CORTLAND — West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen came to Geno Smith’s defense Tuesday, saying his comments about a lack of leadership on last year’s team were not directed at the Jets rookie quarterback.
“Geno was one of the only real leaders we had on the team in 2012,” Holgorsen said to CBSSports.com. “People in media are trying to read between the lines or add two-plus-two, and they’re wrong.”
Smith has come under fire since before April’s draft for lacking maturity, but the Jets took him in the second round. Last week, Holgorsen criticized the leadership on the Mountaineers last season and several of his players backed him up.
“We have to develop leaders,” Holgorsen said, according to the Pittsburgh-Tribune Review. “It was a big issue on last year’s team.”
Smith’s name was never mentioned by Holgorsen or any players, but it was presumed he was part of the leadership problem since he was the quarterback. Jets coach Rex Ryan was asked about it Monday and ripped West Virginia.
“It tells me I’m glad my kid never went there,” Ryan said. “I don’t get that. Geno was a tremendous player for West Virginia. Sometimes I don’t know. … You’d have to ask them.”
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Second-year WR Stephen Hill had a brutal drop in the end zone Tuesday on a Mark Sanchez pass. After the practice, he did not appreciate the topic of drops being brought up.
“I don’t even want to talk about drops,” Hill said. “That’s just … everybody does it. I’ve seen … I don’t even want to talk about it.”
Hill came under fire in his rookie season for dropping the ball. He had several, including a memorable one against the Patriots, and has been defensive about the topic this year.
Tuesday, he dropped the pass and then spoke with offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. They ran the play again and the second time he caught the touchdown.
“Yeah, because I told them to throw it again, because I don’t drop balls,’’ Hill said. “Next question, please.”
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NT Kenrick Ellis (back), P Robert Malone (undisclosed), RB Joe McKnight (head), WR Clyde Gates (head), WR Braylon Edwards (rest), TE Kellen Winslow (rest), LB Josh Mauga (back) and C Dalton Freeman (ankle) did not practice. … The Jets released OT Dennis Landolt, who injured his knee in Friday’s game, and signed G Patrick Ford. They placed RB John Griffin (broken leg) on season-ending injured reserve.