Coach Rex Ryan Says QB Competition Could Go Through Fourth Game

Jul 27, 2013; Cortland, NY, USA; New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) jokes with quarterback Mark Sanchez (6) following training camp at SUNY Cortland. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Typically, as most of us know, a quarterback competition is settled by now. At the very least, it is settled by the fourth game of the preseason. That way, the team can start working as a full-time first unit, and prepare for the opening of the regular season.

Then again, every team is not the New York Jets.

During yesterday’s press conference, coach Rex Ryan acknowledged the possibility that the decision on the regular season starting QB could not only take this game, but the 4th game against the Eagles as well:

We could because, like we’ve said the whole time, we’re not putting a timetable on this. When we’re ready to make that decision, and we feel great about it as an organization, then we’ll make that decision. Until then, we won’t. I certainly understand when we had the competition last time, we might have even announced the quarterback before the third game, so I think we all felt great about that decision then. Here, we want to make sure our evaluation is complete before we make that decision.

However, despite what people think to the contrary, they are not delaying the decision to increase Geno’s chances:

No, I don’t believe so. We did say all along that it was going to be an equal competition, and I think, obviously, the fact that Geno wasn’t able to play last week, you never really saw him when there were “live bullets” so to speak. So, it wouldn’t be an equal competition had we not played it out this way.

Coach feels that they have leaders on the offense already, so there is no rush on the decision:

Well I do. I have a leader in place already, playing center (Nick Mangold). We got a guy playing left tackle (D’Brickashaw Ferguson). So I understand what you are saying, the guy underneath center, I get it. But again it’s not time. Right now is not the appropriate time to name a starter because it’s incomplete. We’ll see what happens after this game. Do we make a decision immediately or do we wait? Again the main thing is that it’s the right decision at the right time.

I still believe there is dissent in the organization as to who wants which quarterback to start, which is causing the decision to take this long. We just have to have the confidence that it will get done correctly.