Was this the end of the Geno Smith era for New York Jets?

[FringeNC]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-sh...medium=twitter

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Geno Smith era (error?) for the New York Jets might be nearing its end.

Benched after just four series in the Jets' 43-23 home loss to the Buffalo Bills, Smith's time as starter of this 1-7 team is tenuous. He threw three interceptions and just two completions on his first 10 passes, forcing usually lax Jets head coach Rex Ryan to bench his second-year quarterback for the second time this season. Now 24 starts into his NFL career, Smith shows no signs of progress, no signs of turning into a franchise quarterback.

Instead, he struggles with fundamentals and still can't read a defense.

“We didn’t execute. We didn’t execute again. I say we [but] I’m talking about myself because it was just atrocious, the way that I started out. I never expected to start a game out like that,” Smith said. “I’ve got to make sure that I get better from that and don’t allow things like that to happen - put ourselves in those types of positions like that.”

Let's be clear that there have been plenty worse quarterbacks in the history of the NFL who have stuck around for a few seasons. And Smith did quarterback a team that went 8-8 in his rookie year last season. What Smith can't do is lead a team or win games on his own. Three interceptions on the game's first four drives shows that Smith's learning curve is perhaps steeper than anticipated.

Smith, by the looks of it, might never get there.

He came from an "Air-Raid" offense in West Virginia that masked his deficiencies. He'd throw to the hot read and let teammates like Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey rack up serious yards down the field. But on Sundays, in the face of collapsing pockets, Smith struggles with his decision-making and is pressured into poor throws. All three of his interceptions against the Bills could have been avoided.

The move to Michael Vick in Sunday's loss might show a shift amongst the coaching staff that could point the franchise in a different direction at quarterback, not just as they play out the rest of this year but moving forward.

It could be argued that the Jets haven't had a franchise quarterback – a true franchise quarterback – since Joe Namath left Broadway following the 1976 season. Yes, there has been Boomer Esiason and Vinny Testaverde and Chad Pennington since then, but the Jets have failed to groom a long-term answer under center for almost four decades now.

Smith was supposed to be that quarterback. Instead, he looks ready to be the latest failure at the position, even as the Jets don't know who will start come Week 9.

Head coach Rex Ryan wouldn't commit to Vick or Smith moving forward. Vick was 18-for-36 for 153 yards and had an interception along with two fumbles lost. Vick can improve on this performance, however. He has rarely received first-team reps this season. His 36 attempts on Sunday are the most he has had since Week 2 last year, when he was the starter with the Philadelphia Eagles. Ryan would only say about next week's decision at starting quarterback, “I have no idea, we'll look at that later.” But “later” might well cost Ryan his job.

If Ryan wants any shot to return to the Jets for a seventh season, he might need to go with Vick from here on out.

“Well, you know I wouldn’t like to repeat that, but if it does happen I have to use it to my best interest," Smith said. "I have to make it beneficial. Like I said, I never envisioned that happening because I do see myself as the starting quarterback and I honestly believe that I can turn things around myself to get this team going. But if those things do happen I have to learn from it and take those reps from the sideline and I have to do a good job of that.”