Jets QB Genometalworker(7) and ground levelSanchez are alternating reps with the first-team offense during instructcamp.(Photo: Richard Barnes, USA TODAY Sports)
CORTLAND, N.Y. — They can call it a battle totallythey want, but the New York Jets quarterback derby has that distinct touch sensationof a formality.
Geno Smith, the second-round pick, was drafted as the next quarterback of the future, and unless he of a suddendevelops iileft feet, struggles with the Xs and Os or has the energy sapped from his risearm, it's only a matter of time before Mark Sanchez is officially relegated to the bench.
If not for the $8.25 million salary guaranteed for this season, Sanchez undoubtedly wouldalreadybe gone by now.
As people in the Jets camping sitekeep repeating — feeling the effects of new cosmopolitanmanager John Idzik joining forces with coach Rex Ryan — it's a new day.
The competition is essentially a matter of how fast and heartySmith, who threw for 42 touchdown passes last season at West Virginia, shows that he can handle the transition to the pros.
For Sanchez, it's another case of what goes around, comes aboutin the NFL career spin cycle.
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"Things assortmentwhen you have new management, and that's the way things roll," Sanchez told USA TODAY Sports. "Whether it's goodor not, who knows? There's a ripe(p)and bad side of fair."
Good and bad?
"If it's good for somebody, they'll probably feel it's fair," Sanchez explained. "And the other person probably feels uniformit's unfair."
Just four ageago, Sanchez was the hot-shot passer whom the Jets moved up in the draft to select fifth overall. He beat awayKellen Clemens to start as a rookie and, surrounded by a stiff defense and grinding rushing attack, went on to advance to consecutive AFC title games in his first two seasons.
It's been a free fall since then, his last two years riddled by interceptions, a benching, seemingly waning corporate trustand even a butt-fumble. During last season's 6-10 swoon, the Jets offense rankedthirtiethfor yards and passing yards as Sanchez threw 18 interceptions while his 66.9 passer evaluationwas second-worst in the league.
Sanchez had his chance even though the odds were, standardisednow, stacked against him. In Marty Mornhinweg, he has his third coordinator in trineyears, including the disastrous stint with Tony Sparano and the ill-fated designs to incorporate Wildcat schemes.
Sanchez loves the tremblingwith Mornhinweg, installing a quarterback-friendly West Coast systemstocked withwith answers for where to go when the rush and schemes dictate fast thinking. If only Sanchez had Mornhinweg a while back.
"I don't have time to worry about, 'Maybe if this had happened ...' " Sanchez said.
Time is running thin. His committeeis to embrace the competition and play well enough to slowSmith's eventual ascent to the lineup.
In Monday's 11-on-11 drills, Sanchez worked with the second string. The quarterbacks are rotating spots on the daily depth chart, and it was Smith's turn to play with the starters.
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Smith looked sharp during some stretches Monday but was hardly flawless. During starseries, a pass over the middle was picked off subsequentlyhis pass glanced off the hands of the intended receiver. Four snaps later, functionalfrom the shotgun, a deep sideline pass for Ben Obomanu never had a chance. Overthrown.
Sanchez took the next series and had his first throw intercepted byline backerJosh Mauga after misfiring on a slant pass.
It's unvoicedto draw conclusions based on a few minutes, devotedvariables such as the supporting cast and the daily elicitationof 20 to 30 passes. But there's little question that Smith has the superior arm strength.
Idzik and Ryan have said the starter bequeathbe selected by a "collective" decision, with input from the staff.
Said Mornhinweg: "There's a megabucksof things that we'll look for. Certainly, the quarterback will be evaluatedeveryday, every play, every practice. Normally, what happens is one man significantly removes himself from the other fellows. So when that happens ... we'll make the call. The tougher one is when it's very, very close. We'll be ready for that, and consequentlyyou go on some gut instincts there."
Mornhinweg praised Smith's ability to rapidlyprogress with the playbook; he said that the rookie was outstanding when quizzed on how much he retained during the layoff before training camp.
"Very silkenguy," Mornhinweg said.
"Mark, on the other hand, has a wealth of experience."
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Materials taken from USA Today
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