"You gotta have faith." At least that is what Rex Ryan continues to tell himself about quarterback Geno Smith. The rookie has not thrown a touchdown pass since a week before Halloween, instead opting to increase his turnover ratio. He has been benched twice in recent weeks and the Jets' season continues its downward spiral. But the ever-loyal Ryan has once again named Smith the starter for Week 14.
According to Ryan, Smith gives the team the best chance at winning a game. He also said that the past three weeks and the Jets lost all three of those games. So despite the benching and the turnovers, Smith is the best New York has to offer on the field, simply showing just how sad the quarterback situation is for the team right now.
Behind Smith is Matt Simms and David Garrard. Simms has seen significant playing time over the past two games but has yet to really do much. Garrard was signed in the offseason, retired and then unretired only to serve as a mentor to the rookie. Garrard told reporters on Monday that he was fully prepared to play a game and was disappointed things were not changing.
"I'm not really puzzled because I'm kind of used to everything," Garrard said, via the New York Daily News. "They have their reasons why they're sticking with Geno and Matt. I'm here to support those guys and just be ready if my number is called. I can't worry about what they're thinking in their meeting room. I just have to be ready for myself. I just know that when I go out in practice, I run around, I throw the ball and I'm not getting hit, but everything else I'm doing just fine,"
Garrard is certainly saying all the right things in a very frustrating situation. He notes that the Jets are truly the team of Ryan and general manager John Idzik and he is simply a pawn in the game. The veteran offers his support for Smith as the starting quarterback of the Jets and vows to do everything he can to prepare the rookie to improve. So while other teammates may not be offering the same support, both Garrard and Ryan have to rookie's back.
"I believe in Geno," Ryan said. "I think he has the tools to be a good quarterback in this league. I believe that. Obviously, he's going through some rough times. These last three games haven't been good for him. Quite honestly, it hasn't been good for a lot of us."
If Smith cannot turn himself around and start producing like he did at the start of the year, the Jets are going to have real issues on their hands. The team is on the cusp of making the playoffs. Sitting at 5-7, a few things could go their way and get them in. However, if they do not make the postseason, the rookie's lack of success could also cost Ryan his job. This would be the third quarterback Ryan has failed to coach up and things could take a turn for the worst come the offseason.
