Casserly calls Geno the best backup QB in the league
After the 2014 season, Jets owner Woody Johnson hired ex-NFL general managers Charley Casserly and Ron Wolf to help find him a new head coach and GM.
Though Casserly no longer works for the Jets, it was a one-time consultant thing, he remains a prominent voice in the NFL.
On Monday, during an NFL Network appearance, Casserly had some interesting things to say about Jets quarterback Geno Smith, their former starter and current backup. Some fans booed Smith during Thursday's preseason opener.
"Now we've got to have a talk, Jet fans," Casserly said. "You know I came in there with Ron Wolf. Woody Johnson hired us to help straighten this thing out. So just sit down in the chair, because after I get done, you're going to be laying on the floor, with this statement I'm going to make: Let up on Geno Smith. Stop booing the guy. He's not A-Rod! Just stop it!
"Just relax. You know who the best backup QB in the league is? It's Geno Smith. Write that down. Relax! No booing!"
Casserly said he likes Smith's potential partly because offensive coordinator Chan Gailey "can do wonders with QB's."
Casserly watched film of the Jets' preseason opener against the Jaguars, and said he noticed this about Smith: "Physical throws, quickness of release. He knows the system. He was decisive [with] where to go with the ball. He could make plays out of the pocket. The accuracy deep probably could've been a little bit better."
Smith has a firm hold on the Jets' No. 2 quarterback job. He isn't going to become the starter or fall to No. 3 before Week 1. Second-year pro Bryce Petty is third on the depth chart, and the Jets must evaluate him this month, as they decide whether to retain four quarterbacks. Rookie Christian Hackenberg, fourth on the depth chart, isn't going anywhere. But Petty could be cut off the 53-man roster.
"You've got to find out if he can play," Casserly said. "Because next year, Geno Smith is a free agent, and Ryan Fitzpatrick is a free agent. You don't have a veteran quarterback under contract.
"What I liked about Petty [from Jaguars-Jets] is I saw this guy make plays throwing the ball. I saw physical skills. I saw he knew the system. He was poised in the pocket. There were some minor accuracy issues. Lot of positives.
"You're going to see a lot of Bryce Petty [in the Jets' preseason games]. Don't read into [as] a competition for the No. 2 quarterback. Read into it: Can this guy play in the league? Jet fans, pray that he can play. Keep him. Keep four quarterbacks. It's hard to find quarterbacks. This is a tryout for Bryce Petty, for his NFL career."
I think the biggest factor for Geno was stated by NYJETSDAN16 above and that's how relieved the locker room was when Fitz resigned...
IF Geno is a problem in the locker room. If Geno is someone teammates don't want to be around.... Does anyone believe Mac and Bowles want this guy around 2 young talented QB's they are developing... Hell no... Maybe pure speculation but all signs point to him needing a change of scenery and this might be a case of Geno being the best option at backup but it's becoming addition by subtraction... His presence alone might be stunting and/or slowing the growth of both Petty and Hack... Due to negative attitude, less reps to go around. Etc...
When was this actually said? I would think it is before Bryce Petty's recent surge. And Charlie Casserly is NOT going to stop Jets fans from sh*tting on Geno. That's just the way it is.......AND they have good reasons for disliking him........
It said clearly that Casserly watched film of the Jets' preseason opener, so nice try. And Casserly said exactly what I said in the post that you mocked, that the Jets are giving Petty extra reps now because they have to see if he can play before they decide if keeping four QBs is worth it - NOT because he is competing with Geno for the #2 role.
Having said that, let me be clear: while I do like Geno and think he gets a raw deal from so many fans who refuse to recognize that he was thrown to the wolves with no chance to learn, with a lousy OC, and practically no OL or offensive weapons (and remember, he too came from a spread offense in college just like Petty), I love Petty and will be perfectly content if he becomes the Jets' QB of the future. I am an Oklahoma Sooners fan, and I will never forget how Petty destroyed a really good Sooner team every which way in November 2014. That performance had me thinking, "there's a guy whom I'd love to see behind center for the Jets," and I was thrilled when the Jets drafted him. So I am not anti-Petty, I just feel that Geno has gotten a raw deal - and yes, some of it he has brought upon himself - and it irks me that so many Jet fans want to see him fail.
It said clearly that Casserly watched film of the Jets' preseason opener, so nice try. And Casserly said exactly what I said in the post that you mocked, that the Jets are giving Petty extra reps now because they have to see if he can play before they decide if keeping four QBs is worth it - NOT because he is competing with Geno for the #2 role.
Having said that, let me be clear: while I do like Geno and think he gets a raw deal from so many fans who refuse to recognize that he was thrown to the wolves with no chance to learn, with a lousy OC, and practically no OL or offensive weapons (and remember, he too came from a spread offense in college just like Petty), I love Petty and will be perfectly content if he becomes the Jets' QB of the future. I am an Oklahoma Sooners fan, and I will never forget how Petty destroyed a really good Sooner team every which way in November 2014. That performance had me thinking, "there's a guy whom I'd love to see behind center for the Jets," and I was thrilled when the Jets drafted him. So I am not anti-Petty, I just feel that Geno has gotten a raw deal - and yes, some of it he has brought upon himself - and it irks me that so many Jet fans want to see him fail.
You're not going to change many minds around here. It is what it is. I would love to see Bryce Petty become our future QB. Or Hackenberg. If the Jets move on from Geno and win a lot of games...great. Count me in. I root for the name on the helmet, not the back of the jersey.
But what I don't agree with is all this brouhaha over Geno ignoring the media. They can't stop rehashing "the punch", questioning him about it as if he's supposed to kneel down before them and apologize for it, and then call him immature for wanting nothing to do with them. A bunch of children hounding him until he speaks about it. It makes no sense to me. I'd tell them to piss off, too. He doesn't owe the media an apology for anything.
if petty plays well friday night, i believe maccagnan will start a fire sale for smith post haste..100%. I am just getting turned off by the petulant-child behavior. I have been a supporter for Smith for quite some time, and have been willing to chalk up the maturity issues to just that and figured he would grow out of them. However, when presented with some real competition and a little adversity he is folding. That's a serious issue for a QB, and it is magnified here in the NY market.
i honestly believe it would be in everyone's best interest (including the fan base) to part ways with smith before the season starts..
provided petty can win the backup spot, of course..
i think it's fair to say, friday will be the biggest game of petty's life..
go get em kid..
good post maine.. i don't think you have to worry about the jets cutting off their noses to spite there faces though..OR another very attractive scenario and probably best case as well....
The Jets carry 4. Another NFL team loses their starting QB 4 weeks in and the Jets have that team bent over a barrel. They need/want Geno and suddenly they have to give the Jets a 5th? possibly for him? Honestly, I do not think Geno is worth that, but well into the season, Mac may very well get that out of him.
I really want Geno off the team, but I do not want the team to suffer in order for it to happen.
It said clearly that Casserly watched film of the Jets' preseason opener, so nice try. And Casserly said exactly what I said in the post that you mocked, that the Jets are giving Petty extra reps now because they have to see if he can play before they decide if keeping four QBs is worth it - NOT because he is competing with Geno for the #2 role.
Having said that, let me be clear: while I do like Geno and think he gets a raw deal from so many fans who refuse to recognize that he was thrown to the wolves with no chance to learn, with a lousy OC, and practically no OL or offensive weapons (and remember, he too came from a spread offense in college just like Petty), I love Petty and will be perfectly content if he becomes the Jets' QB of the future. I am an Oklahoma Sooners fan, and I will never forget how Petty destroyed a really good Sooner team every which way in November 2014. That performance had me thinking, "there's a guy whom I'd love to see behind center for the Jets," and I was thrilled when the Jets drafted him. So I am not anti-Petty, I just feel that Geno has gotten a raw deal - and yes, some of it he has brought upon himself - and it irks me that so many Jet fans want to see him fail.
good post maine.. i don't think you have to worry about the jets cutting off their noses to spite there faces though..
if they trade or cut smith, it will be because they trust petty.. no more, no less..
interesting idea of keeping smith around during the season to try to fleece a team in desperate need of a QB.. i don't believe we'll have that luxury.. 4 QBs & at least 6 WRs on the 53??
how couldn't that leave us dangerously short on depth??
So what exactly are you proving? We've already established that Bryce Petty is playing BETTER now. We've already taken notice that Petty is getting MORE reps with the 2's than Geno now, We've already taken notice that Bryce Petty outplayed Geno in the Jaguars game.
And in regards to you CLAIMING that Geno's #2 job is not in danger?????
Well, all I can say is if you believe that, I have some beach front property to sell you.
The CS would have to be virtual idiots if they are not giving Petty every opportunity to win the #2 job. It's already been said.....Geno has NO future with this team. The Jets are NOT cutting Bryce Petty.
As far as the raw deal sh*t goes......WTF cares?? This is a MANS game. It isn't for a bunch of pussies that need periodic cookies and milk breaks. It's called put up or shut up. That's the name of the game whether you care to acknowledge it or not. Geno got 2 solid years to show his worth with at least one legitimate receiver. Eric Decker is no slouch. He is an extremely QB friendly receiver. Geno created ZERO chemistry with the guy. ZERO. Meanwhile, even in the one game he played last game he continued to do dumb sh*t with the football. That was with a legitimately good supporting cast mind you.
Geno should be gone and whatever you think you're proving is WRONG.......