The New York Jets did not select Geno Smith in the early part of the second round of the NFL draft with the intention of having him sit on their bench all season. The expectation was that the former West Virginia quarterback would take some time to learn the offense before being ready to start.
Entering camp, many believed Mark Sanchez would open the season as the team’s starter and hold the position for about a month before Smith took over. It looks like Smith is going to take the job a lot sooner than that.
Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reported over the weekend that Smith looked sharp in a scrimmage. Mehta also says Smith will be the starter for the team’s opener so long as he looks sharp in the preseason.
Brian Costello of the New York Post agrees. Costello says Smith is “stealing the spotlight” in camp and “making very few mistakes.” Costello says that if Smith plays well in the first two preseason games, the starting job is likely his.
Through seven practices and a scrimmage, Smith reportedly has completed 39-of-68 passes (57.4 percent) and thrown for three touchdowns and no interceptions. He has taken 12 sacks. Sanchez is 46-of-82 (56.1 percent) with three touchdowns, four interceptions, and eight sacks taken.
As we’ve said for a while, it won’t take much for Smith to beat out Sanchez for the job. The Jets already know what they’re getting with Sanchez. They need to know what Smith can do.
