Does Porsche make roller coasters too?
During New York Jets mandatory minicamp this week, Geno Smith displayed that he is still working through the ups and downs of being a starting NFL quarterback.
"He makes some good throws, he makes some bad throws. There's got to be more consistency from the QBs overall," coach Todd Bowles said Thursday, per NFL Media's Kimberly Jones.
Last season the GenoCoaster roared, with multiple pitfalls before ending the season on the upswing.
Smith began Gang Green's minicamp struggling, throwing three picks in Tuesday's practice. On Wednesday he bounced back with what beat reporters described as a "sharp" performance, not turning the ball over.
Come Thursday's abbreviated session, Smith displayed both the downs and ups. His play first helped lead the New York Post's Bart Hubbuch to describe the Jets offense as "NFL Follies bad." Smith then rallied to make some nice strikes in some tight windows.
While we don't put too much stock in June practices, Jets fans have been through this with Smith. It's the reason many believe that at some point Ryan Fitzpatrick -- who by all indications struggled this week while splitting backup reps with rookie Bryce Petty -- will see playing time in 2015.
What Smith brings to the table is a big arm and athleticism, leading new wideout Brandon Marshall to praise the quarterback's ability to "spin it" this week.
Smith certainly owns attributes that can make him a solid starting quarterback. And while the signal-caller dismissed Willie Colon's comments that he's been given the keys to a Porsche and can't crash it, Smith understands that he must win the gig by being more consistent.
Geno might have coaster characteristics, but he's still the best chance the Jets have of putting up stellar production from the quarterback spot.
Other notes we learned from Gang Green's minicamp:
»It's a new world order with Bowles leading the show. Unlike under Rex Ryan's tenure, Bowles is preaching less talk from his players. Gang Green's coach would like to see more walking than talking in 2015.
»With Stevan Ridley still rehabbing from ACL and MCL surgery, Bowles laid out the current running back depth chart:
There is a lot of skill redundancy in that group. If the order holds through training camp, Stacy will likely be cut.
»Muhammad Wilkersonshowed up for minicamp after sitting out OTAs in an effort to get a new contract. He has zero leverage and likely won't see the cash he -- and Sheldon Richardson -- thinks he deserves (at least not from the Jets).
»Tight end Zach Sudfeld was hit by safety Calvin Pryor during Wednesday's session (one of two hits Pryor made in what are supposed to be non-contact drills). The tight end left practice with an injured knee.
Thursday Bowles said Sudfeld will get more tests, indicating that "it's more than just a minor injury."
»Brandon Marshall missed practice with a non-serious "stubbed toe" injury.
»Rookie defensive lineman Leonard Williams, who reportedly got some work in with the first-team nickel group, told NFL Media's Kimberly Jones that he has high hopes for a stout front:
"With our chemistry already and (with) how hard everyone works every day that I've been here, I definitely could see ourselves being one of the top D-lines in the country," Williams said.
Quite simply, the Jets need them to be one of the top -- if not the top -- defensive lines in the NFL if they are to make a run back to the playoffs.
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