Oh, Jets.
The minute New York drafted Geno Smith in the second round of the NFL draft, a new quarterback controversy was born. The job is the rookie’s to win, according to ESPN.com, but even if he can’t grab the starting role from Mark Sanchez, Smith could still get some playing time.
“The coaches are toying with the idea of turning Smith into what [Tim] Tebow was supposed to be last season — a change-of-pace quarterback (assuming he doesn’t win the starting job),” Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com wrote Monday. “Smith would have a package of plays, mainly read-option runs that could exploit his speed.”
Tebow’s presence and occasional play in the wildcat did a number on Sanchez’s confidence last season. There’s no reason to think handing Smith a similar role wouldn’t create the same problem.
Smith rarely ran read-option plays at West Virginia and flashed his mobility better in the pocket or when plays started to fall apart. Regardless of who is under center, it’s likely to be a long season for the Jets after parting with Darrelle Revis.
