The Jets added something to rookie quarterback Geno Smith’s practice regimen four weeks ago after he fumbled twice against the Titans — ball security drills designed for running backs.
“It’s kind of dreadful,” Smith said this week, “but I know it makes us better and it makes me better as a player. It’s important to secure that ball. That’s first things first, above all else. It’s something we must do in practice and we’ve been getting better with it.”
What makes it dreadful?
“It’s tiring,” Smith said.
Running backs coach Anthony Lynn chuckled when told of Smith’s “dreadful” description. After the Titans game, Lynn taught quarterbacks coach David Lee three or four ball security drills he uses with his running backs.
Lynn typically does one a day with his backs. Lee has the quarterbacks doing all of them in one practice.
“I think that’s the dreadful part,” Lynn said. “They go through the whole gamut.”
The drills seem to be working. Smith has not lost a fumble since the Titans game and he has been effective running the ball. Lynn said Smith has taken to the teaching points.
“Like all ball carriers, he’s not perfect,” Lynn said. “He makes mistakes carrying the football from time to time. But I’ve been really impressed with his awareness now and how he’s paying attention to how to carry the football. When he leaves the pocket, you can see that he’s very conscious of where that ball is. That’s what you want. I think he’s done a hell of a job with that.”
Lynn studies all of the fumbles in the NFL after each season. He said last year quarterbacks losing the ball after they left the pocket was the second-leading cause of fumbles. It makes sense that it is increasing with the number of designed quarterback runs teams are now using .
“A lot of quarterbacks have never practiced it, so they don’t know how to carry the football when they leave the pocket,” Lynn said. “They carry it with one hand. I told Geno earlier he was carrying it like a Coca-Cola. They expose it to the defense.”
Smith has tucked it away now thanks to some dreadful drills.
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LB Calvin Pace turns 33 tomorrow, and his teammates don’t let him forget it. The oldest player on the Jets hears it from the younger players, and he also has seen it reflected in his playing time. Pace, who had been an every-down player in years past, has played in 78 percent of the Jets’ defensive snaps this year, down from 94 percent a year ago. He only played in 49 of the team’s 76 snaps last week against the Patriots.
“I’m fine with it. I think the last couple of years I’ve been getting worn down toward the end of the season. Something me and Rex [Ryan] talked about,” Pace said this week. “I’m fine with it. I’m happy with it.”
On a Jets defense known for its youth, being the elder statesman brings some abuse.
“As Quinton Coples likes to call me: old man Calvin,” Pace said. “I’m not a spring chicken in this game anymore. I don’t have to play every snap. We got enough guys to rotate to get me some plays off.”