Fansided

NFL: 5 starting QBs on the hot seat

By Phil Watson

Jul 28, 2014; Napa, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Matt Schaub (8) throws at training camp at Napa Valley Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 28, 2014; Napa, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Matt Schaub (8) throws at training camp at Napa Valley Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 29, 2013; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) scrambles during the first half against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2013; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) scrambles during the first half against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Geno Smith, New York Jets
Smith is a confident quarterback, talking over the weekend about how he expects “to be in the top five” among NFL quarterbacks.

Hey, Geno? How about you break into the top 32 first?

As a rookie, Smith completed just 55.8 percent of his passes for 3,046 yards and 12 touchdowns, with 21 interceptions, a 66.5 passer rating and a Total QBR of 35.9 (34th among 39 qualifiers, second among two qualifiers playing their home games in MetLife Stadium).

And now Smith has mercurial Michael Vick standing behind him on the depth chart. Smith did start all 16 games last season, taking over for the now-departed Mark Sanchez as the Jets went 8-8.

But coach Rex Ryan has been talking big and Jets fans are craving big results (remember how they went on and on about back-to-back losses in the AFC Championship a few years back) and if Smith were to falter, it’s not hard to see Ryan having a much shorter leash with him than he did with Sanchez.

It will be much easier to have a short leash with a veteran like Vick waiting in the wings.

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