Jets to start Geno Smith vs. Giants
Rookie quarterback Geno Smith will start the New York Jets' third preseason game against the Giants on Saturday, but head coach Rex Ryan is in no hurry to name his starter for the regular-season opener on Sept. 8.
"Right now is not the appropriate time to name a starter because (the competition) is incomplete," Ryan said Thursday. "The main thing is it's the right decision at the right time."
Smith and incumbent starter Mark Sanchez have both experienced uneven training camps. Sanchez has completed 23 of 36 passes for 294 yards, two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions in posting an 84.7 passer rating. Smith has completed 6 of 7 passes for 47 yards with a 94.6 passer rating.
"I'd like to see him play, he just hasn't played much, and get a good evaluation on him in a preseason game," offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said of Smith. "We've got an awful lot of evaluation on all of our quarterbacks, all four of them, in practice situations and then preseason is different, certainly. And then regular season is different and playoffs are different from regular season. There is a difference at every level."
Smith has impressed teammates with his ability to manage an NFL offense - in practice, at least.
"I'm most impressed with his composure," veteran guard Willie Colon said of Smith. "His ability to come out of the huddle and get the plays going and get guys lined up. It seems like he has a good grasp on the offense and he's a competitor so I have a lot of faith in him."
Ryan said Sanchez will play against the Giants as well, but it is undertermined how many snaps each quarterback will get.
"(Sanchez) has done as much and more than I've asked him to do. He's done a nice job now," said Mornhinweg. "He's had an excellent training camp. He's played well, certainly in segments, during the preseason, so he's had a good camp.
"You get better every day. Even if you're a 10-year veteran, there's ways to get better, so I disagree with that just a little bit there."
--Wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, who was released by the Jaguars, signed with the Jets.
"He's a good sized young man with just excellent hands. He's a very good route runner," said Mornhinweg. "A tough guy (who) has been in this system just a little bit.
"I think he's quite familiar with at least some of our terminology, so that will be a good thing for him. We're nicked up just a little bit at that spot, as you know. We're sure excited he's a part of our football team."
