It certainly sounds as if the Jets’ starting quarterback job is Geno Smith’s to lose.
Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said Smith will open with the first team when the Jets begin their on-field spring practices in a few weeks as he tries to beat out Michael Vick for the starting job.
Mornhinweg said the Jets don’t want to impede the progress Smith made in his rookie season.
“We’re going to structure it in a certain way,” Mornhinweg said on a conference call with reporters. “One thing I want to make sure of is nothing impedes the young quarterback’s progression. I’m talking about Geno. He progressed beautifully. … I’m talking the last quarter of the season.”
Smith was the lowest-rated quarterback in the NFL, but showed some signs of improvement in the final month of the season. Still, the Jets signed Vick to a one-year deal last month to provide some competition for Smith and possibly take the starting job if Smith falters.
“He’s got a really important role here,” Mornhinweg said. “He’s 33 years old and he’s still got it. I look at him as a young 33. He’s still got it. He’s going to compete hard. He’s going to push. He’s going to make Geno and the rest of the quarterbacks the very best they can be. When he’s called upon to play, I’ve got great confidence in Mike.”
Mornhinweg worked with Vick for four seasons with the Eagles. Vick had one good season in 2010 under Mornhinweg. A year after overseeing the competition between Smith and Mark Sanchez, Mornhinweg has another quarterback controversy/competition to manage.
“We’ve got a plan,” he said. “Geno is in the middle of a progression. He’s a fine, young quarterback. You know I think highly about him. We brought Michael Vick in for a purpose. He’s going to compete, he’s going to push, he’s going to make Geno the very best. If he’s called upon to play and when he’s called upon to play, I expect Mike Vick to play at a real high level.”
The Jets began their offseason program last week, but the team is restricted to strength and conditioning work right now. It is another few weeks before coaches are permitted to work with the players on the field. When they do, Smith will be under center at the start.
“Geno will take the first one,” Mornhinweg said. “Geno will get a few more reps, but not many. I’m going to try to do the thing right. It will vary day to day, much like I’ve done it in the past. “
Eagles running back LeSean McCoy told The Post this week Vick definitely would beat out Smith because he’s a better quarterback. Mornhinweg avoided answering a question about his former player.
“I like LeSean. LeSean is one of my favorites,” Mornhinweg said. “He had a good day media-wise yesterday, didn’t he?”
Mornhinweg said it should be a “seamless transition” for Vick to get back into his system. He also is confident Vick knows his role.
“Mike’s going to handle that real well,” Mornhinweg said. “He’s going to do the right thing. He’s going to compete. He’s going to play hard, all those things. Competition just makes you better. It’s that simple.”
Former Pitt quarterback Tom Savage, who began his college career at Rutgers, visited the Jets last week. Savage is projected as an early-round pick in May’s NFL Draft.