The New York Jets' quarterback competition is showing no signs of slowing down as the team wraps up OTAs and prepares for mandatory minicamps. The competitors for the starting job have narrowed to two, but as of now the Jets coaching staff says the competition is nowhere near complete.
Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg had said he hopes the best quarterback emerges sooner rather than later so the team can establish a depth chart and begin to develop a rhythm on offense. However, head coach Rex Ryan told the NFL Network that the team is not even close to making a decision between Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith.
There is no rush to name a starter prior to training camp. Both Smith and Sanchez continue to get equal snaps with the first-team offense. Both have seen their fair share of struggles and rust as the season kicks off. Sanchez now notoriously threw three interceptions in the team's first day of practice. Once both quarterbacks get back into pace, the real starter will step forward.
The longer the Jets wait to name a starter, no more it seems they are waiting for Smith to do something. The team continues to try and mold their second-round draft pick in hopes that maybe he appears better than Sanchez and can start the season as the top guy.
"Sometimes you want to see when a young quarterback comes in, is it too big for him? I don't think it's too big for him. I think because there is a lot on your plate, you come in, you learn 50 plays or something like that, almost immediately-you learn different protections. I think he's doing a great job. He's on top of that. I think the way he throws the ball, obviously you notice his physical skills. He can throw it with anybody and I think that's been impressive as well," Ryan said.
The Jets are being careful with the words they use around Sanchez. While they stress full confidence in the turnover-prone quarterback, they are not ready to put all their eggs in his basket just yet.
"I think when you come back you have to erase the computer. You start all over again and I think Mark's done that and I think a bunch of us have done that," Ryan said.
Ryan said that if the coaches are split on deciding a starting quarterback, he will have the ultimate decision. He is clearly coaching for his job at this point in his tenure with the Jets and Ryan needs a quarterback that can get New York back into the postseason. If he proves he can truly develop Smith into a starter, everyone is safe.
