While the Jets continue to evaluate whether or not Geno Smith is a franchise quarterback, there is a fear the coaches might have hindered Smith's development by dictating his reads, NFL.com National Insider Ian Rapoport said during an interview Sunday morning with NFL Network.
"Usually a quarterback is able to drop back, go through his reads then deliver the ball. I am told that Geno Smith was informed of his reads, told, 'You need to throw the ball here on certain plays,'" Rapoport said. "The most egregious example came on an interception on a pass (in Week 8) intended for Percy Harvin that Stephon Gilmore, the Bills corner, picked off. Smith was told; 'This is where you need to throw the ball.' And obviously, for a quarterback who is now taking a breather last game and this game, may have hurt his development a little bit."
Michael Vick is making his second straight start Sunday against the Steelers since Smith was benched in Week 8 after throwing three interceptions. Smith was inactive last week due to a shoulder injury.