The New York Jets are not sold on Geno Smith as their starting quarterback, but they simply don’t have any better options at this point in time. They brought in Ryan Fitzpatrick to help put pressure on him, but he is a last resort to be the starter. According to a report from Jason La Canora of CBS Sports, the Jets will likely give Smith at least half of the 2015 season to prove himself as a legitimate starter.
Last season with the Jets, Smith ended up playing in 14 games and was replaced by Michael Vick in the starting lineup for a couple games. He threw for 2,525 yards and 13 touchdowns on the season, but also ended up throwing 13 interceptions. Turnovers have been a big issue for Smith throughout his young career, and it is an area that he will have to improve in to take the next step.
At just 24 years old, Smith has the advantage of entering his physical prime with two years of experience under his belt. He has looked very young throughout his first two seasons, and has had to recreate some of his game in order to be the quarterback that the Jets are hoping he can become.
New York did bring in Brandon Marshall to be his number one target. That move may be exactly what the doctor ordered to help save Smith’s career. He will now have both Marshall and Eric Decker to throw the football to, and they are without question the best duo that he has had to work with since being drafted in 2013.
It is very hard to predict what the outcome of the 2015 season is going to be for Smith, but there is no question that he has been given every weapon that the Jets could give him. The Jets were also able to take their defense to a new level by bringing back both Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie.
Despite the struggles that Smith has had up to this point in his young career, expect to see him take a big leap forward in 2015. He has all of the physical tools needed to become something special, but he has to put everything together from the shoulders up. If he’s able to do that in his third season, then he will prove himself long before the halfway point of the season arrives.
