Jets third-year quarterback Geno Smith is officially in a make-it-or-break-it season. If he didn’t already know that himself, surely the boos at Saturday’s practice at Meadowlands Stadium were a not-so-subtle reminder that the former second-round pick is likely on a short leash this season.
Of course Smith should know this given that the GM who selected the young quarterback, who put up the fifth-worst quarterback rating last year, and the coach who couldn’t seem to get the most out of him, have both been let go.
In addition, with veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick—who finished with the ninth-best QB rating in 2014—breathing down his neck, Smith needs a breakthrough performance to keep his job, now more than ever.
Of course, Smith knows how to give a one-time good performance. The talented but inconsistent 24-year-old actually had a couple last year—like the 23–28 win, passing for 221 yards against Oakland in Week 1, or the 20–25 win for 358 yards precision job against Miami in Week 17.
