Quarterback Geno Smith has shown a lot of promising signs throughout the very early stages of training camp, but there have also been other moments when he looks to be the same quarterback that he always is.
At this point, everybody understands that Smith is going to have some issues under center, and it's really just about being able to slow those down.
If the Jets quarterback doesn't throw many interceptions and can take care of the football, he's going to find himself in a very good spot to win games and compete at a very high level. At the end of the day, he's above average, and he just has to continue to do that.
Other factors are at play, and according to Rich Cimini of ESPN, one is that he likes to take chances downfield.
For a Jets team that really hasn't done that enough, it sounds like the offense is accepting it, and guys are really enjoying it.
“At 35, Smith still throws a gorgeous ball -- his upper-body mechanics are pristine, Reich said -- but he's still prone to interceptions, based on what he showed in camp. He threw a league-high 17 interceptions last season for the Las Vegas Raiders, and it'll be up to Reich and quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave to coach that out of him. He was sharp in his preseason debut Friday night against the Steelers, illustrating how good he can be when he's on.
“In practice, Smith displayed a penchant for pushing the ball downfield, a tendency that played well with his receivers. They loved his aggressiveness, his willingness to take chances,” Cimini wrote.
With some of the receivers the Jets have added over the past year, including Adonai Mitchell, and the returns of Garrett Wilson and some others, there's no reason why New York shouldn't be taking chances downfield.
Factor that in with how it would open up the run game with Breece Hall and some others, and the Jets have absolutely no reason not to do things like this.
The Jets didn't put together many big plays last year, an issue that needs to be solved.
