PITTSBURGH — OK, Geno.
Jets quarterback Geno Smith eased any concerns over a shaky training camp with an impressive 10-play drive to open Friday night’s preseason game against the Steelers. Smith missed last week’s preseason opener with a sore ankle but he looked 100 percent healthy and ready for the regular season in his brief appearance against the Steelers.
Smith went 7-for-7 for 65 yards and completed the drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Jelani Woods in a 17-0 Jets win. Smith’s night was done after that, and backup Cade Klubnik entered the game.
While Smith and the offense stole the show, the Jets starting defense also had a good night. The unit played two full series and part of a third and didi not allow any points. The Steelers sat quarterback Aaron Rodgers, so the Jets defensive performance comes with a little asterisk. Will Howard got the start for the Steelers, and he did not have much success.
The Jets second-team defense came up with two interceptions of Howard — one from safety Andre Cisco and another from cornerback Sam Womack. Though this is only preseason, any interceptions by the Jets are notable because of last year’s interception drought when they went the entire season without one.
The other good news on defense for the Jets was rookie David Bailey notching his first sack in a game. Bailey blew past Steelers tackle Broderick Jones and brought Howard down on third down to end Pittsburgh’s second series.
While the defensive highlights were nice for the Jets, the best part of the night for Aaron Glenn and Co. was watching the starting offense march 69 yards in 10 plays to open things.
Smith found six different receivers, including guard Dylan Parham, who caught a deflected pass. He hit Adonai Mitchell for a 21-yard gain along the sideline. He also converted two third downs. One was a 10-yard completion to tight end Mason Taylor. The next one was a 10-yard pass to Garrett Wilson that put the ball at the Pittsburgh 13.
New offensive coordinator Frank Reich drew up a beautiful play-action pass that left Woods wide open for a walk-in touchdown.
With that, Smith and the starters exited the game.
It has been an up-and-down summer for Smith in his return to the Jets. There have been some good days and some bad ones in practice. Then, he missed the preseason game with the Buccaneers and questions remained. He answered some of those Friday night. Yes, it was only one series, but the Steelers largely played their starters, minus T.J. Watt, and Smith looked in control.
Smith’s career has been filled with highs and lows and the Jets should expect plenty of both this season. Friday was definitely a high.
The Jets defense forced a three-and-out on the first series and then got the Steelers off the field in four plays on their next possession.
Klubnik, the fourth-round pick with the inside track to being Smith’s backup, was not as crisp as last week but he faced constant pressure. Some of the pressure was self-inflicted because he was slow to get rid of the ball. Other times his protection failed, including some terrible blocking from running back Kene Nwangwu on a sack. Klubnik also got flagged for an intentional grounding penalty, when he just threw the ball out of bounds with no receiver in the same zip code.
Klubnik made some nice plays, including a 16-yard scramble for a first down. He also found Isaiah Williams on a third-down pass, but Williams fumbled the ball. Klubnik finished 10-for-14 for 75 yards and was sacked twice. He played five series and did not produce any points.
The second-team defense picked up where the starters left off and kept the Steelers out of the end zone. The Steelers got to the Jets’ 14-yard line and then Cisco picked off Howard, ending the scoring threat.
The Jets sideline exploded after Cisco’s interception. Everyone on the Jets is well aware that the interception drought hangs over this team. Even though it only came in August, they were ready to celebrate.
Womack made it two picks in one game when he got Howard with 1:54 left in the first half. That set Klubnik up with a two-minute drill from the 30. But the protection broke down and he was sacked twice. They got to the Steelers 41, and Cade York attempted a 59-yard field goal that went wide right to end the half.
