Geno Smith’s 13 Interceptions in 2014

An up and down season saw Geno Smith throw 13 interceptions in 13 games started. Still learning on the job and still showing many mental errors, there’s a fine line between interceptions that can be fixed and interceptions that are inexcusable. We’re going to break down which are which.

Regular Season Stats

Interceptions by Zone

1st and 16 at NYJ 24 (6:06) (Shotgun) G.Smith pass short right INTERCEPTED by C.Woodson at NYJ 30. C.Woodson to NYJ 28 for 2 yards (E.Decker).

Jets come out in a 1×2 shotgun set, while the Raiders are in a Cover-2 zone shell that’s actually hiding a Cover-3.

As Charles Woodson comes down from his starting Cover-2 spot, Geno Smith’s dropping back and staring right in Eric Decker’s direction. Smith could have still made this play work and fit the ball in there, but after reaching his final step in the drop he takes another hitch step before throwing, effectively throwing just as Decker has turned around. At this point it’s just too late, the combination of staring down and lateness is going to cost the Jets a possession.

1st and 10 at GB 27 (2:00) (Shotgun) G.Smith pass deep right intended for Z.Sudfeld INTERCEPTED by T.Williams [M.Daniels] at GB 3. T.Williams to GB 3 for no gain (Z.Sudfeld).

This time Jets are in a 1×0 shotgun set with a huge run look. The Packers show a Cover-1 shell at pre-snap, and go into Cover-3.

After a solid playaction try that gets two linebackers to take a step forward, Smith begins dropping back, takes a hitch forward and throws it up to Sudfeld who’s running the furthest out vertical. This likely would have been a completion, based off of where everyone is (or at least an on target throw) but Brian Winters getting completely wrecked by Mike Daniels causes Smith to be hit just as he’s stepping up in the pocket to make this throw. Sudfeld could have possibly contested this interception better.

1st and 10 at NYJ 47 (14:37) G.Smith pass short right intended for C.Johnson INTERCEPTED by R.Mundy at NYJ 45. R.Mundy for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN. R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-J.Cain, Holder-P.O’Donnell.

The Bears are in a Cover-1 shell that becomes Cover-3 while the Jets are in a 2×2 shotgun set.

The first of Smith’s mind-boggling interceptions in 2014, there’s levels of just how bad this play really is. The Jets are trying to get the Bears to commit to stopping this passing set so they have a huge running lane for the screen. After a pump fake to the receiver on the left side, Smith turns around to see that Chris Johnson is caught in traffic. So far so good.

Natural decision making instincts should have kicked in to say “it’s first down, it’s the first quarter. Throw this ball away and live another day, the play is over” but that doesn’t happen here. Smith decides that although the ball has to travel only 10 yards of distance he’s going to change the trajectory and see if Chris Johnson will recognize the placement of the ball and the trajectory in order to bend his route on time to make this catch. There is no excuse for this play, even if Geno can’t see Mundy as he’s running down the field to get the ball, once he sees that there is no clear path for the ball to travel to Johnson, the play should be over.

1st and 10 at CHI 18 (5:10) (Shotgun) G.Smith pass deep left intended for D.Nelson INTERCEPTED by K.Fuller at CHI -7. K.Fuller to CHI 5 for 12 yards (T.Bohanon). PENALTY on NYJ-N.Mangold, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced at CHI 5.

The second of Smith’s inexcusable interceptions. Jets are in a 1×2 shotgun set and the Bears are showing a cover-3 shell.

Smith drops back to pass, staring down the middle of the field. As he hits his hitch, he begins going through his progressions. His first read in the middle of the field is covered, he looks to his out on the right which is also covered, and then looks over to Ivory on his left who’s open. However, because of the way Geno is kind of wildly stepping up into the pocket as he’s going through his progressions he ends up unable to balance himself out to throw to Ivory on time before the zone defender has already closed the space. Smith makes the smart decision to not take this late throw, and now scrambles to buy time- and that’s when everything goes wrong.

It’s at this point that Smith should just throw the ball away since David Nelson, his target, is double covered with Kyle Fuller trailing behind him and the safety ahead of him. Smith instead decides to try and throw a low arcing ball into this, which has absolutely no chance of connecting. The only chance Nelson has for this catch is on a jump ball but there is no trajectory that is possible from Geno’s position that would give him that opportunity. This is the second time Smith didn’t know when to just let the play go.

2nd and 15 at DET 46 (13:15) (Shotgun) G.Smith pass intended for E.Decker INTERCEPTED by D.Slay at DET 26. D.Slay to NYJ 34 for 40 yards (B.Powell).

Jets start in a 3×1 shotgun set with a bunch on the left side but change into a 2×2 against the Lions Cover-2 shell, which is showing zone by the pre-snap read.

Smith drops back with his eyes down the center of the field and takes his reads from high to low starting with the comeback on the left side. Seeing he doesn’t have the passing lane, Smith goes to his next read in the middle of the field on Deckers deep curl. Decker’s trying to come back to the QB in order to make this pass easier for Smith but Smith is under pressure as the line falls all over each other. Smith’s unable to put the ball in a place that takes advantage of Decker coming down to get it and forces Decker to stop and try to get the ball from behind him. There’s not a lot to criticize Smith for here, he’s under pressure through no fault of his own and is unable to recognize his teammates improvised movement.

3rd and 11 at NYJ 25 (:16) (Shotgun) G.Smith pass deep middle intended for G.Salas INTERCEPTED by B.Flowers at SD 18. B.Flowers to SD 45 for 27 yards (D.Nelson).

Jets are in a 1×2 shotgun set with two players in the backfield who move up into the wings, a common formation change under Marty Mornhinweg. The Chargers are in a Cover-2 shell with the corners playing off and the safeties playing very close. Brandon Flowers slightly turned position is hinting that this is zone coverage, which it ends up being.

As Eric Weddle begins backing up into his deep spot while Smith is dropping back, he instead chooses to close the space on the slot receiver who would otherwise be wide open on his out route- which clears out the space required to hit Greg Salas on the post route. Smith lines up his throw right as Salas is coming out of his break and places it exactly where it should be, in the big wide empty space that’s been relieved by Weddle. Instead, Salas loses sight of the ball while tracking it and slows himself down allowing the ball to go right over his head and into the hands of Flowers.

3rd and 14 at NYJ 1 (:23) G.Smith pass deep right intended for J.Kerley INTERCEPTED by A.Talib at NYJ 22. A.Talib for 22 yards, TOUCHDOWN. B.McManus extra point is GOOD, Center-A.Brewer, Holder-B.Colquitt.

The Jets are in a 1×3 shotgun set running a four verticals play while the Broncos are in a cover-2 shell playing the deep ball.

Another no-sense making interception. This play occurs right at the end of the fourth quarter with only 23 seconds remaining on 3rd down, with the Jets down 7 points, so the Broncos are selling out since they know the Jets have to change field position quickly if they want a chance to win. Nothing about this throw makes sense. Smith is under no pressure, yet his throw is horribly inaccurate with no chance of any receiver coming up with it. The ball is thrown behind the middle vertical route being run by Jeremy Kerley, which is the wrong placement to begin with since the CB is trailing Kerley. That, or Smith is trying to throw a line drive towards the outside receiver, which also wouldn’t make sense since Talib is in the throwing lane. There’s nothing for this throw to be other than an interception or an incompletion, it’s a desperate throw in a desperate situation with no chance of completion.

3rd and 8 at NYJ 12 (8:47) (Shotgun) G.Smith pass deep left intended for P.Harvin INTERCEPTED by S.Gilmore at NYJ 46. S.Gilmore pushed ob at NYJ 33 for 13 yards (P.Harvin). PENALTY on BUF-N.Bradham, Taunting, 15 yards, enforced at NYJ 33.

Jets are in a 2×1 shotgun set, with the Bills showing a Cover-2 shell and the corners hinting at zone.

The first of three interceptions Smith will commit during this game, this one is the least of the three that is his fault. Smith has a one on one matchup on the outside with Percy Harvin against Stephon Gilmore. This really shouldn’t be an interception but Harvin bumps into Gilmore and falls down before the ball gets there, giving Gilmore free reign to just snatch the ball instead of having to contest Harvin. Although it’s likely to be an incompletion anyway since Harvin runs behind Gilmore instead of boxing him out, an interception only occurs here because Harvin isn’t able to contest for the catch.

3rd and 9 at NYJ 21 (6:19) (Shotgun) G.Smith pass deep left intended for J.Cumberland INTERCEPTED by P.Brown at 50. P.Brown to 50 for no gain (J.Cumberland).

Jets are in an empty 2×3 shotgun set that turns into a 1×4 after pre-snap adjustments against the Bills Cover-2 Shell.

The pre-snap motion tells Smith that he has man coverage and Cumberland, who’s lined up as the wide receiver on the left side, is in 1 on 1 coverage against linebacker Preston Brown. This is a matchup that should be in favor of Cumberland and in many situations, this is a throw that should be made. Cumberland is able to get separation as he heads up the sideline away from Brown, however, Geno under throws this ball a significant amount, making Cumberland to have to slow down and giving Brown the chance to recover and make the interception in front of him. An ugly, under thrown ball.

2nd and 10 at NYJ 1 (4:49) (Shotgun) G.Smith pass deep left intended for E.Decker INTERCEPTED by A.Williams at NYJ 27. A.Williams to NYJ 1 for 26 yards (G.Smith). FUMBLES (G.Smith), ball out of bounds at NYJ 1. The Replay Official challenged the fumble ruling, and the play was Upheld. The ruling on the field stands.

Jets are in a 1×3 shotgun set that turns into a 2×3 empty set, similar to the one in the previous interception. The Bills are showing something between Cover-1 and Cover-3, which will end up becoming Cover-1 Man.

Ivory moving out of the backfield puts a linebacker on Decker in the slot while the cornerback originally on Decker moves over to Ivory on the outside. Smith takes Decker’s slant against the linebacker, which is the right decision, but throws it completely inaccurately. It sails above Decker and straight into the hands of Aaron Williams. Just a horrible, horrible throw one after the other. Smith is benched after this play and won’t see another start until 3 games later.

On the next page, we’ll look at Geno Smith’s interceptions after he returns from his benching.