As the Geno Smith/Mark Sanchez saga continues reporters and analysts will spend each day trying to determine which quarterback has the edge heading into the preseason. According to NFL.com, NFL Network analysts Brian Baldinger recently found one area in which he believes the rookie Smith needs work—conditioning.
"He looked good to me yesterday until he ran gassers at the end of practice," said Baldinger who was at Jets Training Camp on Sunday in Cortland, N.Y. "And Geno Smith looked like he had done no conditioning. It was actually embarrassing to see how far behind he was behind (Mark) Sanchez and (Matt) Simms and everybody else that's there."
Although, Smith will probably need to spend some more time in the gym, Baldinger liked what he saw from the West Virginia star as far as his quarterback skills are concerned.
"However, he did look good getting in and out of the huddle, getting to the line of scrimmage, getting the ball out of his hands quickly," he said on “Inside Training Camp.”
NFL Network analyst Heath Evans was at Jets training camp on Monday. He said he that Smith’s throwing ability is one area in which he has Sanchez beat.
"You see a lot of accuracy, a lot of zip on the ball obviously from Geno," Evans commented. "You see some balls sailing, or what I would say floating, for Mark Sanchez."
This may be a bad sign for Sanchez. It’s usually not a good sign when your competition can throw the ball much better than you—probably the most important skill a QB can possess.
Also, cornerback Antonio Cromartie said he likes Smith’s ability to pick up the offense. One of the knocks against Smith has been his struggles with the West Coast system. Also, head coach Rex Ryan recently said he “hasn’t thrown a pick,” according to Jets reporter Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
General Manager John Idzik recently said the choice of starting quarterback would be made using a "collective opinion."
If Smith is adequately learning the offense, has a better arm than Sanchez and isn’t making mistakes, he could just be the "collective" choice for starting QB on Week 1.
