Geno Smith Redux: Weeks One and Two

Dec 22, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback

(7) during warmups for their game against the Cleveland Browns at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Time for a little bit of “Geno Smith Redux”.

One of the most talked about players on the team was Geno Smith, and for good reason. Being the quarterback and all will have that effect on a guy’s life. It was an up and down year as we all know, and all lived through. Let’s take a look back at Geno Smith’s year, and see how he progressed.

WEEK ONE: VS. TAMPA BAY

This was a talked about opener if we have ever had one. The Geno Smith era was beginning. The Rex Ryan/John Idzik era was beginning. And Darrelle Revis. How would his reunion with his old team go?

But, we are going to stick to Geno. This was Geno’s first experience with the NFL life, in the regular season. It started out with a bang, when Geno hooked up with Jeremy Kerley for a 26 yard pass play. But for the rest of the first quarter, there was not a first down to be had by the Jets until the final drive. On the drive, Geno completed three passes and scrambled for a first down, en route to a 13 play 5:06 drive, ending with a Nick Folk field goal, putting the game 7-5 Bucs early in the second quarter.

He threw his first interception of the season later in the quarter to Lavonte David, and through a TD pass later on to Kellen Winslow. The game was close, 14-12 at halftime.

After a scoreless third quarter, the teams traded field goals in the fourth. The end of the game, we saw an element of Geno Smith that you cannot teach. We saw the ability to play under pressure. With 34 seconds left, Geno led the team on a five play drive covering 32 of those seconds, ending with a game winning field goal by Nick Folk, and the Jets won 18-17. Yes, there was a questionable penalty that extended the drive, but that is not Geno’s fault. Geno Smith showed the ability to perform when the chips are down.

You either have that or you don’t, and Geno Smith has it.

For the game, Geno went 24-38 for 256 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He added six rushes for 47 yards.

WEEK TWO: AT NEW ENGLAND

Week two was Geno Smith’s first foray into the rivalry that drives us all to drink. It was Patriots’ week. It began, and all that comes with it. The talk, the hatred…etc. It was time to see what Geno Smith could do up against the very best.

The game was a close one, thanks in major part to the Jets’ defense. They kept it close all night, including shutting the Patriots out in the fourth quarter.

However, this was a forgettable effort for Geno Smith. He threw three costly interceptions in this one, costing the Jets a chance to get back. Two out of three were in Patriots’ territory, stalling the team too often when they got moving. He also was struggling with pocket presence at this point, taking four sacks while holding the ball too long. His “internal clock” was still getting tinkered with, as it were. Not a great night.

Geno was 15-35 for 214 yards, and three interceptions.