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Evaluating Jets’ QB options with Mariota out of reach
By Brian CostelloDecember 15, 2014 | 7:43pm
The dilemma every Jets fan faced during ugly win
So, the Marcus Mariota bubble seems to have burst for the Jets. Now what?
With Sunday’s win, the Jets severely hurt their chances of landing the No. 1 pick in April’s draft and a shot at the Heisman Trophy winner. The Jets currently are sixth in the projected draft order, which may leave them watching teams like the Buccaneers, Titans and Redskins taking Mariota or Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston.
The Jets are about to undergo major changes with coach Rex Ryan a near lock to be fired in two weeks and general manager John Idzik more than likely to be thrown out with him. The biggest chore for that new front office and coaching staff will be figuring out the quarterback spot on this team. Do you try to trade up for one of those stud quarterbacks?
Do you draft a project in the middle rounds? Do you take a chance in free agency? Do you give Geno Smith another chance?
Those are all daunting questions without easy answers. You always start by evaluating what you have in-house, so Smith will get the first look. He has played OK since returning to the starting lineup three weeks ago. He has managed the game and limited the turnovers. He threw an interception to end the Miami game and to begin the Minnesota game, but has played a clean seven quarters since — a feat for him.
“I think Geno’s played well,” Ryan said. “He did a good job protecting the football. I think that’s where it starts. It was tough sledding there, but I think he made some good throws.
There were a couple, obviously, we wish we had back, but I like the way Geno is running the offense. I thought he made some good reads in the option and things like that. I’ve been happy with Geno.”
Some think Smith benefitted from his three weeks on the bench watching Michael Vick.
“I think it was just another boost for him,” tackle Breno Giacomini said. “He is coming to work. He is motivated. He seems like he is having a good time. He seems really good. I just think it sparked him a little bit. I think it has helped us all out. I like Geno as a quarterback. I like him as my quarterback. I will do everything I can to make him look good.”
The new regime can’t just hand Smith the starting job in 2015, but he may be showing enough down the stretch to warrant a chance to compete for the job next year and at least a role as the team’s backup.
The free-agent market is underwhelming to say the least. Brian Hoyer and Mark Sanchez are the top names on the list. Hoyer has been benched in Cleveland and Sanchez is a road the Jets cannot go back down. There is a possibility the Redskins cut Robert Griffin III, but his baggage may be too scary to take a chance on.
It is unlikely the Jets will fall any further than sixth in the draft order since they are 3-11 and there are no four-win teams right now. The Jets would have to win their final two and a five-win team lose theirs for the Jets to tumble. They could move up with the Titans and Jaguars playing each other Thursday night and if one of the teams below them in the standings (above them in draft order) pulls off an upset.
If they are at 5 or 6 in the draft, they would have to consider moving up to get Mariota or Winston, but teams will be looking for a “ransom,” according to one league source. If you are a new regime, do you mortgage the next few drafts for one of these quarterbacks?
The Jets could take Michigan State’s Connor Cook or UCLA’s Brett Hundley in the middle rounds and try to develop them, but they likely won’t help the team in 2015.
The quarterback headache is going to be a major one for whoever is calling the shots for the Jets next year.
By Brian CostelloDecember 15, 2014 | 7:43pm
The dilemma every Jets fan faced during ugly win
So, the Marcus Mariota bubble seems to have burst for the Jets. Now what?
With Sunday’s win, the Jets severely hurt their chances of landing the No. 1 pick in April’s draft and a shot at the Heisman Trophy winner. The Jets currently are sixth in the projected draft order, which may leave them watching teams like the Buccaneers, Titans and Redskins taking Mariota or Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston.
The Jets are about to undergo major changes with coach Rex Ryan a near lock to be fired in two weeks and general manager John Idzik more than likely to be thrown out with him. The biggest chore for that new front office and coaching staff will be figuring out the quarterback spot on this team. Do you try to trade up for one of those stud quarterbacks?
Do you draft a project in the middle rounds? Do you take a chance in free agency? Do you give Geno Smith another chance?
Those are all daunting questions without easy answers. You always start by evaluating what you have in-house, so Smith will get the first look. He has played OK since returning to the starting lineup three weeks ago. He has managed the game and limited the turnovers. He threw an interception to end the Miami game and to begin the Minnesota game, but has played a clean seven quarters since — a feat for him.
“I think Geno’s played well,” Ryan said. “He did a good job protecting the football. I think that’s where it starts. It was tough sledding there, but I think he made some good throws.
There were a couple, obviously, we wish we had back, but I like the way Geno is running the offense. I thought he made some good reads in the option and things like that. I’ve been happy with Geno.”
Some think Smith benefitted from his three weeks on the bench watching Michael Vick.
“I think it was just another boost for him,” tackle Breno Giacomini said. “He is coming to work. He is motivated. He seems like he is having a good time. He seems really good. I just think it sparked him a little bit. I think it has helped us all out. I like Geno as a quarterback. I like him as my quarterback. I will do everything I can to make him look good.”
The new regime can’t just hand Smith the starting job in 2015, but he may be showing enough down the stretch to warrant a chance to compete for the job next year and at least a role as the team’s backup.
The free-agent market is underwhelming to say the least. Brian Hoyer and Mark Sanchez are the top names on the list. Hoyer has been benched in Cleveland and Sanchez is a road the Jets cannot go back down. There is a possibility the Redskins cut Robert Griffin III, but his baggage may be too scary to take a chance on.
It is unlikely the Jets will fall any further than sixth in the draft order since they are 3-11 and there are no four-win teams right now. The Jets would have to win their final two and a five-win team lose theirs for the Jets to tumble. They could move up with the Titans and Jaguars playing each other Thursday night and if one of the teams below them in the standings (above them in draft order) pulls off an upset.
If they are at 5 or 6 in the draft, they would have to consider moving up to get Mariota or Winston, but teams will be looking for a “ransom,” according to one league source. If you are a new regime, do you mortgage the next few drafts for one of these quarterbacks?
The Jets could take Michigan State’s Connor Cook or UCLA’s Brett Hundley in the middle rounds and try to develop them, but they likely won’t help the team in 2015.
The quarterback headache is going to be a major one for whoever is calling the shots for the Jets next year.
