There is no question in Geno Smith’s mind who the Jets starting quarterback will be. The second-year signal caller said Monday he expects to beat Michael Vick out in the team’s latest edition of a quarterback competition.
Smith simply said, “Yes,” when asked if he still expects to be the team’s starter. He then gave his explanation why.
“My belief in myself,” Smith said. “Knowing that I’m going to take every action possible to get better and to come into this season a better player; having a second year in [offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg’s] system and with [quarterbacks] coach David Lee and with Rex [Ryan] as the head coach is going to do wonders for not just myself but everyone on the offense.
“A lot of it is going to come down to production on the field. I just believe with the experience I’ve gained and the direction we were heading in as an offense and where I see myself as a second-year player, I just believe I’m more than capable of being the starter.”
The Jets began their voluntary offseason program Monday in Florham Park. It is the first time the team has been assembled since the end of last season. There are plenty of new faces, highlighted by Vick, running back Chris Johnson and wide receiver Eric Decker.
The spotlight, as it usually is, will be on the quarterbacks. For the third straight season, the Jets have an intriguing storyline at quarterback. Smith was terrible at times as a rookie, but played better down the stretch. Still, he finished the season as the worst-rated passer in the NFL.
Vick, who turns 34 this summer, comes to the Jets as the grizzled veteran. Everyone knows what Vick can do when he is healthy. The problem for him in recent years with the Eagles was staying upright. The Jets are selling Vick’s arrival as something that can benefit Smith. But quarterback competitions sometimes become quarterback controversies once the season starts.
“He’s been in this system with Marty, so I think that’s going to be a big help,” Ryan said of Vick. “I think his physical skills also are going to push Geno. … Hey, look, it’s not like you don’t have a great quarterback sitting right there pushing you. That’s what he’ll do. He’ll push you. He’s a tremendous football player, a very talented guy. I think it’s going to be great for Geno. I think the biggest thing that Mike is going to help Geno with is probably his experience, and his experience in this system I think will really help Geno as well.”
Smith, speaking to local reporters for the first time since Vick signed a one-year deal last month, repeated general manager John Idzik’s “competition” mantra. Smith said he has studied the film of last season and vows to improve. Given a chance to use last year’s lack of quality skill players as an excuse, Smith put the blame for last year’s 8-8 season on himself.
“The guys that we had last year were more than viable options,” he said. “I think it all came down to me, honestly. If I had done a lot of things better, I think we would have done better as an offense and it showed later on in the year.”