FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The New York Jets aren't prepared to go the Mark Sanchez route with second-year quarterback Geno Smith, but they are placing a tremendous emphasis on Smith cutting back the turnovers and interceptions that have plagued him this season, especially after another frustrating performance in Week 3 where turnovers cost the Jets the chance at a win.
Smith is a raw product, likely still in the early stages of his development as a quarterback. A season ago, he was fourth in the NFL with 21 interceptions as he struggled to read defenses and also with his ball placement. Now through three games, he is on pace to match the interception total from his rookie season, a sign perhaps that he is not quite as polished as the Jets brass had hoped for.
In Monday night's 27-19 loss to the Chicago Bears, Smith threw a poor pick-six on the game's opening drive, then got picked off in the red zone in the third quarter on a lofted ball intended for wide receiver David Nelson. It isn't the mistakes that are troubling at this stage in his career; it is the quality of the choices that he is making.
In 2009, the Jets instituted a "Red, Yellow, Green" system with Sanchez, their first-round pick that year who had his own epic struggles with turnovers. A color was given out before each play call that was sent in to Sanchez — "Red" meant not to take any risks, and "Green" meant that he could be aggressive — letting him know how careful he needed to be with the ball.*
The institution of the system worked as Sanchez cut back on his interceptions, getting picked off only six times in the five regular-season games and three playoff appearances after the system was implemented.
Smith's problems come from underneath routes where he struggles to see defensive backs who sit and watch his eyes.
"You don't want to put [Smith] in the 'Red, Yellow, Green,' but let's be in red," Jets head coach Rex Ryan said. "Let's not turn that darn thing over. I think that is the No. 1 thing. When we say maybe too much is on his plate, maybe there is a read, a third part of a read that ... hey, you know it? Nah, it is one, two let it rip or run. It is a simple thing [and] concept."
"We say touchdowns or checkdowns. If it is not a clear view, then chuck the ball down. If it is not, let it rip, get rid of it or run. So I think in those areas in particular, and we're getting different looks there, obviously people are blitzing to stop the run against us. So I think that is something obviously we are aware of. Now it just comes down now to let's give our guys the opportunities and hopefully we make some big plays on them."
A major point of emphasis this week, according to Ryan, is red-zone production. One of Smith's interceptions in the Monday night loss was in the red zone, when he lofted a lazy ball to the back of the end zone that was easily picked off by Bears rookie cornerback Kyle Fuller.*

Ryan said on Friday that his team is looking for more production in the red zone and has made it a point of emphasis this week.*The Jets have only scored a touchdown on one-third of their red zone trips this year, second worst in the league.
"I would say that the antenna has been up more so than normal," Ryan said.
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Kristian R. Dyer writes for Metro New York and is a contributor to Yahoo Sports. Follow him on Twitter @KristianRDyer