Jets QB Geno Smith is at his best with an offense that features a lot of play-action passing.
If you want to know the best way to use Smith, just look at how Seattle used QB Sam Darnold last year.
“If you look at the Seattle Seahawks last year, they were one of the number one teams playing under center because of what it does for you in the play-action game,” said one network analyst. “They were under center 53.7 percent of the time. Do you know how many times they were under center under [Chip Kelly] in Raiders-land?” 33 percent of the time. So they were in the shotgun a lot. That [impacts] your play action?
“Last year, Darnold threw 14 touchdowns in play-action and four INTs; without play-action, 11 TDs, 10 INTS. Exactly the opposite of Geno Smith last year. Play-action wasn’t available (as much) because they were always in the shotgun – you don’t sell play-action as well. 1 TD, 4 INTs without play-action; 18 TDs and 13 INTS with play-action (for Smith with the Raiders last year).”
New Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich loves calling play-action passes.
“It’s a passing league, but you have to run the ball to be a championship team,” Reich said in 2024 while with the Carolina Panthers. “There are exceptions to that, but when you look at the analytics, the statistics over the years, you have to be effective and efficient running the football. We’re gonna run the football because that just [creates] the play action.”
And clearly Smith is at his best throwing off play-action fakes.
So the Smith-Reich combination could end up being a good one for Gang Green.
We will start finding out for sure in Nashville on Sunday.
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