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New York Jets: Growing Confidence in Geno Smith

By Nick Ziegler

May 25, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Jets quarterbacks Bryce Petty (9) and Geno Smith (7) during OTA at Atlantic Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
May 25, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Jets quarterbacks Bryce Petty (9) and Geno Smith (7) during OTA at Atlantic Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /
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Brandon Marshall showed up to OTAs for the New York Jets on Wednesday and was very impressed with what he saw from Geno Smith.

Many believed the both Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker skipped the New York Jets’ first week of OTAs as a sign of protest because Ryan Fitzpatrick has yet to sign with the team. Both wide receivers have refuted those claims with Decker being with family, and Marshall working out on his own.

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Regardless why they weren’t there, the Jets have still yet to sign Fitzpatrick. As of now, Geno Smith is the starting quarterback for the Jets, and he will be looking to save his career if given the chance to be the starter.

Marshall has never played with Smith, but he did workout extensively last offseason with Smith when the belief was the Smith was going to be the starting quarterback. There aren’t many people that have a lot of confidence in Smith heading into 2016, but Marshall appears to be one of them and has noticed some improvements from last season.

“It seems like the game has slowed down,” Marshall said to Darryl Slater of NJ.com.

“There was a sense of poise, comfort, and it was pretty good to watch him kind of manage the situation,” Marshall said to Slater. “That’s the process for all players. You’ve got to give guys time. Every guy is different. He seems to be growing, and that’s a good thing for all of us. He’s doing a great job. I’m just happy for the kid. I’m proud of him.

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What really caught Marshall’s eye was how Smith handled the offense in a two-minute drill.

“Going through two-minute [on Wednesday], before we even went out on the field, standing in front of the offense, and [Smith] going through the hand signals, it was like a sense of comfort and confidence. And that’s what you want out of all your players. That stood out to me today.

“I was really excited not only for us but also him because he’s been through a lot. Some of it he did to himself. But that’s part of the process, man. You just go through things, and whether good or bad, it’s all part of growth.”

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Finally getting a chance to sit and learn last season might end up being a blessing in disguise for Smith, who was thrown into the fire as a starter in his rookie season. The Jets have a lot more talent now than when Smith was a starter in 2014, and he might end up surprising a lot of people.

Offseason workouts will be crucial for Smith and the Jets’ offense as they will need to get used to him under center instead of Fitzpatrick if the veteran doesn’t re-sign.

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