By DAVE MORRISON
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — All season long, fans clamored for Geno Smith. Especially after the true freshman quarterback entered in relief of starter Jarrett Brown on the first series of the Marshall game and led a 24-7 win in Morgantown.
Well, they got their wish Friday in the biggest game of the year.
Brown suffered an ankle injury right before the half and Smith played the second half in the Mountaineers’ 33-21 loss to Florida State in a game that was more about the end of Seminoles’ coach Bobby Bowden career than it was about the beginning of Smith’s as WVU’s quarterback.
Not that Smith is largely responsible for WVU’s loss.
In fact, there is plenty of blame to go around.
A defense that could not come up with a big stop when it needed one.
An offensive line that allowed five sacks and killed a second-quarter scoring opportunity with a hold and pressure that forced Brown to intentionally ground the ball to avoid a sack. From first-and-10 at the FSU 22 to fourth-and-43 at the WVU 45?
Noel Devine not getting one carry in the fourth quarter despite the presence of a true freshman quarterback?
All head scratchers.
And, truth be told, Smith didn’t play poorly, per se. On this day the FSU defense made a lot of people, mostly wearing 60s and 70s on their jerseys, look bad.
But what he did get was a baptism under fire.
Like Brown he was continually harassed by FSU’s defense, a defense that had averaged giving up 31 points per game.
Save Noel Devine, the Seminoles looked like the Steel Curtain.
He did complete 8-of-15 passes for 92 yards but he was sacked three times.
Smith said he was ready.
“Coach (Offensive coordinator Jeff) Mullen does a good of preparing us,” Smith said. “I got plenty of reps all week. I know I have to step up when my name is called. That goes for everyone on our team. The next guy at every position has to be ready to play.”
Was he?
“Geno?” coach Bill Stewart said. “I thought he did a nice job. It wasn’t anything that was outstanding, but I thought the young man did a really good job and handled everything very, very well.”
Not a ringing endorsement, but a wringing endorsement.
The truth is, in the future Smith can be as good he can get, but it won’t matter if he is continually harassed. He has every bit the arm that Jarrett Brown does, but he doesn’t have the escapability. It’s something that he is going to have to master.
If the two were pressured equally — and think Smith got a larger dose because he is a freshman — Brown finished with 43 yards rushing and Smith minus-8.
Smith said he starts preparing for the next season on Jan. 11.
“I’ve got to get better and I will get better,” he promised. “I’ve got to get bigger, get stronger, hold onto the ball.”
And get some protection.
Dave Morrison is sports editor of The Register-Herald. Contact him at demorrison@register-herald. com.
