Now that the NFL regular season has come to an end, the almost annual debate about who the Jets starting quarterback should be begins anew. However this time around, we think there really isn’t any need for the Jets organization to do anything except to insure that Geno Smith is under center when the 2014-15 season begins.
#7 Geno Smith should be the starting quarterback in 2014. Photo: Charles Wenzelberg
1. It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. In the most inconsistent of seasons in memory, the Jets, if you will recall, would win a game, lose the next, win a game, lose, win, lose, and so it went… However there was one positive. It began with Geno Smith’s benching during the blowout to the Miami Dolphins on December 1st.
What followed in the team’s remaining four games, was a transformation of the rookie quarterback. He passed for just under 800 yards, threw 4 touchdowns ( 2 INTs), and posted a respectable 83.6 passer rating while guiding the team to a 3-1 record. A nice way to end a season; an even better way to begin a new one.
2. There are no other quality starting QBs out there. Who could the Jets bring in either to start or compete with Smith for the starting role? The only one available, now that Jay Cutler has been resigned, is Matt Schaub and he will be signed as a starter by another team leaving just Mark Sanchez to provide any pre-season competition for Smith. Frankly, we can’t see the fans clamoring for the return of outcast Mark Sanchez in 2014.
3. The past track record of rookie QBs who are now elite. Just culling through the past performances of some of the best modern day quarterbacks, one can see why it is usually best to give top draft picks some time to iron out the kinks while their professional maturation takes hold.
Some examples include Peyton Manning 3-13 in his rookie season. Aaron Rodgers went 6-10. Eli Manning 1-6. Drew Brees 8-8 in his first season followed by a 1-6 record in year two. And Cam Newton, 12-4 this season, went 6-10 and 7-9 in his first two campaigns with the Panthers. That’s not to say that Geno will turn out to be another Peyton or Drew, but after an 8-8 start, why not wait and see?
4. Durability. After multiple games with countless hurries, hits, and sacks, Geno Smith managed to start every one of the team’s 16 games in his rookie season. Not a feat worthy of a Pro Bowl appearance, but a noteworthy one just the same.
5. Lack of a talented supporting cast. Seriously, are there any wide receivers or tight ends on the Jets that had opposing teams’ cornerbacks shaking in their cleats? Nelson and Kerley didn’t. And, in case you’re wondering, an injury riddled Santonio Holmes finished the season with just 23 catches for 456 yards and only one touchdown.
#10 Santonio Holmes drops a pass vs the Miami Dolphins. He hasn’t lived up to all the hype since coming to N.Y. Photo: Charles Wenzelberg
To their advantage, before next season, the Jets will be $40 million under the salary cap and own around 10 draft picks which should make them more than able to bolster their anemic offense and thus help Geno Smith improve greatly in his sophomore season. Providing him with talent, in addition to having one full season under his belt, there is no reason why Smith should not garner the starting role next year.
“The team believes in Geno and the way he has played over the last four weeks speaks for itself.” -WR David Nelson
FANTASY FURNACE 
The lesser of two evils between Sanchez and Smith
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Thank God , the bloodletting is over concerning the coaching casualties . Could have been a hell of a lot worse .
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It was the right choice to keep Rex. Now let’s hope they start Geno and not Sanchez. The last thing that the Jets need is a QB controversy to start the season.
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The choice to keep Rex Ryan was a good one ? How so , when he lost control of the team and his coaching acumen was nowhere to be seen ? Have you taken a look at the team’s stats and where they ranked within the AFC and NFL as a whole , both on offense and defense . All round that team has simply been diabolical throughout 2013 .
Jets’ GM John Idzik has to place Ryan on a tight leash for the franchise’s own good , rather than letting that oaf run ramshod all over the damn place , His coaching record over the past two seasons has been abysmal .
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Got to cut the guy some slack Al. He’s had not a scintilla of talent to work with, including, but not limited to, the Tebow, Sanchez debacle, A rookie QB, no running game to speak of, and a sub-par core of WR’s. If you will recall prior to the start of this past season, ESPN, local papers, and other pundits were hard pressed to predict the Jets winning no more than 4, possibly 5 games. They came this close to beating the Patriots at the start of the season and could have very easily gone 9-7. Look at what some of the other quarterbacks did in their first season with BETTER coaches.
Ryan still has the locker room. That’s huge. To bring in a new coach while Rex is still popular with his players would be complete chaos and serve only to be counter productive.
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The Jets have suffered from inconsistency for years. Its about time they stuck with the horse they rode in on. Give Smith some skill positions, especially a running back to push back the defense. Rex Ryan is great on defense. After all he got them to the playoffs. Bring in an O Coordinator that can focus on Smith and the offense and let Ryan do his thing. Any more changes and they will continue to spiral. Nice article by the way.
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They certainly need to add some talent at running back and help protect Smith more. Smith has a habit of holding onto the ball too long. It seems like if his first option is not available, he panics and forces throws.
Like the Giants, their offense has been nothing short of anemic while their defense, although erratic at times, is respectable.
Thanks for reading and the kind words Billy!
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And whose fault was that , before John Idzik stepped in at the beginning of this past season ? Mike Tannebuam and Rex Ryan assessing talent is like placing Stevie Wonder in a darkened room , then having Rosie O’Donnell give him a lap dance and then asking him if he enjoyed the experience and whether or he not he thought the dancer was talented enough . Rex Ryan remains a bombastic @ss who in the last two years has been made to eat ” crow and deservedly so ”
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The Jets brought back Rex, and I have to agree with you . . letting Geno have his cuts follows Ryan’s return just fine. Your number five is the first thing I thought of, I mean, who did the kid have around him?
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Exactly. With such a lack of talent it’s more of a reason to stick with Geno. His first season record is a lot better than many quality QBs when they were rookies. And most importantly, who would the Jets replace him with? Sanchez? Garrard? Simms? Pahleeze.
The team has money and draft picks. Now they just need their GM to make moves to better their offense while Ryan stays where he is…running the defense.
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Then there’s the Dolphins . . . ugh.
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I really don’t know what happened to them over their last two games. Given their distractions they came on until the very end.
I hope that they have a better year in ’14…for your sake Cayman..
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Rex Ryan is popular with the players that they played so hard and we saw the end result this past season . LOL ,LOL,LOL !!!
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I agree with everything you said. Too bad the media in New york doesn’t give any players a chance to grow. It is one reason, the Knicks eat their young players and the Yankees hardly ever develop players any more .Nice job on the post
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Very true Jerry! Yankees are the biggest culprits! And have been for years. The last time that they developed their own players was back in the days of Jorge Posada, Andy Pettite, Derek Jeter, and Mariano Rivera.
Thanks for the kinds words!
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