New York Jets: Geno Smith more confident than ever before

When it comes to quarterback Geno Smith and his tenure so far on the New York Jets, he’s had a roller coaster of a ride. With a new leadership regime in town and a much improved supporting cast around him, it’s easy to see why Smith is more confident than ever before to deliver big time this upcoming season.

The Jet Press would like to thank the Media Relations Department of the Jets for sending us a complete transcript of what Smith thinks about everything so far during training camp, including how he’s handling the new spread offense. Take a look at it below in its entirety:

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On his comfort level in the offense…

I’m getting better every day, getting more comfortable with it every day. I think as an offense know, as a group, we’re constantly getting better. We got a good group of leaders who are doing a good job of making sure that we’re focused every day. So we just have to continue to work at it with this defense that we’re facing every day in practice man, were getting A+ work. So I just have to make sure that we’re coming in with the right mindset and still working hard.

On his maturation as a veteran and his confidence…

I’m just growing as a person. I think as you get older you get a better understanding so with that, you know, I’m definitely more mature. I think if I wasn’t (getting better) that would be a problem, but as far as taking care of the football I’m seeing things better you know, I have a better understanding. I’m not feeling as rushed, I’m just more comfortable in the pocket. I feel like I know the timing of when things should develop and when to get the ball out of my hands. And then if it’s not there, obviously knowing that taking care of the football is (most important).

On handing a strip sack now versus his rookie season…

No, I don’t think it’s that much different. It can happen no matter what, and its practice, and we know the guys aren’t supposed to swipe out the ball, but I let that one get away from me. So the way I handle it, is just to do better. Keep a better grip on the ball and I will. I’m not going to be less aggressive. So I’m just going to play the game and play the plays as they come.

On Chan Gailey’s advice to get rid of the ball quicker…

Well I think that’s with everybody. Every offense, you know in the league. The game is so fast, the defensive linemen are so quick. You can’t hold the ball forever so to help out my offensive linemen I have to get the ball out fast. We have to cut down on the sacks from last year so seeing it faster, being able to process faster, seeing things before they happen, will help me do that.

Jul 30, 2015; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) and quarterback Geno Smith (7) during first day of training camp at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

On how much of his comfort comes from the system, and how much come from maturation…

I think maturity plays a big part of it. Being that I’ve got a bunch of experience, good and bad. I think I’ve been able to see a lot, I’ve been able to learn from a lot. I feel a lot more comfortable in the pocket, and being back there, and standing back there, and seeing things. But the system is great, it allows us to play fast. It allows us to see the defense and get the ball out quick because we have so many answers. So when you study, and you stay on top of things, and you just know the offense it just helps you out. So you know it’s something I’m still getting better with, I still have to grow with that, but we’re getting better and better every single day.

On whether he feels like he can help Bryce Petty…

Yeah, I can help him, of course. I know exactly what he’s going through. I’ve been there and it’s one of those things where you just have to flush it. As a quarterback, you have to put it behind you, figure out what you did wrong, how you can get better, put it behind you and then move on. I’ll help him with that if he needs it, but I don’t think he will. Bryce is a guy who understands how to play this position, so he is just going to continue to get better as well.

On how steep the learning curve is to go from a spread offense to this…

I can’t say for him. I think you’d have to ask Bryce. For me, it was different. I was in a West Coast, so there was a lot more verbage and things to study, but for him, I don’t know. I think he’s done a great job of picking things up. I don’t think he’s spinning probably as much as I was, but he still has to get better and he still has to keep learning.

On what he meant when he said this offense allows him to play fast…

Well, just seeing the things with the defense, seeing the blitzes, seeing the pressures, knowing where your outlets are, knowing where your hots are, (where) your sights are and getting the ball out. Knowing where the guys are going to be, trusting that they are going to see the same things that you are. That comes along with communication and us talking and constantly going over things in the classroom then getting out here and actually executing it.

On whether Gailey’s verbage is long…

No, I don’t think it’s long. I don’t think he’s scaled it down, it’s just the way he runs his offense. I don’t think it’s very long, but I can’t tell you versus any other offense. I mean, I think west coast is probably the longest, but other than that, I don’t know.

Next: New York Jets: Muhammad Wilkerson misses practice

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