For Better or Worse, Geno Smith Era 2.0 a Must for Flailing New York Jets

At one time, quarterback Geno Smith was the chosen one. He was supposed to destroy the AFC East, not ride the bench. He was meant to bring balance to the New York Jets, not more losses. 

Instead, the second-round pick hasn't started a game since 2014 because he wasn't accountable off the field and didn't perform to expectations on it. 

Yet here the Jets stand, ready to embrace the dark side.

The team is 1-5, and veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick's season has been an unmitigated disaster. Turning to Smith is the only logical option for New York's present and future.

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According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, head coach Todd Bowles will name Smith his starting quarterback this week despite giving Fitzpatrick a vote of confidence after Monday's 28-3 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. 

A second chance has been a long time coming for Smith. Just two days ago, the 39th pick in the 2013 NFL draft told ESPN's Lisa Salters (via Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio) he was "getting antsy." 

A chance at redemption doesn't come around often, and Smith must embrace the opportunity. During his two seasons as a starter, Smith completed 57.5 percent of his passes for 5,571 yards, 25 touchdowns and 34 interceptions. New York finished 12-20 during those campaigns.

More importantly, Smith never embraced his role as a team leader. IK Enemkpali infamously broke Smith's jaw with a punch during training camp in 2015, and the quarterback lost his starting job to Fitzpatrick.

Smith didn't react well when the Jets re-signed Fitzpatrick to a one-year, $12 million deal in July, either. The West Virginia product admitted to Bleacher Report's Tyler Dunne that he was "pissed off." 

Physically, Smith has all the tools necessary to succeed. He stands 6'3" and weighs 221 pounds. He can make all the throws and combines that arm talent with 4.59-second 40-yard-dash speed. 

"That's up to the eye of the beholder, but he has all the skills...” team owner Woody Johnson said in January, per ESPN.com's Ohm Youngmisuk. "It is a question of what his desire is. And from what the coaches told me and from what I have seen myself, I think he has matured a lot. And he is working on his game and he knows he’s a professional and he has the ability if he sticks with it."

The Jets thrust Smith into a starting role well before he was ready after coming out of West Virginia's high-flying spread offense as a 23-year-old. 

Learning the nuances of the position takes time, and mastering the ability to see the field in the NFL is a never-ending learning experience. Smith is in his fourth season, and everything is coming together, at least outside of regular-season action. He's no longer guessing and just trying to make a play—which often backfired during his previous starting stint. 

"Now, I know where the guys are going to be," Smith told Dunne. "It's not like I'm dropping back and trying to figure out where they're going to be. I know where they're going to be and I can just react."

Indications of improvement existed well before this point, though. 

In 2014, after the Jets' Week 11 bye, Smith displayed dramatic improvement. Through the final six contests, he completed 65.7 percent of his passes for 1,155 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions. His quarterback rating dipped below 83.9 only once during that stretch. That's compared to a 56.2 completion percentage, 1,370 yards and seven touchdowns against 10 interceptions in the eight games prior.

As the following season approached, those around him had increased confidence in Smith, but the ill-fated locker room punch ruined any chance he had to secure his standing. 

However, the offense he's taking over isn't the same. Smith can lean on veteran wide receiver Brandon Marshall and running back Matt Forte, both of whom were elsewhere during his last stint. Plus, offensive coordinator Chan Gailey is far more creative than the quarterback's previous play-caller, Marty Mornhinweg. 

Now, either Smith will prove he's a starting-caliber quarterback over the next three games, or the team can move on.  

First, the Jets face the Baltimore Ravens, who boast the NFL's No. 3 defense. But over the following two weeks, New York hosts the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins. Both squads are among the league's worst and could serve as confidence-builders. 

Even with Smith's second chance, the Jets will continue to weigh their options, especially since he is a free agent after the season.

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The Florida native isn't the only former high draft pick in the team's quarterback stable. In fact, three signal-callers selected in the second or fourth rounds awaited their turn behind Fitzpatrick. After Smith, Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty are talented gunslingers who have yet to play in a regular-season contest. 

This means the organization might not be patient with Smith if he plays poorly. A look around the league's recent history shows rookie quarterback after rookie quarterback with the ability to run an offense. 

Petty hasn't received the opportunity to do so. Many would argue he wasn't ready after playing in the Baylor Bears' simplistic offensive scheme. But no one will know until he's on the field. However, it's never a good sign when a front office chooses a quarterback in the fourth round before taking another in the second in the following draft. 

As a true freshman, Hackenberg looked the part of a future No. 1-overall pick. But he got lost along the way. However, the Jets saw enough potential in him to select him with the 51st overall pick. 

The Penn State product continues to progress as the team's scout-team quarterback. 

"I think it's good just to be able to get in the flow of practice and actually do it," Hackenberg told NJ.com's Darryl Slater. "You can only do so much seeing and watching. That's been the coolest part, is being able to take the things I've learned in the film room and try to apply them." 

The Jets are asking Smith to lead the team, but he should be on a short leash. Another loss or two in the coming weeks could force the entire organization into evaluation mode. 

This step will be important in how the team proceeds during the offseason. 

Clearly, Fitzpatrick isn't the answer, and the franchise showed foresight by not signing him to a long-term deal. Smith remains a massive question mark, and the team's two pups haven't seen the field. 

Meanwhile, the opportunity to draft a quarterback with another valuable pick at the top of the first or second round remains in play. 

"Eventually, everybody will see," Smith told Dunne. "Eventually, everybody will see."

That's the point. The Jets need to see what Smith can do before making a decision regarding the next available option. 

Brent Sobleski covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @brentsobleski.