Transcripts of quarterbacks Mark Sanchez's and Geno Smith's news conferences following Wednesday's morning training camp practice at SUNY Cortland:
QB MARK SANCHEZ
On his reaction to hearing he was going to start the first preseason game…
It felt good. I mean it felt like the natural thing, something I have been used to, so it didn't really change my approach or anything, but I feel good about. I'm ready to go.
On how they told him he was starting the first preseason game…
It was nothing dramatic. Coach [David] Lee just mentioned it in the quarterbacks meeting, so it was pretty low-key.
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On when he was told he would be starting…**
I think right after he told you guys, he told us.
On if he thinks the quarterback competition is still even…
You have to ask the coaches but I feel like I'm putting together a good camp. I think I earned the right to start this first game, and we'll see how it goes from there. I've got to keep playing well to stay on the field and that's the plan.
On if he had any doubt that he would be starting the first game…
No, I mean, I just don't think about not playing ever, so that really doesn't affect the way I approach things, the way I go to practice, the way I play. These preseason games are a part of camp and I've got to keep doing the right thing, keep taking care of the football and having a good camp.
On if this first preseason game feels different than others in previous years…
Oh, I like to take them as serious as possible. Anytime you're keeping score, even when you're not keeping score, you want to win as a competitor. So I think it's important for us to be sharp, and this is our first real scrimmage after the Green & White. The live hitting, you know you're live, no more red jerseys. So head on a swivel, make sure you're doing the right thing, get rid of the ball especially against this defense. They're a tough defense and a great front. So it's pretty serious, it's not like we're taking this lightly.
On if he knows how long he will play in the first game…
Not yet, not yet.
On if he thinks this team will make the playoffs…
Well, I think you have to. I mean, you have to have that mentality that this team is built to last, that we're built to make a strong run and get hot at the right time, to sustain some injuries and then move on from it and get guys healthy as soon as possible. It's natural, that happens every year. But I feel like we have the talent to make that happen and now it's about realizing that talent on the field and going out and playing well.
On if he thinks they are in a good place as they head to Detroit…
Yeah, I think the offense is clicking right now, but we've just got to keep it moving. It's a different defensive look that we've seen this last whatever it's been, month or half a month or whatever. You know, we just need to stay sharp and prepare as best we can and get ready to play a tough, tough defense. These guys are really good, we've played against them in the past and we went down to the wire, so we know how good this team is.
QB GENO SMITH
On his reaction to Mark Sanchez starting in the first preseason game…
I didn't have any. The reps have been split. That's kind of the way practices have been going. My job is just to take care of my reps that come on Friday. I don't have any reaction towards it. The competition is still open. I'm just continuing to work and to grow.
On if he thinks he will start the second preseason game…
I have no clue.
On if it would be unfair if he did not start a preseason game…
I wouldn't think so. Like I've said, I think they're going to evaluate this thing fairly. I trust the coaches, I trust Marty [offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg], I trust Coach [David] Lee and everyone else who is going to be inclusive in making that decision. Like I said, I'm just going to continue to practice, keep my head down and stay focused. Whatever comes about from this I think will be the right and just decision.
On if he thinks Sanchez has earned the starting position for the first preseason game…
Of course, of course. I fully back Mark, I fully back the coaches' decisions. Like I said, I'm all about helping this team grow, helping us win. Once they came out with the decision that he will start the first preseason game, like I said, I didn't have any reaction to it. The only thing that I'm focusing on is making sure I'm prepared for the plays that I get in the game.
On if he was surprised…
No.
On if the defense was doing something different that might have caused his play dip...
I wouldn't say that. I just think compared to my first couple of practices, one in particular where I threw the interceptions, it wasn't my normal self. It wasn't what everyone was seeing from me. It's something that happens in sports, everyone has those days. I think the best tell of the top player you are is how you regroup and how you come back and perform afterwards. I think the past two days I did a really good job at responding. That's something that my teammates and coaches want to see from me.
On what he has improved on the most…
Footwork. Footwork has been my biggest improvement. I feel a lot more comfortable with it. I'm not thinking about it at all when I'm on the field. I know it, I'm pretty sound on my reads. It's just about continuing to get better as a whole.
On if he will have butterflies on Friday night…
Not at all. Not one bit.
On why he will not have butterflies…
I never have butterflies. I've never been that type of person. I don't think I get nervous at all.
On if the first preseason game is a big moment for him…
It is. In retrospect, it is. My first NFL game. My first official NFL game. But at the same time I'm going to go about it as I always do, business as usual. I'm going to try and just take care of every single aspect of it, from the time we step on to the plane, to the time we get off the plane, to the time we step on the field, until it's time to go home.
On if he'll have a moment when he steps on the field for his first NFL game…
No. I've been playing football my entire life I've played on so many stadiums, I mean NFL, college, pretty much it's all the same. The competition gets better and it gets bigger but I won't have any moment like that.
On how much different it is knowing that he will get hit in the game…
Not different at all. Like I said I've played many football games and a hit is a hit you get up and you play another down.
On if he considers himself the underdog because Sanchez is getting the first start…
Not one bit. Mark's been a four-year starter here. Like I've said all along, he's a leader of this team and everyone respects him around here, and I respect the decision that's been made, and once I step on the field, once it's my turn, it's just about continuing to prove myself and that's what I'll try and do.
On if he thinks he'll get a start for one of the other preseason games…
I don't know yet, but it'll be interesting to see.
On if he has been told how much he will play Friday night…
I'm expecting to play until they pull me out and I'm not really going to think about how many snaps I'm getting or how many passes I'll get. I'm just going to go and take advantage of every single rep, every single play, and when it's my time to come out I'll sit on the sidelines, still take mental reps, and try and take notes there.
On if he senses he'll get a series or two with the ones…
Like I said, I don't know. I'm not sure how that will go. I'm pretty sure they'll let us know as the days come about but we still, like today was pretty much a day where we went in there and the first day of us actually running the scout team defense against what we'll see in Detroit so we'll see later on. But as of right now I don't know.
On if he'll be anxious for the game…
Yeah, I mean everyone will be anxious. Everyone will have to juice it up a bit more and that's the nature of the game. Everyone's going to want to come out there and have a good showing in the first preseason game and everyone's going to pretty much have that same feeling. I don't think I will have any butterflies but I will be anxious, I will be ready.
On if the coaches have identified any area of focus… Everything we've got to accomplish. First of all we've got to take care of the ball. It's just our key principles on offense: move the chains, take care of the ball, be productive, be fluent in and out of the huddle, make sure that we're making the right checks when we have to, and just playing ball, just going out there and having fun, being competitors and playing ball.
