Nick Mangold, and Brian Winters.  All Geno Smith has to do is get the ball into Johnson’s hands, and this one is set for a big gain.

That is where Geno Smith’s inconsistency came in, specifically with his accuracy.

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The throw by Smith is a bit too hard, far too wide, and right into the arms of Ryan Mundy. Just like that, it was 7-0 Bears, before we had any chance to even set up some food and something to drink.

Next, we are going to take a look at the decision-making inconsistencies. You know what is coming, the endzone interception intended for David Nelson. This is on Smith for a bad ball, and for the receivers inability to get open.

Geno Smith is in the shotgun, with two backs next to him. David Nelson is out wide to the left. He is going to run down the field and into the end zone. Take a look at how this develops.

As Geno Smith steps up in the pocket, take a look at what he sees. The down field receivers are covered. There are two guys open short. Does Smith take the safety valve? No. OK, maybe he doesn’t see them. But the problem is that he tries to force a play down the field. Instead of throwing it away or scrambling for a couple of yards, he does this…….

Not only does Geno Smith make a bad decision as to where he goes with the football, he makes a bad decision on how he throws it. See Smith in the circle? He has left his feet. If, as a quarterback, you have not set your feet, squared your shoulders to the target, and made a good follow through, you are going to have a problem. A quarterback has to have a sense of when a throw is ill-advised, both in the situation, and how he is setting up to make the throw.

The throw can’t get to Nelson, who isn’t open anyway. Geno Smith’s second interception of the day was a bad one, and at a really bad time.

Geno Smith is going to get it together. It is not hard to see that he is far better than last year. But we still have to be able to take the growing pains.

But that doesn’t mean the pains aren’t painful.