Palladino: No More Excuses For Geno Smith
By Ernie Palladino
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Mike Maccagnan and Todd Bowles have done everything right by the Jets so far.
Maccagnan brought in Brandon Marshall and Stevan Ridley for the offense and reunited Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie for the defense. He drafted a defensive line stud in Leonard Williams, and then gave the offense a nod with fast receiver Devin Smith.
Now, as training camp looms later this month, much weight lies on the players to show all these offseason machinations were not in vain. Ironically, the heaviest load sits upon the one man least apt to bear it, much less thrive under it.
The fact remains that Geno Smith is still their quarterback, and will remain so unless Bowles and offensive coordinator Chan Gailey become convinced that Ryan Fitzpatrick is a better option. And the only way that can happen is if the well-traveled veteran Fitzpatrick does something wonderfully sparkly while drilling with the backups. Smith will take the majority of first-unit snaps in this non-competition competition for the starting job.
Bowles might well have second-guessed this blind faith he has in Smith when his guy threw three interceptions in red zone drills the first day of mini-camp. Had Smith not done the same thing so often in real games the last couple of years, Bowles might have had an easier time shrugging them off as simply elements of a bad practice.
But here's the problem. Smith has a track record of these things, and it's a lot more populated than the one that has him rebounding from them.
To put it another way, he's not the fiercest in the face of adversity.
This is why Smith's latest proclamation that he feels no added pressure to succeed comes off as disingenuous. He had better feel pressure. He'd better feel a lot of it, because Maccagnan and Bowles have given him everything he needs to succeed.
At least on paper, they have built a defense that should rank as one of the NFL's elite units. Through the defense alone, the Jets should be in almost every game.
They have given Smith a true No. 1 receiver in Marshall. He's dynamic and explosive, and he didn't come particularly cheap. Shortly after they shipped their fifth-round pick to the Bears for him on March 10, Maccagnan added a million and a half dollars to his contract.
Marshall is eager to earn his new $9 million payout, but just as excited about the opportunity to come back from a 61-catch, 721-yard season that broke a seven-year string of 1,000-yard performances.
Ridley, the former Patriots running back, could become a nice complement to Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell if, or better, when he comes back healthy from knee reconstruction.
The key, though, remains with Smith. As much as Marshall's stats and Ridley's health need rebuilding, so too does Smith's confidence. So when Smith offers that "What, me worry?" jibe, it's not hard to imagine Maccagnan and Bowles shaking their heads in disbelief.
Marshall has done his part well so far. He's been playing a game of positive psychological reinforcement with Smith that undoubtedly will continue with Smith's voluntary passing get-together the next couple of weeks in Marshall's Chicago stomping grounds. He talks the kid up at every opportunity.
In a few weeks' time, Smith will get his chance to back up Marshall's praise. From Day 1 of training camp, Smith must prove that Maccagnan, Bowles and even Marshall have not wasted their time, money, draft picks, and breath in their attempts to bulk up what can only be currently described as a failed quarterback.
The supporting cast is in place. Soon it will be time for Smith to put on the big-boy pants and lead it.
Otherwise, Maccagnan and Bowles may regret the one move they didn't make -- finding another starting quarterback not named Geno Smith.
