CORTLAND — The Jets’ first team took 21 snaps in 11-on-11 drills at Tuesday’s practice. Geno Smith was the quarterback for 19 of them.
Smith will start Saturday night’s preseason game against the Bengals, just as he started last week’s game against the Colts.
Over the last four practices, Smith has taken 63 first-ream reps while Michael Vick has had just 12. So, Smith is the team’s starting quarterback, right?
Not if you ask coach Rex Ryan, who continues to go along with general manager John Idzik’s “competition” farce. Ryan was asked Tuesday if he’s ready to acknowledge Smith is the starting quarterback.
“For the regular season? No, we’re not ready to do that,” Ryan said.
Why not?
“Just don’t feel like it,” Ryan said.
Ryan did not end up turning sideways at this press conference like he did last year when being grilled about Smith vs. Mark Sanchez, but he clearly wants to wait before saying what everyone at training camp has seen — Smith is the starter.
“We know things can happen and that’s why it’s like, let everything work out and we’ll [say it] at the right time,” Ryan said.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Jets had not decided how the playing time will be divided Saturday. Usually in the second preseason game, the starters stay in for a half. Ryan acknowledged Smith will start, but not how long he will play. Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said it is possible Vick will get a series with the starters, as he did last week, but Vick didn’t sound so sure.
“It’s going to be tough,” Vick said. “This is a week where, I think, the starters are going to play a half. I know what that’s about and I know what it’s like and I know the reasoning behind that, so if not, then I have to go out and play with my group and go out there with confidence and try to lead them, so I have the utmost confidence in them, and nothing’s going to change.”
Smith has had a good training camp, and nothing he has done has opened the door for Vick to take the starting job from him. The only way Smith can lose the job now is if he completely screws up against the Bengals or next week against the Giants, and even then, it’s doubtful. It has been clear from the start the Jets wanted Smith to be the starter, even as Idzik and Ryan peddled their “competition” spin.
Mornhinweg said he has been pleased with what he has seen from both quarterbacks.
“Geno has had an outstanding camp,” Mornhinweg said. “Mike has had an outstanding camp. Now we just have to minimize a couple of things that have occurred. That’s why we practice by the way. But for all of the quarterbacks, I’ll take last preseason game, each quarterback had one thing, so we need to minimize [each of] those one things. Then we’ll be in good shape.”
This weekend, Smith will be returning to the site of one of the Jets’ worst losses last season.
The Bengals smoked the Jets 49-9 in a game that saw Smith throw two interceptions. Smith said he won’t be thinking about last year when he takes the field, and has some simple goals.
“Make winning plays,” Smith said. “Make good reads, make good decisions, and make accurate throws. Let the game come to me, not force things, be sound in my protection, picking things up, seeing the field well. Come out of there injury free and have a good game.”