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New Jersey – Here is my take on the current state of affairs in the Jets’ quarterback competition. Let’s dive into this . . .
Considering how the stars are currently aligned, it’s hard seeing Geno Smith winning the starting quarterback job.
He’s coming off an inconsistent week of practice on a bum ankle.
And now there is a chance he won’t play against Jacksonville in the Jets’ second preseason game.
If he does miss the Jacksonville game, it’s hard to see him winning the starting job.
The third preseason game is considered the “dress rehearsal” for the regular season. The starters play the entire first half, and sometimes into the third quarter.
If Smith doesn’t play against Jacksonville, do you really think Rex Ryan, Marty Mornhinweg, David Lee and John Idzik are going to give him the first team reps in the all-important third preseason game?
Highly unlikely.
The fourth game, the starters don’t play, so that game isn’t a great way to gauge much. I don’t think the Jets will use the fourth preseason game as part of the starting QB evaluation process
I was just going over several Mornhinweg transcripts for something else I’m working on.
Going over these press conferences with a fine tooth comb, I definitely got the sense he’s been leaning toward Sanchez throughout the process.
I sense that Marty feels that Sanchez can do the job, but the coach feels he needs to make him a more consistent quarterback. That is something Marty said over and over again in these press conferences.
And like I said yesterday, Rex saying Geno was “brutal” in Wednesday’s practice, to me, was a good way to prepare the Jets’ public for an announcement that Sanchez will be the quarterback.
I just think the Jets brass feels, even with his shortcomings, Sanchez give the Jets a better chance to win right now than Smith.
Also, Sanchez is in better shape than Smith.
People can shoot the messengers (Brian Baldinger and myself) on our reports about Geno’s suspect conditioning, but where there is smoke, there is fire.
I’m telling you. I saw it with my own eyes. He was struggling with a running drill that Sanchez, Greg McElroy and Matt Simms aced.
I think, like a lot of rookies, what Smith thinks is hard work, whether it’s in conditioning, film work or anything else, isn’t the hard work necessary to be a great NFL quarterback.
I’m not saying he doesn’t work at his craft, but he needs to take that work ethic to another level.
NFL quarterback is one of the hardest jobs in all of sports, and in order to be successful at the position, you have to “open and close the training complex,” so to speak.
Smith has a wonderful skill-set – he’s a bright guy who has a magnificent arm. Geno “can make all the throws,” as they say.
But he has a lot of work to do.
That is why Sanchez has moved ahead of him in the quarterback battle, and that is why Mark will likely win the job.
August 15, 2013
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