Recently, ESPN NFL Insider Mike Sando released a ranking of all 32 starting quarterbacks in the NFL. You know who last on that list all the way down at No. 32? New York Jets QB Geno Smith.
New Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said earlier this offseason that Smith essentially has the starting job locked up. But when you are viewed that poorly, nothing is guaranteed. New Jets head coach Todd Bowles made sure to reiterate that sentiment.
"If you feel that his position or any other position is hurting the team, as a head coach, it's up to you to do something about it," Bowles said via Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. "It's not a year-long thing for anybody. You earn your keep by the week. You earn your keep by the day...
"If somebody is not doing their job, it's up to me to rectify the situation."
What Bowles means is that if Geno plays poorly, he won't hesitate to bench the third-year signal-caller.
New York acquired veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, who found some success working with Gailey in Buffalo, to backup Smith this year. Smith has more natural ability than Fitzpatrick, but the latter just might be a better overall player. Although you can't count on Fitzpatrick for a consistent playoff run, he did throw for 2,483 yards with 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions while completing 63.1 percent of his passes in 12 games for the Houston Texans last year. Should Smith struggle, Bowles knows he has a capable reserve waiting.
"A bad two or three weeks is relative," Bowles said. "Whether it's mental, whether it's confidence or whether it's physical...All those things have to be [considered] and be determined. If you see progress among the mistakes, that's one thing. If you don't see any progress and you see a spiraling for any position, then it's your job to make a move...I'm always fair...
"It all depends on how he's not performing, whether it's the first game, second game, third game. Is it consecutive? Is it just a bad game? All those factors play into it. Again, it's not just the quarterback. It's every position on our team ... Everybody has to do their job. The quarterback is an important part of it, but he's part of the team. And he's treated like everybody else is treated."
The Jets had a fierce defensive last year that only got better with the selection of Leonard Williams in the first round of the NFL draft. Given the secondary additions in Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine this offseason, it's fair to expect the Jets to compete right now. But they'll only go as far as their quarterback can take them (or, at least, not hurt them).
