Former NFL coach Pete Carroll believes Geno Smith will rebound with the New York Jets after a disappointing season in Las Vegas. Speaking publicly for the first time since his firing by the Raiders, Carroll took responsibility for Smith's struggles, saying they 'should've coached him better' and failed to prepare him adequately for the challenges he faced.

Carroll, who developed a close relationship with Smith during their six seasons together in Seattle, predicts his former quarterback will surprise people in his second stint with the Jets. The team acquired Smith via a late-round pick swap on Tuesday, seeking a new starting quarterback. Carroll emphasized Smith's talent, calling him 'a phenomenal quarterback' who had a strong offseason before their season unraveled.

The Raiders' offensive line struggled badly, contributing to Smith's league-leading 17 interceptions and 55 sacks. Carroll acknowledged they needed to upgrade the line but failed to do so in the draft or free agency. Now 35, Smith returns to the team that drafted him in 2013, where he started 29 games before losing his job to Ryan Fitzpatrick.