by Superman55 Thu 2 Oct 2014 - 9:29
Inside the mind of the ‘100 percent’ confident Geno Smith
By Steve SerbyOctober 1, 2014 | 7:27pm
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Inside the mind of the ‘100 percent’ confident Geno Smith
Geno Smith says his belief has not been shaken at all by his struggles in the Jets' three consecutive losses.
Photo: AP
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These are the times that try young quarterback’s souls, especially here, and Geno Smith’s soul is being tried as never before as he fights to keep his job, and good standing in his locker room, starting Sunday against Philip Rivers and the Chargers in San Diego.
If your quarterback isn’t a fighter, you have no chance, and Smith promises you he is a fighter.
“I’m naturally a resilient guy, and I’m always gonna fight to the end,” Smith told The Post.
Go ahead, ask him about his confidence level.
“Extremely high, man,” Smith said. “I got confidence in every single guy in this locker room, especially in my coaches. … We’re putting together a really good game plan.
“And myself, [confidence is] always gonna be high. I believe in myself 100 percent, but I do understand that we’ve gotta play better, and I’m being hard on myself, making sure that any little detail, nothing will slip by, and if it’s another guy, I’m staying on him and making sure that we’re doing the right things to give us a chance to win the game.”
Go ahead, ask him about his frame of mind.
“My focus is 100 percent locked in, and I’m just ready to go out there and execute,” Smith said.
Don’t bother asking him if he thinks there is value putting Michael Vick in as a spark, not for a play, for a quarter …
“It doesn’t make sense,” Smith said. “What team do you see doing that?”
The reporter continued, “So you don’t agree with it?”
Smith: “That’s not a question. Next question.”
A minute or two later, the reporter was back asking: “If you’re healthy, should you play all four quarters on Sunday?”
Smith: “Next question.”
Major progress from, “F—k you,” indeed.
In case anyone were to interpret his “Next question? answers as more evidence he is cracking, consider that Smith stood at his locker and patiently answered eight additional questions.
Vick told the media throng around him he received the same number of practice reps.
“Geno’s upbeat, in good spirits,” Vick said. “Everybody’s looking at him. He’s the leader of this football team, and everybody’s gonna feed off his vibe.”
Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg should help Smith by resisting the urge to air it out and dust off elements of the Giants’ Super Bowl XXV blueprint against the Bills (40:33 time of possession) by having Chris Ivory and Chris Johnson play the part of Ottis Anderson. It would delight coach Rex Ryan, of course, take some stress off Smith, and if effective, can keep Rivers on the sidelines.
“It’s important but the ground game has to be productive,” Vick said. “That’s just not our style to just straight run the ball down your throat. I’ve played with Marty and I know what he likes to do, he likes to mix it up and balance it out. But then you’re talking about a ball-control game.”
Which is every quarterback’s best friend.
“Yeah, yeah, but it’s easier said than done,” Vick said.
Smith has thrown more than 30 times during this three-game losing streak. He threw 28 times in the season-opening win over the Raiders. Ivory, who had 71-yard touchdown run, and Johnson combined to rush for 170 of the Jets’ 212 yards on the ground.
When the Jets upset the Chargers 17-14 in San Diego to advance to the AFC Championship Game following the 2009 season, they rushed for 169 yards and possessed the ball for 31:31. At the Saturday night team meeting, Ryan showed Mike Tyson highlights.
Johnson (ankle) practiced full Wednesday. Referring to Johnson’s 35-yard TD run against the Lions, Ryan said: “It was vintage Chris Johnson.”
Asked if the beastly Ivory can wear down a defense in the fourth quarter, Ryan said: “Absolutely. If the game’s going according to plan, you try to hit ’em with a big back at the end, especially when you’re ahead, a guy that can run the ball in a four-minute situation, yeah I believe he’s that guy.”
Go ahead, ask Geno Smith if he thinks he’s the franchise quarterback.
“I do believe that I am. but we just gotta continue to work on it,” Smith said.
“It’s about wins and losses, man, we gotta win more games. Ultimately, that’s the only thing. I don’t think it’s about anything other than that.
“We just gotta win.”
Resurrect those Tyson highlights. The fighter quarterback needs a knockout.
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