To say Jets rookie quarterback Geno Smith is struggling mightily during the team’s current two-game losing streak would be an understatement.
The rookie has completed just 37.7 percent of his passes in the Jets’ two road losses, throwing five interceptions against zero touchdowns.
Smith won’t blame his receivers, but his receivers know they also are a reason the passing game has struggled.
“I think the biggest thing for us is to just calm down and play ball,” David Nelson said. “We’ve put too much pressure on ourselves to make plays, especially when the game is getting out of hand. Guys are trying to make big plays out of situations where we can take what’s given to us.
“There were a couple of times where we had easy five-yard routes and guys were just trying to make bigger plays out of that. We just have to play within ourselves. We have to stop pressing and allow things to come to us.”
Despite a season-long “revolving door” at the receiver positions, Smith refused to use that as an alibi for his regressing performance.
“I don’t like to make any excuses,” he said. “The guys that we have who have [come] and filled in for some guys that have been hurt have done a tremendous job at picking things up and running with it. Guys like [wide receivers] David Nelson [and] Greg Salas, [and tight end] Zach Sudfeld. All those guys have come in and been able to contribute for us, even if it’s been a small portion. Just getting guys back healthy is going to help us out, as well as me playing better, being more precise and making better throws.”
The Jets, who face what is likely a must-win Sunday against the Dolphins, have been hampered in the receiver department all season, primarily because of injuries.
Santonio Holmes (hamstring), Jeremy Kerley (elbow), and tight end Jeff Cumberland (concussion) have missed time. Tight end Kellen Winslow was suspended in mid-October for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy.
Second-year wide receiver Stephen Hill has been a non-factor this month, failing to catch a pass.
Coach Rex Ryan said he believes Smith is having a hard time adapting to the ever-rotating cast at receiver, despite the quarterback’s claims to the contrary.
“[A] thing we can [to do] help [him] is how we get out there on the practice field,” Ryan said. “Sometimes we’ve had a list of injuries. This past week, David Nelson had an illness, so he was out.
“[Santonio Holmes] missed a lot of reps last week. The timing and all that, if you’re running a route but it’s designed for a certain player and that player is not in there, you get to a game and it’s a lot different.”
First-year general manager John Idzik has been forced to sign players off the street as reinforcements, and one of them was Nelson, a former Bill who has provided some level of stability, catching 17 passes in seven games.
Nelson detailed the nuances behind the constant receiver shuffle affecting the synergy between Smith and his receivers.
“Santonio was out, and I was playing his position,” Nelson said. “Then he comes back, and Jeremy comes down, so I slide over. Stephen’s over there, and he gets hurt. Even though it may be familiar faces, it’s guys in different positions, and guys run routes differently.
“[It’s tough], especially for a guy who’s still trying to figure the NFL offense, the speed of the game.He has brand-new guys coming in in Week 5, and guys shuffling in and out. We have to get guys healthy, and get them in there consistently and provide a base, and then grow off that base.”
Despite their recent slide, the 5-6 Jets are still in the playoff mix, and a fairly friendly schedule awaits them in December, with two games against the Dolphins and home games with the Raiders and Browns. The toughest test appears to be a road game at red-hot Carolina on Dec. 15.
If the Jets have any aspirations of making the playoffs for the first time in three seasons, the receivers need to step up and take pressure off Smith by doing what Nelson said — take what the defense is giving them and help bolster the rookie quarterback’s confidence.
Cornerback Antonio Cromartie (hip), Holmes (foot, hamstring) and Winslow (knee) did not practice Thursday.