Trouble with the New York Jets’ Quarterbacks

After throwing three turnovers in the first quarter of the New York Jets game against the Buffalo Bills, quarterbacks Geno Smith and Michael Vick have failed to make effective, and consistent plays, just as they have for the past six games.

“We didn’t execute again,” Smith told NewYorkJets.com. “When I say ‘we,’ I’m talking about myself because it was just atrocious the way I started out. I’ve got to make sure that I get better from that and don’t allow things like that to happen and put ourselves in those types of positions.”

Head Coach Rex Ryan had no choice but to bench Smith and insert Vick after the turnover frenzy with 4:36 left in the first quarter. But Vick had his own struggles too. He fumbled three times, lost the ball twice and threw one interception.

“I didn’t feel like I forced the ball but I tried to make a desperate play to Jeremy Kerley and get the ball out of my hands and overthrew it and I got picked,” he acknowledged. “So I did some things that are uncharacteristic and I shouldn’t have done them, but I did, and the only thing I can do is learn from it.”

But the quarterbacks aren’t the only ones who are noticing the flaws in how they’re playing. Rookie tight end Jace Amaro could see that both Smith and Vick were trying too hard to keep the plays going smoothly.

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“They’re trying to make big plays, and really just going off that last drive, we can run our quick game and just take our time and move the ball like we did,” he said. “I know it was trash time, but I felt like we could move the ball on that drive. I feel like we can do that all the time.”

Aside from running into conflicts that cost the team a divisional game, Smith expressed that there is a lot he learned from watching Vick play on the sidelines.

“I saw the way that Mike was able to use his legs and pick up some first downs, really spark the offense and get us going there,” he said. “He does those things effortlessly but those are some things that I’m able to do as well and I’ve got to be more assertive in that regard.”

Though the Jets may have a solid defensive line, their entire offensive line needs to start stepping up if they want to win games, whether or not they make it to the playoffs this year. Also, Ryan needs to either be replaced or needs to work on finding techniques to make the offensive line present in a game.

Vick was the leading team rusher for the Jets for yesterday’s game having carried the ball eight times for 69 yards, the most yards for the team’s quarterback since 1960 when Al Dorow ran 72 yards in a game against the Bills.

It hasn’t been determined as to whether Smith or Vick will be starting next week in their game against the Kansas City Chiefs.