Jets reportedly considering using Geno Smith as change-of-pace quarterback
The New York Jets do some pretty strange things. Keeping Mark Sanchez as their starting quarterback for this length of time is one of them, but the latest news out of Jets camp is even more puzzling than that.
Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com reported on Monday morning that Rex Ryan and company are “toying with” the idea of using Geno Smith as a change-of-pace quarterback and having him run mainly read-option plays if he does not win the starting job. The team would build a package of plays for him in an attempt to utilize his speed while also giving the rookie experience and adding another element to the offense.
In other words, the Jets want to try to do with Smith what they intended to do with Tim Tebow last year. That plan failed miserably, so why would it work with Smith? The reason the idea is so bizarre is that Geno considers himself a pocket passer, and he wasn’t even a read-option quarterback at West Virginia. Ryan acknowledged that when discussing Smith’s role last month.
[Related: Geno Smith was a no-show at annual “Jets West” camp]
“They didn’t really run a whole lot of zone reads and different things (at West Virginia),” Rex said at the time, via Around the League. “But (Smith) has the skill set to where there’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to do that. … Running for first downs and touchdowns, I think that’s how the league is probably going to progress with these things.”
Smith rushed for 342 yards on 245 career carries in college. He’s probably better off holding a clipboard for a year than trying to contribute as a “change-of-pace” quarterback. Or, maybe he should start. Whatever the Jets decide to do, no one will be surprised if it doesn’t work — at all.
H/T Rotoworld
