NFL players poised to break out in their second season

Geno Smith, New York Jets

Last season, Geno Smith was thrown into the mix before he was ready due to a Mark Sanchez injury in the preseason. Smith had to deal with an unusually shaky offensive line, an inconsistent run game and a stunning lack of weapons to throw to.

Of course, he could be his own worse enemy as well, with poor decisions, bad throws and an overwhelmed look in his eye on far too many downs. Smith did finish his rookie season on a strong and positive note, with fewer mistakes if not tremendous passing.

This offseason, Smith worked his tail off to improve his knowledge of the offense and correct the tendencies in his game which led to mistakes. The Jets brought in free agent receiver Eric Decker, added “move” tight end Jace Amaro in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft as well as adding multiple wide receivers on day three.

Ostensibly, the team brought in Michael Vick to compete for the starting quarterback job, but the reality was that the competition was rigged for Smith. Still, the presence of a veteran quarterback – one not opposed to being a mentor to a young quarterback – helped push Smith to improve more quickly and sharpen his game further.

Smith enters the 2014 NFL season in a much more stable offense, with a very good running game and an improved group of wide receivers. He still needs to prove he can play consistent, smart football but he looks ready to meet the challenge.