NY Jets struggling QB Geno Smith has his work cut out for him.
Newly signed 2nd QB Michael Vick straight from Philadelphia wants to start too. And so does back-up QB young gun Matt Simms.
Let the games begin. Smith spoke to the press recently.
On his interaction with Michael Vick to date…
I’ve met him several times and he is a good guy. I am looking forward to working with him, and I look forward to competing with him as well.
On his thoughts on the Jets signing Vick…
Overall, I think it will make our team better. I’m all for competition. As I told you guys, I am going to compete no matter who (the team brings) in. I think we got a good guy in Mike, who brings something extra to the table as far as veteran leadership into our quarterback room. As well as a guy with tremendous capabilities that we all – him, myself and Matt Simms – can compete with one another as well as learn from one another. It should be fun in our quarterback room.
On if the team bringing in Vick means they lack faith in him…
No, not at all. Like I have said, I think with our G.M. John Idzik, and with Coach Ryan and the staff we are doing everything possible to make our team better. We all believe that competition at every position is what’s going to make every single player better and collectively make us all better as a team. I think that is what we have done.
On what he can learn from Vick…
We will have to see how that goes once we all start working together. He is a veteran with tons of experience, (including) playoff experience, he’s played in many big games and he has also played in this system and thrived. We will see exactly what that is (that I learn from him). But I look forward to learning from him whatever it is I can to get better and help our offense get better.
On how different it will be having the 2013 season under his belt coming in this season…
I expect it to be a lot different as far as my knowledge of the system and just the NFL game, being that I played 16 games and that experience does wonders for me, just knowing that I’ve seen pretty much all of the coverages that there is to throw at me. Now I have the experience and now I have the prior knowledge that I can (refer) back to. Also, just having things to see on film that I can improve on, just a number of things. When it comes to experience (inaudible). The games that I played in were vital to my progress coming into this season.
On if he believes he will be the starter this season…
Yes.
On what makes him believe he is going to be the starter…
(The reason I believe I will start is) just that, my belief in myself. Knowing that I am going to take every action possible to get better and to come in to this season as a better player (gives me confidence). Having a second season in Marty (Mornhinweg’s) system, (being with) Coach David Lee (for a second season) and with Rex (Ryan) as the head coach is going to do wonders, not just for myself but everyone on the offense. Obviously it is going to come down to production on the field. I just believe that with the experience that I have gained and with the direction that we were heading in as an offense and where I see myself as a second-year player, I just believe that I am more than capable of being the starter.
On what he did during the offseason to decrease turnovers…
I just watched the film and studied it. I watched them over and over and over again, as painful as it is. It makes me realize, quite honestly, that I haven’t, up until this point in my career, had a problem with turnovers, but protecting the ball is vital to any player, any quarterback, at any level, in any system. So my main priority, and this is something I’ve always known, but like I’ve said, experience is sometimes the best teacher, so my main priority is to take care of that ball, but also, put the ball in the right places versus the right coverages. Knowing where our answers are on offense for any coverage, any blitz, anything and obviously being prepared for it and knowing it, and in year two, I’ve seen it, so I have that experience to revert back to.
On the addition of Eric Decker…
First of all, the guys that we had last year were more than viable options. 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, but like I’ve said, that’s come and gone. With having Eric, it brings another dimension as far as route running and leadership. And just his character and the way that he works. His pedigree as far as being over there in Denver and winning games and catching many touchdowns from Peyton Manning, it just brings a lot to our offense. Knowledge of the game is huge and experience is huge and he has a ton of it. So to have a guy like that just gives us something extra to throw at a defense.
On going into camp with the mindset that he is the starter and Vick has to beat him out…
Well, it is a competition between all of us and like I’ve said, the starter will be named at the end of camp and the beginning of the season. I respect what Michael said, but I understand that there’s a competition and honestly, it comes down to what we do on the field. You (can talk about it) in these interviews, but it really comes down to what we do on the field and that’s really what I look forward to. I look forward to competing with a guy like Mike because I know he has been a starter in this league and is capable at the age that he is. He still runs fast, he still throws it accurately and with great velocity. He is a very smart quarterback in my opinion and as long as we continue to get better, it’s going to make our team better.