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Clarks Summit (PA) – The Jets wrapped up the first part of their training camp in Cortland, so it’s time take the temperature of their quarterback situation . . .
If you consider it a quarterback competition between Geno Smith and Michael Vick, in my opinion, they left camp in a dead-heat.
They both had their moments, but were both plagued by inconsistency.
And as I mentioned yesterday, both had a tendency to hold the ball too long. They both need to make quicker decisions. They both checked down to the running backs a lot, which I guess is better than forcing passes and throwing a picks, but it also you makes you wonder about field vision.
If you consider this a competition, which Vick doesn’t, but Rex Ryan and John Idzik do, the next couple of weeks are huge.
The next two weeks of practices, and the two most important preseason games of the summer, will tell us a lot.
The organization can talk-up Smith until the cow’s come home, but he’s got to get the team in end zone more. That is the bottom line – in practice and in games.
I thought Ryan said something very telling, a few days before the Jets’ first preseason game, when asked what he wanted to see from Smith against Indianapolis.
“I want to see some production too, and I think we’ll see it.” Ryan said. “But I know he’ll have the command out of him, but, let’s have some production, I think we will.”
In other words, he knows the offense now, but it’s time to get the team in the end zone more . . .
Tajh Boyd is a great young man, he really is, I’m not just saying that, but if he doesn’t improve his accuracy, you have to wonder about his future in the league.
I can’t tell you how many makeable throws hit the ground today. Too many throws down field sail on him. Perhaps it’s related to his height (6-0 5/8). Perhaps it connected to learning how to play under center after operating a shotgun offense at Clemson.
And it wasn’t just today. This has been going on throughout the summer.
Maybe a year on the practice squad would help.
But like I said after the selection, John Idzik let Rex Ryan make a pick, and this was his selection. I’d have Ryan pick
defensive players all day, but I’m be wary of him picking offensive players, especially quarterbacks.
Part of the reason for this pick was clearly that Rex’s son played with Boyd at Clemson.
Let’s all be adults here for a minute.
What does that have to do with anything?
Why would that impact your war-room?
Pick the best players.
And like I wrote around the draft in JC Magazine, the Jets needed another QB in the draft, even with Geno Smith and Michael Vick on board.
Let’s say Smith doesn’t take that next step in 2014, and he looks like he might not be the answer.
And let’s say Vick gets hurt again. And let’s not forget, he’s on a one-year deal.
To me, they needed to pick a QB in this draft, perhaps in the middle rounds, and start grooming somebody who might be able to compete for the job next year.
Somebody like Tom Savage (Pittsburgh), Logan Thomas (Virginia Tech), Aaron Murray (Georgia), A.J. McCarron (Alabama) or Zach Mettenberger (LSU).
Seriously, if Geno’s not the guy, and Vick signing doesn’t work out, due to injury or performance, where are the Jets at next off-season?
It pains me to criticize Boyd, because he’s such an awesome guy, but watching him this summer, you start to wonder if he was in part a byproduct of a funky college offense (read-option) and two high draft picks at wide receiver (Sammy Watkins and Martavis Bryant).
He has a lot of work to do, and based on what I’ve seen this summer, I’m not even sure he’s a practice squad lock.
Hopefully he can improve his accuracy and decision-making, and get his ship headed in the right direction . . .
August 13, 2104
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