Transcript of quarterback Geno Smith's news conference in front of his locker following our Monday afternoon practice at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center.
On what he took away from watching the film of the game against New England…
We played a clean game for about 3½ quarters. Last 12 plays of the game, in my opinion, were fairly sloppy. I think I tried to force things. It didn't work out for us, but we're moved on from it and now it's time to focus on Buffalo.
On if he tried to force things against the Patriots…
Yes.
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On if the team has given him any indication that he'll be the starting quarterback beyond the Buffalo game…**
No, like I've always said I take things day-by-day and I'm not looking ahead, so I'm only focused on taking one day at a time. Like I said, that's all it is really for me. Just focus on one day and trying to improve as much as I can until gameday
On if he'd like to be named the starter for the foreseeable future…
Well I mean of course you would, but I mean in this situation you've got to play the cards that you're dealt. In my own personal time here, I think I've been treated fairly well and I think I've been given a great chance, a great opportunity. I've got an opportunity this week once again to prove myself and that's what I go out there and try to do.
On how long it takes him to get over a tough loss…
A tough loss like that, it took me about a day. The next day I was still just kind of thinking about the things I could've done, but that's the game. You've got move on from it. I watched tape, sometimes in bitterness. I'm kind of mad at myself for some of the plays that I know I can easily make, some of the decisions that I made that ultimately cost us the game. It's a learning experience. You move on from it and get better next week.
On if the interceptions were bad throws or bad decisions…
Both. Both bad decisions and throws. In those tight spaces, with the game on the line, you've got to be 100 percent precise and I don't think I was on those throws. Like I said, I moved on from it. I'm still confident and prepared for this upcoming week.
On what it's like to have Mark Sanchez on the sideline…
Yeah, Mark's supportive and when he's on the sideline we're all coming together collectively and using our minds. A lot of times it's Marty [Mornhinweg] doing all the talking, but Mark is definitely there for me if I have a question or if he sees something on the field.
On how long a leash he has on the starting job…
I don't know. I think in this league everyone is fighting for a spot and especially on this team. It's day-by-day, week-by-week for me. That's how I see it and that's how I'll forever see it. No matter what the organization decides my role is, I'm going continue to prepare the same way.
On his reaction to Sanchez telling NFL Network that he won the quarterback competition…
Those are his comments and that's his opinion. That's all there is to it.
On if he agrees with Sanchez's comments…
I have no comment to that.
On if he's talked to Rex Ryan about Buffalo's defense…
Yes, I've talked to Rex and they play a similar style to us, like to attack the quarterback. They'll try and confuse me and send some looks I probably haven't seen before. But for the most part, watching them on tape, they do mix it up, multiple fronts, multiple blitzes. It's going to take some extra preparation. I've got to be able to see it out there on the field, see everything clearly. I've been watching a ton of tape. I'll be here all night and tomorrow watching tape, so I'll be prepared for it.
On if it has any meaning going up against EJ Manuel…
It's about the Bills and the Jets. That's it. I know the storyline's going to be two rookie quarterbacks competing, but at the end of the day it's about this team. It's about us going out there and winning the game as a team.
On if he got to know Manuel during the draft process…
Yeah, we talked a little. He's a great guy.
On if facing the team's defense in practice will prepare him for facing the Buffalo defense…
Yeah, I think that's already helped me. Seeing those fronts and the blitzes and the looks that I got up in Cortland and my time here was beneficial in many ways because it made me process things faster. It allows me to go out there on the field with a ton of confidence knowing that if you can move the ball against this defense, which is a great defense, then you can go up against anyone.
On if Buffalo showed any interest in him during the draft process…
It doesn't really matter at this point. I'm a New York Jet and that's all I'm focused on.
On finishing drives and scoring when the offense gets into the red zone…
Yeah, that's a big emphasis, us finishing drives. In our first two games we were able to move the ball pretty well, but got into the red zone, got some opportunities and kind of stalled a bit. All it takes is a little bit of extra focus down there. It could be me just reminding guys, "Hey, we're in the red zone, let's punch this thing in." We're definitely going to emphasize that. We want to score more points. We can. I believe we can be an explosive offense and it's going to take all 11 of us on the field.
On the team's running game against New England…
Very exciting, man. Those guys ran hard and had a bunch of yards after contact, which means they were moving defenders. The offensive line did great, all night opening holes for those guys and they were hitting them downhill. Chris [Ivory] is a tough runner, man. He runs downhill, he runs hard. Bilal [Powell]'s the same way. So those guys are going to continue to improve as our offense does and it's only going to help us out in the future.
On if the dropped passes are something that can improve over time…
I don't know what it is, but I do believe that my receivers will improve on that. I know those guys do a tremendous job after practice, getting on the jugs and doing things to make sure that they don't drop those passes. I know that's part of the game. You have drops. I'm going to continue to go to those guys because I believe they can make those catches and I know they will.
On if his ankle is back to 100 percent healthy…
It's getting there day-by-day. Not quite 100 yet, but it'll be there soon.
On how to avoid forcing throws when the game is on the line…
You've got to do it. You can't have those mistakes. You can't have those turnovers and regardless of whose fault it is, it can't happen. The way to avoid it is to emphasize it in practice, to stick to your fundamentals when you're out there on the field. Just go out there and play aggressive, but at the same time be mindful of the situation. I think down there in the red zone, I could've maybe tucked the ball and ran instead of trying to fit it into a tight window. Keep three points on the board, just managing the situations. Continuing to stick to my fundamentals and just going out there being aggressive and having fun.
On the feedback from John Idzik through two weeks…
It was very encouraging because we were right in that game and with the mistakes that we had on offense, I think we still had a couple opportunities to go down there and tie the game or score. That was all John really spoke to me about was "Hey, we're in that game. We'll get a chance to play those guys again and it's early in the season. We've got a long season. We've got a really good team. You've just got to continue to improve."
On if Bill Belichick threw anything at him he hadn't seen before…
I wouldn't say so. I think they played it pretty base, but there were a few looks that happened on tape way back then that we had studied and we got a chance to catch on the field. So it wasn't anything I didn't see but he definitely tried to mix it up a bit.
On if his running the ball is a goal of his moving forward…
My goal is to take what the defense gives me. I do have the ability to run. In those times, if need be, I've got to tuck the ball down and run. Along with that comes not turning the ball over, not making mistakes and also giving us a better opportunity. We may pick up a first down or we can get extra yards for the kicker.
On if he has a role in helping decrease the amount of dropped passes…
I always encourage them. That's a part of being a teammate. I believe those guys will pick it and improve, just as I will. We're all young, we're all improving. As long they continue to compete hard and continue to work hard, I think they'll improve on it.
