Green Lantern: A Little Turbulence Aside, Jets Have Capable Pilot In Geno
By Jeff Capellini
WFAN.com
Sure, it was just one game, but it was a telling game.
There's really no way around it: This Geno Smith is not the same player that some of you have grown to mistrust.
The Jets' second-year quarterback made some mistakes during Sunday's season opener against the Oakland Raiders, but hardly looked like the wide-eyed neophyte he was during much of last season.
Smith showed a newfound maturity and poise in the 19-14 victory that was often missing in 2013. And while he did turn the ball over twice, errors that got the masses rolling their eyes, they were hardly the types of egregious mistakes he often committed as a rookie.
Though the game remained tighter on the scoreboard than it really should have been, I never got the feeling that the Jets were ever in danger of losing. The Raiders' lone touchdown before garbage time came following a Smith turnover at the Jets' 28 midway through the first quarter. But if you really break down the interception I think it happened more as a result of the young signal-caller's ego than his lack of football IQ or awareness.
Smith attempted to muscle a short throw to Eric Decker on a curl route, but was picked off on a spectacular diving stab by ageless Charles Woodson, a player at soon-to-be 38 who would easily be the Jets' best cornerback and would probably still start for a bunch of teams. Woodson sold out completely on the play and it's not like he snuck in behind a screen. Smith knew he was there, had space and put some serious mustard on the toss, but Woodson will be admiring his bust in Canton one day for a reason and you saw why. It was just an incredible play.
If nothing else, Smith needs to chalk that one up to a learning experience taught by one of the NFL's defensive professors.
Smith's other turnover appeared to be a really big deal because of its timing.
With 2:43 left in the first quarter and the Jets down four, they started an 81-yard, 12-play drive that was mostly carried by the running game. To that point, Smith had shown what some would consider a bit of recklessness as a scrambler, running head first into some pretty big hits. He did the same on a second down keeper from the Raiders' 3 and paid for it when Sio Moore separated him from the ball and the Jets from possession with a massive jolt. Replay confirmed the ball came loose just before Smith's knee hit the ground.
So a beautifully choreographed and executed drive ended with nothing, the Jets were still losing to an inferior opponent and Smith was now coming off turnovers on back-to-back possessions.
To say the natives were getting restless is putting it mildly. It doesn't take much to get these natives going.
Things might have snowballed last year, but in the offseason and all during the preseason Rex Ryan spoke of Geno's maturity. Michael Vick did the same. And they weren't just saying it as part of the Jets' issues with running at the mouth. There is obviously a lot of truth in the head coach and veteran backup's observations.
Smith shook off his mistakes before halftime, leading the Jets on a balanced 12-play, 80-yard march that ended with Chris Johnson taking a shovel pass five yards up the middle to the end zone. Smith went 5-of-7 on the drive, completing throws to five different receivers and the Jets, for all intents an purposes, never looked back.
In all, the Smith-led offense netted 402 yards, with the ground game gaining 212 in part because Geno kept the Raiders' defense honest by connecting with seven different receivers on his way to a rather remarkable 23-of-28 line. The Jets simply were unpredictable when they had the ball. It's not very often you get to say that.
Smith's 82 percent completion was the best league-wide on Sunday and far and away the finest effort of his short career.
In addition, his 96.6 rating was higher than 15 of his 16 starts last season.
So what does it all mean? At the very least it means the Jets no longer have a one-dimensional offense. If someone uses the term "ground and pound" in your presence, walk away from them quickly. When was the last time an opposing defense had to respect the Jets' passing offense? Well, they have to now to a degree. And when you think about just how good the running game and defense could be, it's hard to imagine the Jets not being in every game this season.
Up next they have the Packers in Green Bay. I think that game will be more about us finding out what the Jets' much-maligned secondary really is because it wasn't tested much by Raiders rookie quarterback Derek Carr on Sunday. Aaron Rodgers and the toys he has at his disposal are enough to scare the hell out of any team, this side of Seattle. But does the Packers' defense scare you? From what we've seen it shouldn't scare the Jets, considering the style of offense they play -- bruising and up-tempo.
Having a competent and balanced offense will give the Jets a fighting chance every week. It will take significant pressure off of Ryan's defense and allow the secondary to develop at a more fair pace instead of having to hear about doomsday scenarios from fans and reporters the second someone completes a long pass. There's absolutely nothing wrong with having a good defense that sometimes allows 20 points in a 10-point win. The Jets are shaping up to be a lot more like that kind of team than one that has unrealistic expectations of holding opponents to just one touchdown every week.
Geno Smith is the key to everything the Jets hope to be this season. He's been the ball game since the tears flowed in the locker room in Miami last December. And while everyone is freaking out about the so-called murderer's row of quarterbacks the Jets will face over their next six games, how about we focus instead on the quarterback they have?
Because if he does his job, it's likely not going to matter as much what the opponents' signal-callers do. The Jets' defense is good enough to keep this team in every game and perhaps win some depending on the situation.
But to be on the safe side, Smith now has to show he's good enough to win any game regardless of the scenario.
I think Sunday started to give us all an indication that the job the Jets did grooming this kid -- from sticking by him to putting the screws to him somewhat -- is paying off -- and it's beginning to pay off big.
The kid is still going to make mistakes, but it's how he reacts to those mistakes that will tell the story.
If Sunday was any indication, the Jets are going to be all right.
Read more columns by Jeff Capellini and follow him on Twitter at @GreenLanternJet
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