The Jets may not be in a hurry to name a starting quarterback, but rookie Geno Smith has quickly made a good impression on coach Rex Ryan.
“Sometimes you want to see when a young quarterback comes in, is it too big for him?” Ryan told reporters on Wednesday, via quotes distributed by the team. “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 was less effusive about Mark Sanchez, explaining that last year’s struggles spread well beyond him. “I think when you come back you have to erase the computer,” Ryan said. “You start all over again and I think Mark’s done that and I think a bunch of us have done that.”
The coach also explained that if, when the time comes to pick a starter “there’s a split camp or whatever, then I will make that decision.”
With Ryan coaching for his job, it’ll be interesting to see whether he sticks with the guy who has been the starter since Ryan arrived in 2009, or whether he’ll go with the quarterback new G.M. John Idzik picked at the top of round two. It could be better for Ryan’s future prospects to show that he can develop Smith, who if he isn’t the starter in 2013 almost definitely will be in 2014.