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Transcript of quarterback Geno Smith's news conference in front of his locker following our Wednesday afternoon practice at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center:*
On how he feels about being named AFC Offense Player of the Week…
I feel about the same. We had a great day of practice. Guys came in focused with the right mindset. We put a good day's work in. We're going to continue to prepare and get ourselves ready for Sunday.
On if being named AFC Offense Player of the Week makes him happy…
It actually doesn't. I don't feel any different at all. Hopefully you guys understand me when I said, no disrespect or anything, I'm definitely happy with the way the we played and for the recognition, but it doesn't make me feel any type of way.
On if the team has any extra swagger being 3-2…
You know, I think we've always carried a swagger. I think we believe in ourselves. It trickles down from our head coach. He's a type of guy who's very confident and he's confident in his troops, so we've always had that. Right now we're just focused, we're extremely focused, and you can tell it by the vibe of the guys around here. Everyone's focused in on what they want to do and what we need to do as an offense and as a team. And we're steadily getting better.
On not letting a big win distract the team from wanting to get better…
Well, it's early in the season. As an offense we still have things to improve on. We still have some things that we need to get better at and we need to go out there and showcase on the field. We're just steadily trying to improve. We're veteran-led. Like I said, we've got guys around here who've played in big games and have won big games, so it doesn't faze them at all. We've come back to work the next day and we're getting our work done.
On this week's game against Pittsburgh…
It's going to be another tough week. That's a very proud franchise, Super Bowl-winning quarterback, stingy defense, in my opinion one of the best out there, two of the best safeties in the game. They fly around, they hit and they've been known for causing turnovers. They haven't gotten as many as they've liked to this season, but I'm pretty sure they're going to try to ramp it up. So we've got to continue to focus on what got us to this point, which is just working hard in practice, taking care of the ball and moving the ball on offense.
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On what Mark Sanchez has meant to him…**
Mark's been a great guy to me. He's also been a great mentor. When he was out there on the practice field, he was a guy who pushed me every single day and pushed himself as well. When he went down, he kept in high spirits, he stayed active, he stayed in my corner and that's a sign of a great teammate. And I'm right there for Mark as well. So if there's anything he needs, he always knows I'm there for him and vice versa.
On if he still feels like he is the starting quarterback on a week-to-week basis…
The starting quarterback on a day-to-day basis. My job goes one day at a time. It's still early in my career and I'm just trying to improve every single day.
On his ability to lead fourth-quarter comebacks…
I'm just proud of the fact that we get wins, that we're able to fight as a team. If it comes down to a fourth-quarter comeback or if it comes down to a last-second drive, then that's what we need to do in order to get a victory. I'm just proud of the fact that the way that this team fights, we're never out of it and we've always got a chance. And we've shown improvement so far.
On Kellen Winslow…
Kellen is a great pro. He's always been good for us. He's always done a phenomenal job. You can tell he wants to be out there and he's giving it all he's got. I know he's dealt with a few injuries but he's given us every single thing he has. That's probably the thing that frustrates him more is that he knows his ability, he knows he can do more, but right now he's a bit limited. As far as he goes, he's been doing a great job. He caught a touchdown. Opportunities will come for him as long as we just continue to stick to our reads and just stay put in our mindset. But Kellen is doing a great job for us.
On how Marty Mornhinweg has helped him…
He's been great. He's one of the best coaches I've had. He's an extremely smart guy. He knows things that I don't think many coaches understand, about how to bring a young quarterback along, exactly how to coach a quarterback, through good and bad times. And he's just a phenomenal coach and I'm just happy to have him.
On if Mornhinweg has a steady demeanor…
Steady demeanor. You can't tell if we win or lose with that guy. He's always going to come in with the same demeanor and that trickles down from the top to the bottom with every single guy in this locker room.
On how he prepares for the challenge of facing a Dick LeBeau defense on a short week…
Just seeing all the fronts, all the looks that they can throw at you. Dick LeBeau, everyone knows about that defensive coordinator. I knew about him before I even got here. He's going to have some things. They're coming off a bye week — two weeks to prepare. I know there are going to be some things out there I haven't seen before. I've just got to be able to handle it the best way I can, just focus on taking care of the ball and not putting us in tough situations.
On if he knew of LeBeau because of his proximity to Pittsburgh when he was at West Virginia…
Just being a football fan, everyone knows about him. Christmas stories and all that. He's one of the best defensive coordinators out there. The guy's 73 years old and he still gets it done.
On his reaction to when he heard Sanchez was going to get surgery…
I found out today. Didn't get a chance to talk to him, but I wish him the best with the surgery and I know he's going to get right back after it.
On if he had a conversation with Sanchez about how he was taking over as the starting quarterback now that Sanchez was having surgery…
No. Like I said, I found out today. I don't really get into Mark's business. I know that's a private deal. I found out today and I wish him the best.
On if he's had a conversation with Sanchez about dealing with highs and lows in the NFL…
No, we haven't. I don't think that conversation is really necessary at this point. I'm always going to be the same guy, always remain even-keeled. We talk about many things, but that hasn't been one of them.
On how he keeps that perspective of being even-keeled…
That's it. I've played football my entire life. The one thing I've learned is never let the game change who you are, good or bad. So I'm never going to change. I'm never going to get beside myself. I love the grind of it, I love every single day of practice, so that's what I'm here for and that's what I love about it.
On if he's naturally an even-keeled person or is it something he's learned as the season has gone by…
No, it's just who I am. Some guys are different, but I'm always going to be the same guy win, lose or draw.
On if he's been an even-keeled person since he was a little kid…
Yeah, it's been that way since I was a kid, always like that, yeah.
On Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin describing him as a "flatliner"…
Well, yeah, I mean, that's just how I am. My mom thought it was weird. I never really got excited on Christmas when I was a kid. That's just how I was all the time.
On if he gets excited about anything…
Life. I'm big on life. Life. Waking up every morning excites me.
On if he can remember the last time he was nervous on the football field…
No, I can't.
On if he was ever nervous playing football in high school or college…
No. I mean, it's a football game.
On what makes him be a person that doesn't get nervous…
I don't know. It's just the way I have been growing up. I don't really get nervous, especially in football. It's just something that I love to do. I just look at it as if I was playing in the back yard, playing sandlot. You wouldn't get nervous then. I walk into the game, I feel prepared, so I'm never really nervous when I'm prepared.
On the importance of having many options to throw to…
It's important, but I think more so it's just great to have guys like that. I mean, to have so many guys who can get open, can make great catches, can extend plays, get YAC. To have guys like that makes my job a bunch easier because those guys do all the dirty work. A lot of times it goes unnoticed but they're really the heroes of this offense. The offensive line, the receivers, the running backs, those guys lift me up every single week.
On if dealing with the media makes him more nervous than being on the football field…
It's not new. It's not new at all. I've been dealing with this since I was a kid as well. I would say it's more than I've dealt with, but it's pretty much the same thing.
On how his personality has helped him deal with everything that has happened in his career… It has just helped me stay in perspective. Just reminding myself every single day what I'm here for, which is to get better. Whether it's year one or year 10, I'm just here to get better every single day. I take that approach on the practice field, I take that approach in the meeting room, and I just try to find ways to better myself. That's the way I am in life as well.
