OLD HABITS DIE HARD
Aside from one mistake, ex-Jet Geno strong in Big Blue debut
STEELERS 20 GIANTS 12
The word Justin Pugh used to describe going out there without Eli Manning was “strange.’’ Scary might be another apt description.
“It’s different not having ‘10’ back there,’’ Pugh said. “Anything can happen in this league and you got to be able to go out with the next guy and take advantage of it.’’
For a while, it looked as if Geno Smith was taking full advantage of his opportunity to take hold of the backup job behind Manning, outplaying Josh Johnson in Friday night’s 20-12 preseason-opening loss to the Steelers at MetLife Stadium. Coach Ben McAdoo opted to start Johnson, but it was Smith who rose to the occasion — until he didn’t.
In a moment Jets fans know all too well, Smith threw an illadvised third-quarter pass that was easily intercepted by linebacker Arthur Moats, who nearly turned the turnover into a touchdown. It appeared as if Smith and rookie receiver Travis Rudolph were not on the same page on the play — Rudolph broke deep while Smith threw short — but it was a throw Smith should not have made, regardless of any miscommunication.
“It looked like it was a blind throw,’’ McAdoo said. “He started off with a hot hand, it was just unfortunate there on the turnover.’’
Johnson, holding the ball too long and not looking decisive, was 5 of 10 for 31 yards. He should have had a touchdown pass, but Roger Lewis stepped out of the end zone before establishing himself back on the field of play, turning a scoring catch into an incomplete pass.
That did not sit well with McAdoo. Asked what his offense could do differently to turn red zone opportunities
into touchdowns, McAdoo said, “Not run out of bounds before you catch a touchdown would be a good start.’’
Smith was 10 of 16 for 114 yards — and the one glaring mistake.
“Just one of those things where coach always talks about not making a bad play worse,’’ Smith said. “Miscommunication, but that’s solely on me, I never put that on anyone else.’’
It was Smith’s first action since knee surgery last season and his first time playing in a stadium wearing Giants blue instead of Jets green.
None of three quarterbacks used by McAdoo — rookie Davis Webb finished up, going 8 of 16 for 67 yards — was able to get the Giants in the end zone.
In addition to Manning, McAdoo also decided to keep Odell Beckham Jr. off the field.
Johnson, in his eighth NFL season for his third team, was with the Giants last season and should be well-versed in what they are doing on offense. It did not translate to the field, as Johnson put on display some of the failings he has shown this summer.
On the first series, Johnson stepped up in the pocket, moving directly into the clutches of T.J. Watt — J.J.’s little brother — for a sack. On the first play of the next series, what looked to be a possible wide receiver screen was ruined when no one blocked Watt, who crushed Johnson for an 8yard loss.
While Johnson worked with the starting offensive line, Smith drew the shorter straw, working behind the second-team line of Chad Wheeler, Adam Gettis, Brett Jones, D.J. Fluker and Adam Bisnowaty.
The Giants trailed 10-9 at halftime and the Steelers extended their lead to 20-12 on Terrell Watson’s 15-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.
On defense, the Giants went with their usual starters, other than Jason Pierre-Paul, who got the night off, and the results were predictable, facing a Steelers offense without Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell. The starters forced the Steelers into back-to-back three-andouts, with safety Landon Collins picking up where he left off in 2016, dominating in every way possible.
“Landon Collins was around the ball a bunch,’’ McAdoo said.