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Geno Smith’s only drive was perfect, going 7-7 passing, hitting six different receivers, and the possession was punctuated by a 13-yard TD pass to tight end Jelani Woods.
This drive was a perfect example of what the Jets envisioned with the football marriage of Smith and OC Frank Reich.
Smith is a quintessential game manager, and Reich is an excellent offensive chess player. Reich did a great job of dialing up easy reads, and Smith did his part, connecting on them.
Reich is very good at manufacturing production with his play-calling. Not all OC’s are great at this. Reich is.
All Smith has to do is be a good point guard and distribute the ball to the Jets’ myriad playmakers, and that is what you saw on this series . . .
With linebacker Mykal Walker out with a calf injury, rookie UDFA Chase Wilson got a lot of playing time and took advantage of it. He was active in this game, including a sack on a blitz on a third down in the third quarter, forcing a field goal attempt that was no good. Good instincts . . .
After Smith’s one series, Cade Klubnik played a couple of quarters – mid-first quarter to mid-third quarter, and the Jets didn’t score a touchdown.
The best way to describe his performance is “pedestrian.”
The Steelers blitzed the youngster a lot, which is a common approach for defensive coordinators against rookie QBs. Klubnik needs some work in this area. He had an intentional grounding on a safety blitz.
Klubnik doesn’t seem ready to be one snap away from having to play early in the season. The hype regarding Klubnik in camp might be a little hyperbolic. He has a lot of potential, but needs a lot of work. He is more of a developmental prospect than an instant coffee #2 right out of the gate . . .
Considering there isn’t a lot of tackling in camp where defenders are allowed to bring offensive players to the ground, the Jets’ tackling in Pittsburgh was excellent . . .
The Jets had two interceptions, one hauled in by safety Andre Cisco and the other by cornerback Samuel Womack – both on QB Will Howard. Both did a great job of jumping routes.
Not sure if Howard is long for the league, but you can only go against who the other team rolls with, and these two picks were both nicely executed plays by Cisco and Womack.
Womack has made a lot of plays in camp . . .
Now the Jets deserve credit for pitching a shutout, but keep in mind they were facing the Steelers’ third- and fourth-string quarterbacks. Drew Allar took over for Howard in the second half, and looked lost, not reading defenses or seeing the field well . . .
Perhaps the Jets’ most impressive play in the game was Jets outside linebacker David Bailey beating offensive tackle Broderick Jones for a sack of Howard. Jones was a first-round pick of the Steelers in 2023 draft, so we aren’t talking about a backup tackle who is on the bubble. Bailey exploded off the snap and overwhelmed Jones . . .
Speaking of overwhelming Jones, recently signed Jets edge Nate Lynn beat him for a sack in the fourth quarter . . .
Safety Dane Belton continues his strong summer. He had a nice run stop around the line along with an impressive punt stop. He is going to help the Jets on both defense and special teams . . .
Jets backup nickel back Ryan Clark did a lot of good things in Pittsburgh . . .
Late in the game, Brady Cook hit Quincy Skinner for a 31-yard TD.
In an even competition, it would be close between Cook and Klubnik, but not sure it’s an even playing field.
August 21, 2025
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