There has always been heavy scrutiny that comes with being a starting quarterback in New York whether it be for the New York Jets or New York Giants. In this weekly breakdown we will take a look at the play by play progress by Geno Smith and how he fairs as one of these scrutinized New York quarterback. Each play that Geno was extensively involved in in this game is highlighted, the good, the bad and the ugly.
The Jets game plan was simple and that was to run the ball, get the ball out of Geno's hands quickly and efficiently to give him confidence while continuing to move the chains. Geno played a solid game, but made several mistakes that need to be corrected if this team wants to continue to win games, and play effectively against sound defenses. The good thing to see out of Geno and the Jets offense in general is that they all seem to be on the same page as continuity is extremely important for young quarterbacks to grow. He grasps the playbook and aren't any plays in the playbook that he isn't allowed to run.
Moreover, the largest strides Geno has made this season are in the area of technique. His footwork and mechanics are much better especially in the way he moves and slides in the pocket. This allows him to set up his throws to create passing lanes for himself if they're not there as well as drive into his throws so that they don't sail on him. Withe everyone young quarterback there are still going to be mistakes, but to see a young quarterback go 23 for 28 with 221 yards and a touchdown despite the two turnovers. The hope is that Geno Smith learns from these mistakes and continues to do the things he does well in order to beat the better teams and defenses of this league.
Pass #1
Personnel: Shotgun, 2 WR, 2 TE 1 RB
Play-action to the running back with a three step drop to follow. Geno gets heavy pressure up the middle to the right, sidesteps left as the Raiders defensive tackle is powered to the right by guard Brian Winters. The important pocket awareness of Geno allows him to create a perfect throwing lane to David Nelson on an 11 yard in route. Nelson works his way inside after making his break away from the underneath zone coverage. Geno delivers a strike to Nelson to allow three or four yards after the catch.
Pass #2
Personnel: Under center, 3 WR, 2 RB
Geno drops back with a play-fake in which he simply shows the ball to the running back with two hands on it. It needs to be a quick drop back as the play-call is a screen to Chris Johnson. One thing that can be improved on is Geno's play-actions fakes. He doesn't sell it incredibly well, especially when teams see him with two hands on the play fake. None the less he does a good job in continuing to drop back as the Raiders come with a heavy rush and again delivers a nice ball to Chris Johnson whom had plenty of room to run. Geno's ability to throw on the run allows him to not set his feet and still throw a good ball to Chris Johnson for a game of 12.
Pass #3
Personnel: Shotgun, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB
Another play-action play that isn't sold incredibly well by both Geno and Chris Johnson. It was simply a play where he shows play action rather than sells play action. This poor play action is more on the running back although it's a quick hitting play. Geno delivers a throw right in front of Jeff Cumberland's helmet with a yard. A good quick read by Geno to know that his man will be wide open in the flats as the flat player freezes as he shows the ball to the running back. The accuracy of the short throws cannot be undervalued as a poor throw behind him or too high disallows the yard after catch to gain 5. Geno squares his body to Cumberland with solid footwork.
Pass #4:
Personnel: Shotgun, 5 WR (bunch right)
Geno takes the snap and looks towards the left center of the field directly at the safety, towards the area of the formation that has two receivers from the right running streak and crossing patterns across to the left of the field. He then looks right and fires at Greg Salas that sees a ball hit both his hands and fall to the field turf. Geno's footwork is good in the pocket as he takes a solid but short three step drop then steps directly into his throw. The ball sails a tiny bit on him that means that Salas has to outstretch his arms to attempt to make the catch. This is where the real progress in year one to year two is seen from Geno Smith as he uses his eyes WHILE taking his drop back. He knows his footwork is good, so it allows him to scan the field and move the safety without having to worry about his drop back. Unfortunate that Salas drops the ball in the back of the end zone and it could have been a little bit of a better throw, but he needed to get it over the defender and the old adage says that if it touches your hands it should be caught.
Pass #5:
Personnel: Shotgun, 4 WR, 1 RB
Geno takes a five step drop, while the screen sets up without needed to throw on the run to complete the pass. The screen is sniffed out pretty easily and it can be said that Nick Mangold may have even made too good of a block on Antonio Smith rather then popping him and letting him run free at the passer. It allows him to run free to the pass catcher and make the play. Good play by the defense, nothing you can do here.
Pass #6
Personnel: Shotgun, 4 WR, 1 TE
Geno takes a 3 step drop and pump fakes while scanning the field. He sees nothing down the field as he steps up in the pocket and makes an off balanced throw to check down to the tight end. He has plenty of arm strength and sees the linebackers in a deep zone coverage to have enough time to simply flick the ball to Cumberland for a short game. He felt edge pressure and stepped up although he may have had more time than he thought. With only a four man rush, and 3rd and 21, Geno makes a smart play to gain some yardage to setup a very manageable field goal attempt.
Pass #7
Personnel: Shotgun, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB
Geno takes one step and fires to Jeremy Kerley on a quick swing screen. Good play call with three receivers bunched to the right and only two defenders. It's unfortunate that Decker got his hands outside and the 9 yard gain is negated by the holding call.
Pass #8
Personnel: Shotgun, 3 WR, 2 RB
Geno takes a three step drop and tries to fire a fastball into tight coverage to Eric Decker running a button hook. Whether Geno read the robber coverage by Woodson or not we will not know, but it was a very good play by the veteran safety. It's good that he has confidence in his arm to try to throw it by Woodson, but sometimes you have to tip your cap to a Hall of Fame player who makes a great play. His drop was good and the read wasn't terrible. Eric Decker didn't make it easy on him by trying to come back to the ball, but that's certainly a ball that needs to be thrown more outside away from the breaking safety on the coverage.
Run #1
Personnel: Shotgun, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB
Looks like a busted play where the snap comes too early. May have been a read-option play that Geno just held on to to cut his losses and gain a yard or two. All in all not a terrible play when the ball is snapped without the quarterback calling for it.
Pass #9
Personnel: Shotgun, 4 WR, 1 TE
5 step drop by Geno, who shuffles his feet right and throws a strike to Jeremy Kerley finding the hole in the zone. Again Geno steps into his throw and follows through with it in the direction that he wants to get the ball. He takes the snap looking directly at the left side of the field then quickly looks to the left to read the side of the field he is going to make the throw. A big 3rd down completion with the Jets backed up. The throw was a bit high, although Jeremy Kerley is a smaller receiver. It's a good read on the route combination given the coverage. The underneath defender runs with the releasing tight end to create a hole in the zone for Jeremy Kerley.
Run #2
Personnel: Shotgun, 1 WR, 1 TE, 3 RB
Read option look in which Geno reads the defensive end whom is inside the tackle. He keeps the ball like he should and pitches it to Chris Johnson who has no defending shadowing him. Geno takes a lick but gives Johnson a good feed to pickup the first down.
Run #3
Personnel: Shotgun, 1 WR, 1 TE, 3 RB
Another read option play in which Geno shows his athleticism as he keeps the ball and is quickly met by three defenders about to blow up the play and the pitchman. He cuts back and would have had a good gainer of at least 3-4 but tries to read Cumberland's block by getting to the sideline. This is an example of a poor mistake even though he's not a guy who was known for running this type of offense in college or running the ball by design in general. He was looking for the big play where he should've cut his losses and taken the ball up for a couple yards and slid. Instead he takes a hit from Carlos Rogers for a loss.
Pass #10
Personnel: Shotgun, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB
Playaction fake to the running back and a quick throw on a swing screen to Jace Amaro. A no-think play that allows Geno to get the ball out of his hands quickly. Plays like this serve just as much as a first down run does to get into a manageable third down. The ball is on target and allows for yard after the catch.
Run #4
Personnel: Shotgun, 3 WR, 2 RB
7 Step drop on 3rd and 13 to allow the receivers to get to the yard marker. The Raiders only send a 4 man rush and Geno looks to break the pocket as soon as his initial reads are not there. He breaks the pocket and may have had an opportunity to get the ball downfield to Jeremy Kerley. Instead he tucks the ball and runs as the Raiders have literally no one in the picture to make the play on the scrambling quarterback. The only complaint here is that the guy needs to slide once he knows he gets the first down.
Pass #11
Personnel: Shotgun, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB
The Jets send Jeremy Kerley in motion to run an underneath sit. This looks to be Geno's first read before he sees Kerley is bracketed by two defenders. Cumberland gets an outside release to allow Kerley to come underneath him and runs a crossing route. Geno steps into his throw despite pressure coming from his blindside and throws a good ball to Jeff Cumberland in between two defenders. The ball is delivered on time and in stride for the receiver to keep running.
Run #5
Personnel: Shotgun, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB
A designed quarterback draw that allows for Geno to pick a hole up the middle and pick his lane to the touchdown. The defensive end comes screaming up the field which forces Geno to make a good move to juke out the defender. He tries to slide forward to gain a couple of yards and as a result fumbles the ball as soon as his knee hits the ground and a defender contacts him. It's up to the referees to decide whether or not it's a fumble, but Geno takes yet another big hit. He would've been better served trying to run for the pylon so he can protect himself and run out of bounds to live to fight another day. Another play where he tries to be Batman but should've cut his losses and taken the Robin role.
Pass #12
Personnel: Shotgun, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB
Geno takes a five step drop then steps into a throw to the crossing tight end Jace Amaro. While it may not have been anything more than a five yard gain the ball certainly should have been caught. It was a pretty poor throw in terms of accuracy as Geno throws a bullet on top of throwing the ball well ahead of Jace Amaro to where he has to outstretch his arms and make it only a five yard gain. A better thrown ball without full extension might allow the big 6'6" tight end to run through an arm tackle for a bigger gain.
Pass #13
Personnel: Shotgun, 4 WR, 1 RB
Catch and throw play that's a quick hitter to Eric Decker. It's impossible for us to tell if it was an audible or play call in the huddle but it's not a terrible play when the cornerback is playing at the yard marker. The defense has simply too much time to react when the play develops on the left numbers and the ball is snapped near the right hash. Hate to see a call like that on 3rd and long.
Pass #14
Personnel: Shotgun, 2 WR, 2 TE, 1 RB
Three step drop by Geno in which he both looks and pump fakes to his right at the start of the play. He comes back to his left and throws a very good ball down the field to Eric Decker on a come back route. The look and pump fake to the right of the formation saves him from telegraphing his throw to a guy who runs good routes and is going to be in the right spot when the throw is coming. It also keeps safeties from hawking underneath while the corner has the deep throw down the sideline covered. Keeps the underneath defenders honest while the ball is thrown at eye level for Decker and on the mark.
Pass #15
Personnel: Shotgun, 1 WR, 3 TE, 1 RB
The first good play-action of the day by Geno, literally left the linebackers flat footed at the line while Cumberland is able to sneak behind them up the seam. The ball tips off Jeff Cumberland's left arm drops to the turf. It's a poor throw by Geno as it's high and a bit off target. It's easy for a quarterback to get excited when he sees a guy so wide open and Geno's high throwing motion allows balls to sail on him. He didn't take a strong step into it and tried to float it a bit in there, where is if he drives that ball into Cumberland he runs another ten yards.
Run #6
Personnel: Shotgun, 5 WR
Geno sits in the pocket as the left defensive end bullrushes Giacomini's inside. Geno smartly rolls out to his right where defenders seemingly start to close in on him. He may have been able to flick the ball to Decker working towards the sidelines but tucks the ball and hops out of bounds right past the first down marker. Very good innate ability to know where the first down is while actually protecting himself for the first time today.
Pass #16
Personnel: Shotgun, 2 WR, 1 TE, 2 RB
Another poor play action by Geno as he does not extend the ball at all when faking it before the roll-out. He also trips over his own man and is luckily able to outrun the defender who was staying at home to make the tackle. It can be said he should've thrown the ball away right at that moment when the defender seemingly had him dead to rights. He continues to work towards the sideline and barely throws it away before stepping out of bounds.
Pass #17
Personnel: Shotgun, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB
One step drop by Geno as he again takes the snap looking to the left up the seam at tight end Jace Amaro tried to squeeze between the linebackers. He then comes back right and fires a bullet to Greg Salas to his right. The ball is thrown to his outside shoulder away from the underneath defender although Salas doesn't work back for the ball so he falls down as he extends for it. It still moves the chains, but better ball placement gives Salas an opportunity to run for a bit more yards after the catch.
Pass #18
Personnel: Shotgun, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB
Good play action by Geno who then fires it to Jeff Cumberland into the flats as there is no flat defender. The throw is on target which again allows Cumberland to move up field after the catch.
Run #7
Personnel: Shotgun, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB
A solid but quick play-action fake by Geno to the running back as a blitzing linebacker comes screaming up the middle. Geno's good footwork allows him to make an athletic move to side step the defender and have the presence of mind to run to the right and slide for the first down.
Pass #19
Personnel: Shotgun, 4 WR, 1 RB
Straight drop back as the linebackers hawk back into a cover 2 type shell to protect the goal line. Kerley finds the soft hole in the zone and throws underneath to Kerley on a sit route.
Pass #20
Personnel: Under center, 3 WR, 2 RB
Quick hitting shuffle pass to Chris Johnson. Geno gets out from under center quickly and tosses the ball to Johnson for the touchdown. Good play design and good athleticism to get out from under center quick by Geno with defenders breathing down his neck.
Pass #21 (defensive penalty)
Personnel: Under center, 3 WR, 2 RB
Geno opens up to show play action before quickly showing pass and looks to the center of the defense before squaring his shoulders to throw right on a site route to Decker. The ball sails high to Decker, but defensive holding is called. Again, Geno needs to drive down on the ball on or it's going to sail every time because of his high throwing motion.
Pass #22
Personnel: Shotgun, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB
Play-action fake and another quick screen to Decker on the outside. The running back looks as though there is going to be a fake but Geno doesn't even show the ball to the back. It's tough to tell if this is by design and Marty doesn't want much of a play-action fake or if he simply does not show the ball much on play action fakes.
Pass #23 (negated by offensive penalty)
Personnel: Shotgun, 2 WR, 2 TE, 1 RB
While Geno throws an absolute dime of a throw to Eric Decker on the flag route for a big gainer, his initial drop back is very bad. He falls back into the bad habit he had last year. He backpedals back into his drop before he sets his feet and throws a good ball to Decker although it was called back by a phantom offensive pass interference call. It's very easy for a quarterback to trip over their own feet or fall off balance when they start to simply backpedal rather than use good footwork to get to the back of their drop. Still, the throw shows good touch rather than the bullets he usually fires.
Pass #24
Personnel: Shotgun, 4 WR, 1 RB
Geno reads the combination of zone and man defense across the field, as a defender is running with Chris Johnson who happens to be the crosser on this particular play. The rush forms a very open pocket for him which looks like the type of plays that make him nervous as he doesn't know who is behind him or feel it particularly well. In these instances he gets rid of the ball very quickly to avoid strip sacks. Had he let the play develop he actually did have very good protection on the play and dumped it down low to Johnson for a minimal gain on 3rd and 17.
Run #7
Personnel: Shotgun, 2 WR, 1 TE, 2 RB
Read option play by Geno in which the man that is supposed to be read is blocked by the tight end. Geno panics and ducks inside for a minimal gain if at all. This shows his inexperience in running the play as well as his limited vision as a runner when the play is designed to be a run. He had days to run on the outside with Jeremy Kerley as his pitchman.
Pass #25
Personnel: Shotgun, 1 WR, 3 TE, 1 RB
Good play-action fake where Geno actually extends the ball into the wide receivers gut. The two tight ends stacked to the same side clear out the entire side of the field which allows Decker to run across the field wide open. Geno feels pressure and is hit around the legs while he gets to ball to Decker with room to run. Looks like some of that muscle that Geno put on this off-season has been paying off.
Pass #26
Personnel: Shotgun, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB
Short sit route thrown on the dot to Kerley for about a 5 yard gain. Good play for a first down throw and smart situational football to not look for anything more than what the defense gives you. Those type of gains serve as first down running plays.
Run #8
Personnel: Shotgun, 2 WR, 1 TE, 2 RB
Beginning of the play starts off with a pivot and spin as if Geno were to hand the ball off, but no fake to the running back by design. It's a high-low read for Geno with a deep in and a shallow crosser that are both blanketed by defenders. Geno steps up in the pocket and runs up the field then across to get out of bounds not only to gain yards but also to protect himself from taking a big hit. Good play and awareness to have your top two reads covered then to tuck and run the ball for good yardage on 1st and 25.
Pass #27
Personnel: Shotgun, 2 WR, 2 TE, 1 RB
Initially supposed to be a play action fake but the snap is bad and Geno has to shuffle his feet to prevent him from getting into the drop back that he wants to. He tries to squeeze in between two defenders which leads to one stripping the ball even though he was able to recover. Another play where he just needs to cut his losses instead of trying to take on every single rusher coming at him.
Pass #28
Personnel: Shotgun, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB
Another play action fake that turns into a swing screen to Jeremy Kerley. Good for a short gain, but again the fake doesn't exactly fool the flat defender that eventually makes the play on Kerley.
Pass #29
Personnel: Shotgun, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB
Quick hitting play in which Geno throws directly to the running back running into the flats. Not a bad play as it relies on the linebacker to come from inside the tackle box to make a play on the back. Another short gain.
Pass #30
Personnel: Shotgun, 2 WR, 1 TE, 2 RB
Play action fake to the running back in which Geno does not extend the ball, but it actually works effectively as the run is sold on a zone play to the right then Geno throws back left on a screen that gains good yardage to Decker.
Pass #31
Personnel: Under center, 2 WR, 2 TE, 1 RB
Good play action fake followed by a throwback screen to Amaro for a short gainer. One of many play designs on the day made to get the ball out of Geno's hands very quickly and keep him in a rhythm without much pressure.
Pass #32
Personnel: Shotgun, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 RB
The worst play of the day for Geno, it looks like a design 7 step drop where the initial sack still keeps the Jets in field goal range. Geno tries to make something out of absolutely nothing and drives the Jets way out of field goal range. The coaches will surely be all over Geno this week in practice about situational awareness, and it's even a questionable call on 3rd and 3 to call a pass play when a field goal makes it a two possession game and may effectively end the game as dominant as the Jets defense had been all day.