NY Jets: The unfair and unequal analysis of Geno Smith

Dec 28, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) drops back to pass against the Miami Dolphins during the first half at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

When the NY Jets drafted quarterback Geno Smith, he was considered a “raw” talent.  Things didn’t develop as many had thought, but we need to give players more time to develop before judging them harshly on their abilities.

After getting punched by IK Enemkpali, Smith‘s quarterback career was essentially over. Even though, prior to this, pundits and fans were ready to crown Ryan Fitzpatrick the savior.

There are two quarterbacks that have gotten what I refer to as the “yeah but” treatment.  They’re given the benefit of the doubt when it comes to circumstances being different, but in the case of Smith, nobody will give him the benefit of the doubt.

The first is Fitzpatrick.  The funny part about it is that when people bring up his poor performance in ten seasons, it’s because he “never had a good team around him,” and you can say the same about Smith’s first two seasons.

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I will admit, I wanted Smith to be the starter once healthy regardless of how Fitzpatrick played.

With that being said, in two seasons with the Jets, he didn’t have a true number one receiver like Brandon Marshall, and the offensive line allowed so much pressure.

This season, Ryan Fitzpatrick had a great offensive line and a receiver the caliber of Marshall, and we get the inferred “I told you so.”  Many people basically insinuated that Fitzpatrick could have done this earlier in his career, and they also insinuate (or flat out say) there’s no way Smith could’ve performed up to this.

We will never know if Smith could have performed well this season, given the circumstances.  I mean it took Fitzpatrick until his 11th season to get this kind of production out of him, and there’s no guarantee of a repeat or anything resembling a repeat.

In his first ten seasons, Fitzpatrick went 33-55-1 as a starter, while completing 60.2% of his passes and having 160 turnovers (fumbles lost and interceptions) to just 123 touchdowns.  He also had double digit interceptions in five straight seasons.

In each of his first four seasons in which he played in at least ten games and started at least eight, his turnovers went up.  Last season, Smith had fewer turnovers than his rookie season, and his completion percentage was higher.

He was showing some improvement.  Coming into the draft, scouts were saying he was going to be a project quarterback, but fans were so happy about the 8-8 season after being 4-12 the year before, that they were willing to be patient in the growth process.

Want to see something mind blowing? Let’s compare Smith to another quarterback that will remain nameless as you look at his stats.  Take a look…

Next: The Other Guy

Let’s compare the other guy with Smith statistically in their first two seasons.

Smith

The Other Guy

In his second season, the other guy was sacked much fewer times than his first (73 times in his first season). Just like Smith, who was sacked fewer times in his second season, his turnovers went down.

Unlike Smith, though, he was given three more seasons to prove himself, but the sacks and turnovers persisted.  In his next three seasons, he would add 90 turnovers while getting sacked 158 times.  All of this came after the team drafted him a number one receiver who ended up being a great player.

Who is this guy?  I am pretty sure the savvy football fan knows it’s David Carr.

Sadly, Smith won’t get the opportunity to show if he can improve, because of a punch that broke his jaw.  However, the fans and media were ready to write him off anyway without giving him the proper time a second round pick, who was deemed a project quarterback, should get.  So, I guess it doesn’t really matter anyway.

I think the worst part of this whole story is Carr and Fitzpatrick both came from pro-style systems and were given five and ten years, respectively, and Smith came from a system that was no where near conducive to preparing for the pros, yet most people were ready to write him off.

We have plenty of examples of quarterbacks who had a lot of turnovers early and eventually turned into all-time greats.  Peyton Manning had 52 turnovers in his first two seasons, and Troy Aikman had 47 turnovers.  Neither of them had the poor offensive line that Smith did.

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Plenty of quarterbacks, even those that are first round picks that should have more talent and ability, are given rope much longer than Smith was given.  Fans and pundits (including me) need to be more patient with players that are supposed to take more time to develop.