The New York Jets have yet to commit to a starting quarterback for Week 1 of the 2013 season, but the general consensus is that Mark Sanchez will be given yet another opportunity. New York drafted Geno Smith in the second round for a reason, but it does not appear he has made enough strides to be tossed into an NFL starting role just yet. However, he could do more than just hold a clipboard.
Smith ran an up-tempo spread offense at West Virginia, but he was by no means a scrambling quarterback. In fact, he had only 66 rushes for 151 yards last year — good for a 2.3 yards per carry average. Then who is Rex Ryan planning to use in the Wildcat formation? On Wednesday, the Jets coach was asked if his team will run more Wildcat and read-option plays in 2013.
“I would say we probably would because you guys say we never used (the wildcat last year), so I would say yeah,” he said, via Seth Walder of the NY Daily News. “I would think that’s part of what we do.
“I think (the Wildcat is) here to stay for the simple fact that guys are getting these quarterbacks now, these mobile quarterbacks, the size, speed and all that type of stuff, so I do think it’s here to stay. It does give you the numbers back. Sometimes on defense you’re playing with plus one, it’s a great equalizer.”
[Related: Jets considering using Geno Smith as change-of-pace QB]
Smith is a big quarterback who is mobile, but he doesn’t exactly have blazing speed. He’s more effective as a passer, and I’m guessing he wants to become a pocket passer in the NFL. Ryan noted that the Jets have run the Wildcat with guys like Brad Smith in the past, but he said the formation is more effective when the threat of throwing the ball exists. Apparently it did not with Tebow.
“If you’re gonna have a quarterback that has those skills, like a (Colin) Kaepernick or somebody like that, then obviously it becomes more of a weapon, because you’re defending, you’re not just knowing that Tebow’s going in there and he’s just going to run the ball,” he said. “And that’s kind of where we were last year it seemed like.”
Unless Sanchez is going to start making plays with his legs, Rex has to be talking about Smith. When the Jets first acquired Tebow, Ryan said opposing teams had better be prepared to deal with two quarterbacks. He hasn’t exactly said that yet with Sanchez and Smith, but who else would run the Wildcat or read-option? Maybe no one? Hey, that’s what happened with Tebow.
