David Garrard said last week that he “definitely” feels like he can do more than serve as a veteran mentor to the younger Jets quarterbacks and he might get a chance to prove that before the year is out.
Geno Smith got benched on Sunday after going 4-of-10 for 29 yards and an interception in the first half of a 23-3 loss to the Dolphins and Matt Simms was 9-of-18 for 79 yards and an interception of his own in the second half, leaving Rex Ryan without a response when asked at his postgame press conference about who would start against the Raiders next week.
Ryan did say that Garrard was a possibility and one would have to guess it is between him and Simms for the job. Going back to Smith after this performance and a five-game run that’s seen him throw eight interceptions and no touchdowns while completing half his passes just once. Simms didn’t set the world on fire, but throwing Smith right back out there is a hard sell when other options exist.
Ryan’s job seemed very secure when the team was 5-4 after beating the Saints, but three straight blowout losses have a way of changing situations. Whoever plays quarterback for the final four weeks is going to have to find a way to score some points for Ryan to remain in the job come 2014.