Jets QB Geno Smith has never fashioned himself as a runner. He was a pocket passer who lit up college scoreboards with regularity, an athlete who let his arm do the talking for four quarters. When Smith slipped into the rookie abyss midway through last season, he had an epiphany (brought on by a gentle push from his coaches): When things don’t look quite right, tuck the ball and take off.
Smith’s willingness to run made all the difference during the Jets’ final four-game stretch, an eye opener for a player who finally utilized his full repertoire above — and below — his shoulders. He had 43% of his rushes during that span, picking up six yards per attempt with three touchdowns to help the Jets win three of their final games.
He fully embraced that facet of the game in the offseason.
OC Marty Mornhinweg lauded Smith's play in the final four games of the season. He did average 20.0 fantasy points during that span, compared with just 10.0 FP in the first 12 games. He ran for three TDs down the stretch while throwing for just 198 yards and 1.0 TD.