FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The last time Geno Smith started a game, he threw for 358 yards and three TDs — and had a perfect 158.3 passer rating — against the Miami Dolphins.
That was back on Dec. 28, 2014, less than a month before Chan Gailey was named the Jets’ new offensive coordinator. And since then, Gailey has seen a change in Smith.
“I think he’s learned a lot more football,” he said of Smith, who, after replacing Ryan Fitzpatrick in Monday night’s loss in Arizona, was named the Jets’ new starting quarterback on Wednesday. “I think he understands a lot more of what’s happening in the game, in general: what defenses are trying to do, how we need to try to beat them, what we’re thinking.