In Eugene Cyril Smith III, the New York Jets have a professional quarterback. The feeling in and around the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center was briefly felt two seasons ago — when Aaron Rodgers took the snaps — but it was fleeting.
Preceding Rodgers, the argument truly begins. Some claim Sam Darnold was that guy, while most understand how his youth disrupted any chance of genuine leadership at the position.
Not since Ryan Fitzpatrick’s magical ride in 2015 have the Jets experienced such stability, and Geno Smith put that idea on display at New York Jets minicamp.
Geno Smith’s impact is legit
Nobody is claiming that the Jets added an elite quarterback this past offseason. Yet, what Geno Smith brings to the table is worlds apart from Justin Fields’s contributions last season.
The Jets actually employ an offensive leader who can deliver the ball in the places it must be delivered. What a concept.
Aaron Glenn’s Wednesday structure resembled the first minicamp practice day (Tuesday). After team stretches, the team broke out into positionals, where each position did its thing.
Once the team got together for team drills, Geno found Garrett Wilson to kick off a 7-on-7 situational:
The first big connection featured the Jets’ WR1 in a 1v1 situation against Nahshon Wright. Despite the former Chicago Bears cornerback featuring tight coverage, Wilson played some tricks on the veteran cover man.
Garrett’s friendly nudge from behind created just enough space for him to get his hands up and come down with the 35-40-yard completion, which happened somewhere between the numbers and the sideline.
Later, after Smith found rookie Omar Cooper Jr. on a three-step completion that gave the weapon a chance for RAC, he took his chances on a deep shot again. This time, it was the recently mentioned Cooper whom Wright had to battle, and the defender won the play.
Wright remained connected on the vertical route, maintaining contact the entire time. The key was his eye placement, which was there, courtesy of when he turned his head back to the quarterback.
The play was too far to notice if Cooper’s eyes got a little too big or not, as doing so gives away the game to the corner. Nonetheless, Wright’s pass breakup was impressive.
Waxing poetic
The Jets made the three coordinators on Wednesday morning, which meant offensive architect Frank Reich met the media. His top priority was to communicate just how impressed he’s been with his quarterback.
“I am just so impressed by Geno,” Reich told the media. “I can not express that enough. Man, he is on point. His preparation is top-notch. His football mind is elite.”
Of course, Smith is coming off a brutal season. His 15-game season, which produced 3,025 yards and 19 touchdowns, along with an NFL-high 17 interceptions, for the Las Vegas Raiders last season, only conveys a slight percentage of the story.
Is it a shock that 35-year-old Geno Smith led the league in picks? Not by a long shot. The Jets’ second-round draft choice back in 2013 has always been a gunslinger — never shy to fit one into a tight window.
Again, that’s a different sort of feel — a welcome breath of fresh air for an organization that has showcased far too many timid quarterbacks.
2-minute drill madness
In the team’s two-minute drill, he put that attitude on full display when he connected with Wilson on a 40-yard-plus vertical down the left side (between the numbers and seam).
Why Brandon Stephens didn’t stay on top of the route remains a mystery (deep-third in that situation demands such poise). Although a better ball would have resulted in a touchdown, it’s a tough ask considering how messy the pocket was.
Either way, it put the Jets in a tremendous red-zone spot.
The first play in the red zone (around the 7 or 8-yard line) resulted in an incompletion. Jamien Sherwood stayed glued to the intended target, which ran a spot-type route. Reich dialed up an underneath-RZ-type concept.
The second play was there to be had. Unfortunately, Mason Taylor couldn’t get his hands up and together enough to make a play on the ball.
Reich dialed up a rub-type concept that forced Demario Davis to extend immediately to the flat (RB). Although I didn’t see the release, my best guess is that Taylor stemmed to the outside initially (a trail-type, stick-nod-type, or even RZ post-type route) that forced Sherwood to overextend to the sideline.
Taylor found himself all alone in the middle of the end zone, near the back line. Geno’s pass was a little hot and a little high. But again, he wasn’t dealing with the cleanest of circumstances. It’s one that both the quarterback and, more so, the tight end, want back.
The red zone trip ended in an Andre Cisco interception. Geno took a chance in a spot with the game on the line, in which only a touchdown could win the game. The defense locked it down in coverage on the play.
News and notes
Rookie D’Angelo Ponds picked off Bailey Zappe on Wednesday. Unfortunately, the play was called back because of defensive pass interference.
Though Ponds was in a tremendous position, against an out-breaking route, the official threw the laundry on him.
AD Mitchell missed practice, which was somewhat of a surprise, mainly thanks to Glenn not taking the podium before the session. Rookie quarterback Cade Klubnik and tight end Kenyon Sadiq were among the expected absences from the field — although they were easily spotted with the team and in the rehab area at times.
