It's official: New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith will start Week 1 against the Oakland Raiders. As expected, Jets coach Rex Ryan named Smith the starting quarterback over veteran Michael Vick.
Ryan officially named Smith the team's starting quarterback after Friday's 35-24 loss to the New York Giants, where Smith completed 9-of-14 passes for 137 yards and one touchdown.
"I think he's taken off from where he left off [last season]," Ryan said Friday night, via ESPN. "I expect great things in the future. ... I'm really, really, really pleased with how Geno played [in the preseason], especially tonight.
The announcement didn't come as a surprise to Smith, who expected to be under center in Week 1.
"All along, I've had the notion that I'd be out there Week 1," Smith said at his postgame news conference. "The handwriting was pretty much on the wall. It's a big deal, but nothing will change. It's the same mindset."
Throughout training camp teammates reveled in Smith's progression from last year, and his improvement has shown in his limited preseason action: 23-of-33 passes completed for 268 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
That last number, the one interception, may be the most significant stat of all: Smith struggled with turnovers all of last season.
Despite having a Pro Bowl veteran in Vick on the roster, the starting gig always appeared to be Smith's job to lose. Vick took the news in stride and once again offered support for the second-year pro.
"I think it's great for Geno," Vick said. "I knew the entire time that Geno was going to be the starter, but Geno went out and proved that he's capable of running this team and putting this team in a position to win."
