Geno Smith Shines in Jets Preseason Win, Earning Praise from Coach and Teammates
Geno Smith's return to the New York Jets got off to a strong start Friday night, as he led the team to a 17-0 preseason victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh. Smith, who missed the preseason opener with a sore ankle, played only the opening drive but made it count, going 7-for-7 for 65 yards and capping the drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jelani Woods.
Jets head coach Aaron Glenn was impressed with what he saw. "Very, very efficient, he looked very comfortable," Glenn said after the game. "Exactly what we were looking for."
Smith, who was a second-round pick (No. 39 overall) by the Jets in 2013 and started for two seasons before injuries pushed him into a backup role, is back with the team this offseason after stints with the Seahawks and Raiders. He is expected to provide stability at quarterback for a team that had the fewest passing yards in the NFL last season with 2,784.
Despite the strong performance, Smith remained even-keeled. "I think we can always get better," he said. "There's always room for improvement, but we're always going to strive for perfection. I don't really get too high or too low on anything. I think it's about the process, and I'm really focused on the process."
Smith's calm demeanor was a topic of discussion among his teammates. Right guard Joe Tippmann spoke about Smith's composure in the huddle. "I have a good vision of where we're gonna be," Tippmann said. "We're definitely not there yet, but in practice and seeing Geno for the first time in-game, it just got me really excited about what we can do. The way he holds himself, the way he carries himself, his composure while we're in the huddle — that's been in practice and in the games — that's something that just impresses me. I think it comes from his experiences in the league and the ups and downs he's been through in his career. It gets me excited for this offense."
Tight end Mason Taylor, who caught a 10-yard pass from Smith during the drive, praised his leadership. "He has a great leadership role. He's demanding; he knows what he wants," Taylor said. "I think that's great from a quarterback. Just being on the same page as him, he's motivating in times like that. On third downs, when we need conversions, he's always hyping our guys up, getting us on the right page to do our best."
Smith completed passes to six receivers and converted two third downs during his drive. Rookie Cade Klubnik took over at quarterback after Smith's drive.
Smith's performance comes after a down year with the Las Vegas Raiders, but he previously showed he can be one of the league's better passers. In Seattle the year before, he completed 70.4% of his passes for 4,320 yards and 21 touchdowns, and two years prior he won Comeback Player of the Year after leading the league with a 69.8% completion rate.
On the other side, the Steelers' defense struggled in their preseason opener. New defensive coordinator Patrick Graham took responsibility for the slow start. "I'm not going to run from it, hide from it," Graham said, according to Christopher Carter on X. "We're going to spend time watching that drive as a group, making sure about communication, making sure we have the same vision. As a coordinator, I have to do a good job having them ready to go. That's on me."
Graham, who is implementing a new defensive scheme under new head coach Mike McCarthy, acknowledged the team's issues. "Bad job by me, not having 'em ready to go," he said, per ESPN's Brooke Pryor on X. "We had some positives…but whether it's 3D conv, big plays in the passing game, that ultimately the start of the game falls on me."
The Steelers' defensive roster includes stars like T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, Patrick Queen, Alex Highsmith, and Joey Porter Jr., but they allowed the Jets to march 69 yards on the opening drive.
The Jets made a few roster moves on Sunday, signing defensive end Anthony Dunn, running back Dominic Richardson, and safety Tanner Wall, and waiving/injuring wide receiver Caullin Lacy, running back Sam Scott, and edge rusher Nathan Voorhis.
New York opens its regular season on Sept. 13 against the Tennessee Titans in Nashville.
A New Beginning for Smith in New York
Smith's return to the Jets has been one of the more surprising moves of the offseason, considering his first stint with the team ended unceremoniously. After being drafted in the second round in 2013, he started for two seasons but was eventually relegated to a backup role before leaving the franchise. Now, after revitalizing his career with the Seahawks and a brief stint with the Raiders, he's back in New York with a chance to redeem himself.
His performance Friday night was a step in that direction, and his teammates are optimistic about what he brings to the offense. "It took just one drive for the vibes around Geno Smith to change," as one report noted, with the concern from training camp giving way to optimism.
Smith's leadership and experience are seen as key assets for a team looking to improve its passing attack. "He's demanding; he knows what he wants," Taylor said. "Just being on the same page as him, he's motivating in times like that."
The Jets will look to build on this preseason success as they prepare for the regular season, with Smith at the helm.