New York Giants: Geno Smith needs more preseason reps

New York Giants backup quarterback Geno Smith struggled versus the Pittsburgh Steelers in the preseason opener, but he also flashed a bit of promise.

The tradition that is fans of the New York Giants taking starting quarterback Eli Manning for granted has become so commonplace some have either forgotten or chosen to ignore the importance of a dependable backup quarterback. The 2016 Dallas Cowboys won the NFC East and completed a journey to the postseason because Dak Prescott, thought to be little more than a project in early August 2016, was ready to take the reins once Tony Romo was downed by the injury that ultimately ended his career.

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One could argue the last reliable and trusted backup the Giants had sitting behind Manning was none other than David Carr, the first overall pick of the 2002 NFL Draft who flamed out as a member of the Houston Texans, but who later enjoyed a pair of successful stints watching from sidelines as Manning, who hasn’t missed a start since being handed the New York starting job during his rookie year in 2004, kept him a spectator.

This summer, the battle for the role of holding Manning’s clipboard is mostly between veteran Josh Johnson and former New York Jets starter Geno Smith. After all, no reasonable person expects Davis Webb, selected by the Giants in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, to be ready for action once September rolls around. Odds are calamity will have struck Big Blue if Webb is throwing passes versus the likes of the Cowboys, Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles this coming fall.

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Johnson and Smith took the majority of supposed meaningful snaps versus the Steelers on Friday night, and neither man cemented himself as the No. 2 QB on the depth chart. In short, Johnson was downright awful, as he looked rusty and even unsure of himself. Granted, New York’s offensive line, a liability throughout 2016, hung Johnson out to dry more than once, but the team’s front unit does not entirely account for Johnson completing only 5-of-10 attempts for a paltry 31 yards.

Nobody should be too surprised Johnson failed to light up the scoreboard, even against Pittsburgh backups. By now, all should know what the 31-year old is and isn’t. Johnson is the type of backup you could trust to take a snap or two if Manning is roughed up during a game and needs to sit a series out, but head coach Ben McAdoo and others on his staff would probably admit, if forced to be honest, they wouldn’t be comfortable starting him against any opponent during the regular season.

Just as with Johnson, Smith experienced some rough patches against the Steelers, but he also looked more relaxed under center. The 26-year old completed seven of his first 10 attempts, he used his mobility to get out trouble when needed and he moved the chains better than Johnson. Unfortunately, Smith was also responsible for what may go down as the worst interception you’ll see all month:

Smith and rookie wide receiver Travis Rudolph were clearly on different pages when the ball left the quarterback’s hands, but this Jets-esque moment left more than few Giants fans hoping, and possibly praying, Manning avoids any and all injury bugs over the next six months. As bad a moment as was that play, Smith’s overall performance produced a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, there’s gold in them thar hills.

Johnson is Johnson and will be forevermore. While it’s likely, if not a guarantee, Smith will never develop into anything other than a second option a coach would trot out onto the field in the case of an emergency, the fact there’s a chance he could take any positive steps during games this summer suggests giving him the bulk of available preseason reps only makes sense.

New York’s Super Bowl hopes rest on the shoulders of Manning, which is the biggest reason the 36-year-old wouldn’t play a second of preseason football in a perfect world. McAdoo will obviously want Manning to get in some work over the next several weeks, but he will also need to decide who, among his backups, is the real QB No. 1 among the backups against the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets and New England Patriots.

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Smith has earned the right to play with the New York starters who will actually feature versus the Browns on August 21, as the gig should now be his to lose. If he does lose it, as pessimistic followers of the situation would probably predict, both Johnson and Webb will be there waiting to take snaps away from him.