Positive Impressions

Edition #1110: Geno making positive impressions with the Jets and Gee Scott arrives.

Good Morning ☕

My mother wasn’t one to impart a lot of wisdom before she passes away nearly a decade ago, but one thing she said to me as she was packing me off to university has stuck with me. “You don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression” were the simple words that I’ll pass on to my own children…when they’re old enough to really understand it.

It got me thinking about Geno Smith. Drafted 39th overall by the Jets, two underwhelming seasons followed by two seasons largely on the sideline due to either injury or ineffectiveness, a broken jaw because of a $600 debt and then mercifully he was gone. Just like that. A year with the Giants, a year with the Chargers and finally he found a home in Seattle, where he grew, matured and learnt some tough lessons.

Now he’s back and he’s making a positive impression on everyone who comes into contact with him. For many Jets fans it’s hard to shake that first impression. The issue with IK Enemkpali showed a real immaturity that impacted his career trajectory with Ryan Fitzpatrick taking over and Geno basically having his Jets career ended then and there, at least as a starter and potential solution to the quarterback conundrum that has plagued us since Joe Namath decided to hang up his famous white cleats once and for all.

Take this comment from his #1 receiver Garrett Wilson who was speaking to the Jets official website about his first impressions:

“Yeah, man, when I heard we signed Geno, initially for me it was like I immediately hit up my dawg Jax, who had played with him for two years out in Seattle. He had a lot of good insight; he just loved Geno, [and] he spoke so highly of him. All of a sudden, I’m pumped, I’m excited, and then once I got to meet the guy, which would have been a month ago now, mid-April. I had constructed this view of him in my head, and how he was going to be. It was cool, right? I couldn’t wait to meet him based on what I had constructed in my head. Then I met him, and he just blew that out of the water,”

There’s no guarantee that it equates to wins on the football field.

Geno is coming off a 2-year run where he threw 32 interceptions against 40 touchdowns, that kind of ratio won’t win you many football games…it certainly didn’t in Las Vegas last year where he played his part in securing the #1 overall pick for the Raiders. But the Geno that arrived at 1JD this off-season isn’t the same player he was when he left back in 2016, he’s certainly not the same man.

Maybe you don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression…but it doesn’t mean you can’t make a good second impression.

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NEWS & NOTES 🗞️

• The Jets are signing Gee Scott Jr. The former OSU TE has lost some weight and is transitioning to receiver. He ran a good 4.62 at 6’2 and 238lbs, and with a reduction in weight he may be even quicker. His metrics showed a player with poor agility but good explosion and I think JO was spot on yesterday when he said this signing probably has more to do with installing the offense in the absence of Kenyon Sadiq than it does in any real belief in Scott’s potential as a WR. The receiver room at OSU is always packed to the brim and Scott only recorded 47 receptions and 4 touchdowns over 5 years.

• Jason La Canforca believes the Jets should kick the tires on potential trades for the Colts Anthony Richardson and Denver Broncos QB Sam Ehlinger:

  • “Sam Ehlinger, whom the Colts believed merited at least consideration as a viable NFL quarterback at one point, is stuck third in the Broncos’ depth chart right now. He played for new Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich in Indianapolis and knows the system and can offer some things athletically that Smith cannot at this stage of his career. And former Colts first-round pick Anthony Richardson is another possible option later in the summer as well.”

• I missed this quote at some point over the last two weeks, but Geno Smith has been impressed with what he’s seen from Cade Klubnik:

  • “He can spin the heck out of the ball. I feel like he’s a guy who’s always prepared,” Smith said. “He’s been preparing as if he’s going to be a starter, and that’s something that’s important in this league. I think he’s got a bright future”

• ESPN have released their football power Index for the 2026 season and it’s not overly kind to the New York Jets:

  • In terms of winning the Super Bowl, only he Dolphins have a lower probability than the 31st ranked Jets. The Jets have a 0.1% chance of making the Super Bowl and a 0.0% chance of winning it.

  • The Jets have a 3.9% chance of making the playoffs. Only the Dolphins (2.1%) and Cardinals (1.2%) have lower odds.

  • They project the Jets will win 5-6 games this season in total.

  • The Jets have a 17.1% chance of finishing with the #1 pick in the draft and a 60.3% chance of finishing with a pick inside the top-5.

• AD Mitchell has been talking about his attitude towards learning his third offense in as many seasons:

  • "I just work on attacking everything, attacking every day. I'm not really worried about the circumstances but more worried about how I make my circumstances and how I make the best out of each and every day. I would say that just comes with it."

• Aaron Glenn is certainly a firm believer in the potential of AD Mitchell:

  • "For him to hear that message over and over again has been good for him. He's a talented player, a very talented player, and we want to squeeze every ounce of his athleticism to where he can help us and be able to make big plays for us, because he has that ability."