Geno Smith is off to arguably the best five-game start of any of the supposed “franchise quarterbacks” the Jets have drafted in their history.
The Jets’ 3-2 record equals that of Mark Sanchez’s first five starts as a rookie in 2009 and Chad Pennington’s in 2002, while Joe Namath went 2-2-1 in 1965, Richard Todd 2-3 in 1976 and Ken O’Brien 1-4 in 1984.
Of that group, Smith has passed for the most yardage (1,289) in the first five games, 27 more than O’Brien. Smith’s 60.3 completion percentage is second to the incredibly accurate Pennington’s 74.3, but Pennington already was in his third season in the league. The rookie from West Virginia has thrown seven touchdown passes, second to Namath’s nine, but Smith’s eight interceptions are the most.
Here’s a look at the numbers and circumstances of each of these Jets quarterbacks in their first five career starts:
GENO SMITH, 2013
Drafted: Second round, 2013, from West Virginia
Record: 3-2
Passing stats: 94-of-156 (60.3 percent), 1,289 yards, 7 TDs, 8 INTs
Notable: Smith started from opening day as a rookie, and led game-winning fourth-quarter drives at home against the Buccaneers and Bills and on the road against the Falcons.
JOE NAMATH, 1965
Drafted: First round, 1965, from Alabama
Record: 2-2-1
Passing stats: 69-of-146 (47.3 percent), 966 yards, 9 TDs, 6 INTs
Notable: Joe Willie got the starting job in Week 2 and went 0-2-1, then returned as a starter in Week 8 and defeated the Boston Patriots 30-20 and Houston Oilers 41-14, throwing four touchdowns vs. Houston.
RICHARD TODD, 1976
Drafted: First round, 1976, from Alabama
Record: 2-3
Passing stats: 29-of-75 (38.7 percent), 463 yards, 3 TDs, 6 INTs
Notable: Todd’s first start came in Week 7, a 19-14 win at Buffalo. But his numbers were diminished because he shared time with the aging Namath in three of those games.
KEN O’BRIEN, 1984
Drafted: First round, 1983, from Cal-Davis
Record: 1-4
Passing stats: 104-of-180 (57.8 percent), 1,262 yards, 5 TDs, 6 INTs
Notable: O’Brien was part of the QB class of 1983 that included John Elway, Jim Kelly and Dan Marino, and Jets fans will never forgive the team for taking O’Brien three picks ahead of Marino. He replaced Pat Ryan in Week 12 of 1984 after an ugly 9-5 loss to the Colts, and held on to the starting job until part of the way into the 1992 season.
CHAD PENNINGTON, 2002
Drafted: First round, 2000, from Marshall
Record: 3-2
Passing stats: 110-of-148 (74.3 percent), 1,134 yards, 6 TDs, 2 INTs
Notable: Replaced Vinny Testaverde in Week 5 of the 2002 season after the Jets had lost three in a row by a combined 102-13. Lost his first start 29-25 to the Chiefs, but went on to have a QB rating over 100 in each of his next four starts, winning three, including a 44-13 romp at San Diego.
MARK SANCHEZ, 2009
Drafted: First round, 2009, from USC
Record: 3-2
Passing stats: 75-of-134 (56.0 percent), 916 yards, 5 TDs, 5 INTs
Notable: Sanchez and Rex Ryan debuted together with a thorough 24-7 win at the Texans. Sanchez followed up with home wins over the Patriots and Titans before losing six of his next seven. That season included a five-INT game vs. the Bills and four more INTs at New England, forecasting a trend that would eventually lead to him losing his job to Smith.