Pass Protection Not Helping Geno Smith Keep Starting Role for Jets

The fact that the New York Jets ran the ball an obnoxious 49 times against the Miami Dolphins on Monday night to almost come out with a win is certainly an indictment on Geno Smith's future as a quarterback, but Smith was not the only player they were trying to protect with such a run-heavy game plan. 

As big, of as equal of a reason as to why the Jets ran an offense that would have been just as compelling had it been broadcast on a transistor radio was because they simply had no chance of holding up in pass protection. 

The Jets' quarterback woes are well-documented, but lost in their ineptitude this season has been their inability to protect either Smith or Michael Vick. According to Pro Football Focus, the Jets have allowed 105 hurries as a team entering this game in addition to 27 hits and 23 sacks.

On the Jets' measly 13 pass attempts, Smith was sacked twice and hurried on just about every dropback. Throw in the fact that he was a "cold" quarterback with no rhythm to speak of—he even botched a handoff—even the most optimistic of fans knew they had a better chance of getting a rebate on their season tickets than seeing a game-winning drive from the embattled quarterback. 

Smith is also one of the worst quarterbacks one can field behind poor protection. Smith has a hard enough time reading the field as it is—the Jets were forced to dumb down their offense to an advanced level of flag football to cater to him and for good reason. Smith is hardly average under normal conditions and un-fieldable under pressure, as statistics by Pro Football Focus demonstrate:

Pressure	Completion %	Yards/Att	Sacks	INT	Rating
Yes	69.2	6.8	0	4	80.8
No	36.0	4.4	17	3	42.5

This is not a simple case of the Jets needing a new guard or two (although they are certainly on the shopping list). The Jets' issues in protection run deeper than personnel on the offensive line—the "protection" given by tight ends and running backs have doomed the Jets at least as often as the offensive line. 

If kicker Nick Folk had not had an unusually "off" night by missing two field goals, he may have given the Jets a winning edge on a 48-yard attempt had he been a few yards closer. Instead, he was pushed back, thanks to Cameron Wake manhandling Jeff Cumberland for a big sack on the preceding play next to an onlooking Bilal Powell who had no interest in getting involved in slowing down a possessed Wake.

Darryl Slater of NJ Advance Media noted Wake's impact on Smith's dismal number of pass attempts and completions: 

Yes, the Jets need a lot more out of Smith in such critical situations before handing him the keys to the franchise, but the failures of a unit that only has to be proven capable of running a high school level offense does not fall on one player. No passer, nevermind one of Smith's caliber, would have a chance to succeed in this environment.

The sheer fact that the Jets only attempted 13 passes with Smith reveals just how little they believe in Smith's future as the face of their franchise. Smith only has himself to blame for losing a starting job that was essentially handed to him in training camp, but he was set up for anything but success. 

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

To its credit, the Jets' offensive line did do an exceptionally better job moving forward (run blocking) than backward (pass blocking), which further justifies the comical amount of rushing attempts. 

The Jets' game plan was to run an absurd number of times to have a chance of "stealing" a game. Even if Ryan's plan worked—and it nearly did—this is no way to win in the long term in the NFL. As much as the Jets are in dire need of a franchise quarterback, throwing a brand-new passer to the wolves behind a line that cannot function in the modern game will only result in more lost seasons and inevitable firings. 

The Jets are a lot more than a few linemen and blocking tight ends away from morphing into a winning team, but they are spinning their wheels if they do not make significant strides addressing this area next offseason. Otherwise, they may as well trot out Smith for 16 weeks and run the T-Wing.

Advanced statistics provided by ProFootballFocus.com (subscription required).