Who is Handcuffing New York Jets’ QB Geno Smith?

Jul 28, 2013; Cortland, NY, USA; New York Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg speaks with the media prior to the start of training camp at SUNY Cortland. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

There has been a lot of debate lately about the Jets’ game plan, specifically on offense. The talk has been about why the turn to conservative play. Early in the year, we all got excited by Geno Smith’s ability to throw deep. Teams were moving up, clogging the box, and the Jets were taking the opportunity to beat opponents over the top.

But then, the turnovers began. Smith began running for his life, the receivers did nothing to help him, and his performances went down the toilet. I don’t have to tell you guys, you all saw it. It has gotten so brutal that the fan base is split on whether or not Geno should continue as the starter.

So, the game plans have gotten conservative. Heck, at times it looks like “Ground and Pound” has reared its ugly head again. They have been running the football, and only throwing it when absolutely necessary. Now we are complaining about that, and it’s understandable. How are we really going to learn about our QB if they aren’t allowed to do anything?

Who is to blame?

People have begun to wonder if it is Rex Ryan. Is he stamping his will on the offense, by making them err on the conservative side? Could be. I mean, he did have a big hand in the color coded system from back in the early Mark years. Maybe he is jumping in where he shouldn’t be.

I am not so sure.

For all this time, we have talked about how Rex Ryan is hands off with the offense. Some even have wondered if he is a quality head coach, because he isn’t involved in all facets of the game. People want Rex replaced with an offensive minded coach, because of how little Rex knows regarding the offense.

We can’t have it both ways, folks. Rex is hands off with the offense, but he is screwing up the play calling? If he is away from the offense 99% of the time, it doesn’t make sense that he is now overruling the play calls. It’s not logical, he either is involved with the offense or he isn’t.

I submit to you that the issue is Marty Mornhinweg. Not that I dislike Marty as an offensive coordinator. He has had success wherever he was gone, and I believed right from the jump that he was, and is the right guy for the job. Rex turned the offense over to him, and I was happy.

But go back through the years, what has Marty Mornhinweg never done? He has never gone into a season with a rookie starting quarterback. Never, through all the years. He just feels more comfortable moving his offense forward with a veteran QB. Once Mark got hurt, that was impossible. And now, Marty is in a situation that he isn’t sure how to handle.

It’s something he is not used to. So, when the quarterback can’t handle his job, he goes super conservative. Why? Because it’s the best option he knows, when he is stuck with a rookie quarterback that isn’t ready for the big time yet. Marty isn’t experienced in how to get a rookie through, so he takes the ball essentially out of his hands.

Is it with good intentions? Sure. Marty believes this is how to get the offense moving forward. But, it doesn’t give the team a chance to see what they have in their quarterback. And that is what they have to do in these last four games. If they are going to let Geno play, LET HIM PLAY.

But don’t blame Rex. It’s Marty, doing the best he knows how.