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Carle Place – Writer Nick Dawidoff spent the 2011 season with the New York Jets. He’s a really smart guy, a good judge of people and he made an observation about Rex Ryan that really nailed it . . .
“He seemed to think he could overcome the randomness with conviction, as though wanting something badly enough, meant he would will it into being,” wrote Dawidoff, who was imbedded with the team in 2011.
Rex is a very positive guy, and he seems to think that he believes in somebody enough, that will help the guy get the job done. And that philosophy is manifesting itself, in him repeatedly saying, “[Geno Smith] will be hard to beat out.”
He said it again today on with WFAN’s Mike Francesa.
It’s kind of like the “Little Engine That Could,” – “I know he can, I know he can.”
I disagree with Rex every time he says it.
And I think a lot of people in the football world would agree.
Geno won’t be hard to beat out.
And that should be taken as an attack on Smith.
Not at all.
But to repeatedly say Geno will be hard to beat out is a case of a coach embellishing, and I don’t think he really believes that. He’s trying to protect Geno.
Aside from his comfort with Marty and his playbook, a big reason Mike Vick signed with the Jets is he sees a vulnerable starting quarterback, one who won’t be hard to beat out.
“If Mike’s healthy, I think he’s the better player at this point,” Joe Namath told NJ.com. “I don’t know any football fan that’s been around for the last nine or 10 years that doesn’t think Michael could be outstanding and is probably the best player at this time.”
“He’s going to be the Jets’ starting QB,” LeSean McCoy told the New York Post of Vick. “He’s way better than Geno Smith. Way better. That’s no contest.”
I agree with both Namath and McCoy. What Rex is selling, I’m not buying.
Once again, I’m not writing off Geno. I’m not saying he won’t improve. I’m not saying he can’t be a competent NFL starter. But to say he will be tough for Mike Vick to beat out, is WAY over the top, and I wish Rex would shelve this one. I don’t know about you, but I find it a little insulting to one’s intelligence.
I do think Geno improved a little down the stretch of the season, but he still has a lot to work on. He did beat two awful teams at home – Oakland and Cleveland. And there was a clunker in the middle of his December stretch against Carolina. The Miami game was okay, but he didn’t throw a TD in that game.
Marty Morhinweg made a great strategic decision over the last month of the season. He threw caution to the wind. If Geno’s first read wasn’t open, let the kid take off and run. They got some pretty good results with that. No question.
But I just don’t know if Geno is going to have a long career running as much as he did down the stretch. Honestly, how long is he going to stay healthy running around like Randall Cunningham? He took some vicious shots, and he’s lucky he didn’t get hurt. Look the late Steve McNair, and the awful beating he took as a running QB. Look at RG III his first two years. Both Brian Hoyer and E.J. Manuel had their season’s ended last year on scrambling plays. For the most part, you win in the NFL from the pocket.
This QB matchup is a toss-up at the very least.
Geno Smith could win the job, but he’s clearly not tough to beat out. 12 TD’s, 20 picks (five for touchdowns), fumbling issues.
Rex, come back to us.
May 15, 2014
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