Jets’ Geno Smith says he was playing like a robot
By Mike Dyce
New York Jets rookie Geno Smith played well to give his team a win over the Oakland Raiders. Smith threw for 219 yards completing 16 of 25 passes. Smith had a touchdown pass and an interception but he had a solid 87.3 quarterback rating.
Smith credits it to relaxing and playing more naturally.
“I was playing like a robot. Everything is not ideal on the field. Sometimes you’ve got to improvise,” Smith said, via the New York Times. “I think I kind of got into this zone where I just tried to be way too perfect. And that’s almost impossible to do at any level, especially as a rookie. There were times where I was so caught up in running the play and executing it to perfection that I didn’t allow my natural ability to take over.”
Earlier in the month, just days before the Raiders game, Jets head coach Rex Ryan gave Smith a vote of confidence.
“I’m going to go with Geno as our quarterback,” Ryan said via Charlie Frankel of NewYorkJets.com during a press conference earlier in the month. “I believe in Geno. I think he has the tools to be a good quarterback in this league.
It looks like his faith was rewarded for now at least.