Geno Smith knows he’s not on the hot seat
New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith has clearly made improvements here in his second year in the league, even if he’s still been inconsistent as a passer. Already through just three games, Smith has shown us how he can look excellent and terrible in the same game, and you can only wonder how good this Jets offense can be if everyone, including the likes of Smith and rookie tight end Jace Amaro, plays up to their potential. Plus, it wouldn’t hurt for the Jets to give Chris Ivory the feature back role, since he’s a darn good running back.
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Anyway, the New York Daily News’s Seth Walder wrote today that Smith doesn’t “feel like” he’s on the hot seat, but my modification is that he “knows” his job isn’t in any trouble. Here’s Smith with the quote: “How much leeway (do I have)? I’m not even thinking about that. That’s not even a topic of discussion or anything I’ve ever even thought about.”
Unlike Miami Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin, Jets head coach Rex Ryan actually understands how to handle the media, quarterbacks, and the locker room by not trying to play coy with his QBs starting status or ruin a young, talented passer’s confidence. Smith deserves to continue to learn on the job because of the strides he’s made and potential he’s shown, and it’s great to see that Ryan understands the obvious; you don’t mess with QBs, especially young ones.
Philbin actually has a better QB on his hands and more talent, but he does less with it and doesn’t understand how to run a team or locker room. Honestly, I think he should be gone if the Dolphins don’t make the playoffs, but I feel bad because Ryan is the one caught up in the unrealistic expectations despite the Jets lack of talent and his own ability to navigate the media and manage the locker room. If both get fired, I hope Ryan gets the Miami job and the Jets are able to find another coach capable of getting them into the playoffs.