Jets OC Marty Mornhinweg: 'I've got to trust Geno Smith'
New York Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said Monday that he needs to learn to trust starting quarterback Geno Smith, according to Newsday.
Mornhinweg was referencing the Jets' timeout mistake in their 31-24 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, in which the team called a timeout that negated a potentially game-tying touchdown pass from Smith to wide receiver Jeremy Kerley late in the fourth quarter.
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The offensive coordinator said he wanted to stop play because he noticed something wrong with the team's formation, which Smith eventually corrected, at which point the coordinator stopped signaling to the referee. But Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Richardsoncalled the timeout after he noticed Mornhinweg gesturing for one.
Mornhinweg said if he would have trusted Smith to correct the formation, he never would have sought a timeout, and Richardson wouldn't have then called one.
"I want to make it crystal-clear,'' Mornhinweg said, "everything that goes on offensively is my responsibility. Period. So I've got to do a better job of communicating. And then trusting Big Geno. I've got to trust Geno to get everything fixed before the 40-second clock."
Mornhinweg also said he's taking responsibility for the timeout.
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Smith, in his second year as the Jets' starting quarterback, went 16-for-32 for 176 yards, one touchdown and one interception against Green Bay.
- Ben Estes
