Palladino: Jets' Geno Knows He's Toast If Ryan Returns
By Ernie Palladino
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Rex Ryan's charm apparently hasn't drifted over to Geno Smith as it has any number of players in the Jets locker room.
While most go against the ever-growing notion that the unapologetic players coach must go after Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Smith came right out and said he wouldn't mind a coaching change.
"A change could be good for us all," Smith said. "So if it happens, when it happens, we'll see."
It could be that Smith is simply breathing a long sigh of relief over the possibility of Woody Johnson finding a head coach who actually cares a lick about offense. Not that the second-year quarterback has a right to any opinion on the higher pay grades, considering the rookie-like mistakes he's made in his second year. Aside from Ryan sitting him down for Michael Vick at midseason after he gave up three first-quarter interceptions to the Bills, Ryan hasn't exactly lambasted Smith for his countless errors.
In fact, the man has been rather supportive, given the circumstances. At times, Ryan claimed he sees great future success for John Idzik's second-round pick of 2013. As recently as Tuesday, he softened his stance on the huge, rookie-like sack Smith took at the end of the Patriots game that effectively cost them a chance at an easier field goal and an almost sure victory.
Ryan could not have been more accommodating to the young quarterback, especially considering Smith was forced on him as Idzik's franchise guy. But that is the point. As it grows even clearer that owner Johnson won't let Idzik stick around for another season or three, Smith will have lost his protection.
He is now officially in self-preservation mode. Smith knows if Ryan returns, he's toast.
Since even Johnson is not likely to duplicate his mistake of forcing an old coach on a new general manager, the best scenario for Smith would be for the new GM to bring in an offensive-minded coach. That still might not save his job, especially if said coach concludes what most Jets observers already have -- that Smith can't play.
But it might give him a fighting chance to become an effective, albeit never a spectacular, quarterback. He does have physical tools. He can run, he can throw the ball. But that's where it stops. And even having someone just as willing to oversee the offense as he is the defense might not be enough to turn Smith around.
But Smith is willing to take that gamble, and why not? Even he has to know that if Ryan had his own way, he would have continued with Michael Vick. If for no other reason, at least Ryan would have had a quarterback with a firm grasp on reality. Instead, he starts a kid who at one point proclaimed himself a Pro Bowler-in-waiting, and was overall pleased about his performance against the Patriots.
Seems he overlooked the third-quarter interception that turned into New England's go-ahead touchdown in the fourth and the 10-yard sack that turned a 42-yard field goal try into a 52-yard block with 5:16 remaining.
Smith is going his own way on the coaching issue, however, which just shows how divided against him the locker room remains. He never did earn his teammates' faith.
Now, as the sun sets on Rex Ryan, Smith's obvious wish is that the new guy, whoever that is, sees the same thing Idzik saw when he blew that second-round pick on him.
It's his life raft. He has to know that if Ryan sticks around and is given a free hand, Smith won't be his guy going forward.
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