Geno Smith on the Offense and Competing with Michael Vick

Dec 29, 2013; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; New York Jets quarterback

(7) celebrates after defeating the Miami Dolphins 20-7 at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

What a difference twelve months makes. At this time last year, we were looking at a quarterback that most of you want to forget in Mark Sanchez, battling to hold his starting job against the new guy, Geno Smith. Now Geno Smith is the starter, competing to keep his job against the veteran Michael Vick. In meeting with the media, Geno talked about how working with Michael Vick has been so far:

t’s been good. We’re competing very hard. Mike’s a guy that I’m learning from on a daily basis. We’re doing a great job at picking each other’s brains, supporting one another on the field and then competing with one another. Like I’ve said all along, it’s been a dream come true. Mike’s been one of the guys I’ve always looked up to, so to get a chance to work with him on a daily basis, be in the classroom with him (and) work out on the field with him is something that I really cherish.

More on that, talking about whether Vick’s presence has already made Smith a better quarterback:

Yeah. Having Mike here has made me better. Being a second-year quarterback has made me better. But everything is a result of hard work. That’s my mantra. That’s the mantra of this team. We’re putting in the hard work on a daily basis, whether it’s in the weight room, in the classroom or on the field. It’s ultimately making us all better. That’s really the ultimate goal.

This is something commendable about Geno Smith. See, he knows he is getting better. Yet, he knows they are in a competition. Geno is not focused on the competition, he focused on GETTING BETTER. That is what it is all about, getting better. Work hard and let the chips fall where they may.

Geno Smith also knows what the second year means to him personally. For example, it’s his second year with the playbook, and Geno feels it:

Night and day. It’s a result of reps. It’s a result of a lot of film study, just staying in that playbook, taking detailed notes in the classroom. Obviously, I’m not out here head spinning as much as it was last year. I’m still learning. I’m still studying it just as hard as I did last year and trying to figure out every single nuance of this offense and also to figure out my teammates, get the timing down with the wide outs, get the rhythm with the offensive line (and) just kind of put my stamp on this team. I’m just continuing to work hard. Every guy on this team is doing the same and we’re really progressing right now.

Geno Smith is growing up as we speak. It will be special. Stay tuned gang, it is just my hunch but Geno Smith feels like a guy that is going to stay on top of the game.