The duel between maligned incumbent quarterback Mark Sanchez and rookie Geno Smith in Jets training camp for the starting quarterback job is heating up, and according to one Jets veteran Smith has the upper hand.
"He can do more," were the words used by one Jets player speaking on anonymity with ESPN. Yesterday Sanchez was picked off for the second straight practice, while second-round pick Smith has yet to throw an interception.
Head coach Rex Ryan, who has been loyal to Sanchez since joining the team, has refused to say who he is leaning toward. When asked about Smith outplaying Sanchez so far Ryan responded, "Everybody gets enamored with the guy who throws a 96 mph fastball. But Mark certainly has a good enough arm to play in this league."
Smith has been a picture of confidence, while Sanchez has chosen thus far to remain mum and go about his business. When asked if he felt he was winning the competition he deferred to the decision makers. "I don't know, ask the coaches," he said. "I feel good, though. I feel confident. I feel like I'm playing really well."
Ryan has left open the possibility of Smith assuming a role similar to the one Tim Tebow was horned into last season, only Ryan appears to like Smith's potential as a runner and thrower.
"I think if that's the only thing you do with that position, why don't you just leave a running back in, a guy that's trained to do it?" Ryan said, second-guessing last season's approach. "If you're going to have a quarterback do it, like a (Colin) Kaepernick or somebody like that, it becomes more of a weapon because you know it's not just Tebow coming and he's going to run the ball. That's kind of where we were last year."
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