At first, I didn’t think the Jets’ selection of West Virginia QB Geno Smith was a good idea.
He has a world of talent, but he’s very inconsistent, and played in a gimmicky college offense that doesn’t translate well to the NFL game.
However, hearing John Idzik repeatedly pushing his “competition” mantra in his press conference tonight, it changed my perspective a little on the Smith pick.
Unlike in the recent past with the Jets, Smith will not be handed the starting quarterback job. He’s going to have to earn it.
If this pick had been made during the “anointing era” of the last few years, it likely would have been a bad pick, because Rex, with all his bravado, would have thrown the kid out there before he is ready, like Stephen Hill, Quinton Coples, and the list goes on.
Now, with Idzik in town, and his addiction to competition, Smith is going to have to earn the starting job.
Whether it’s this year, or two years from now, he’s going to have to earn it. Hey, he might never start. I have faith in Idzik that he truly believes in legitimate competition.
It’s the way they did things in Seattle, and he’s going to make darn sure that is how matters are handled here.
So as long as Smith has to earn the starting job, and he’s never handed it, I have no issue with this pick.
He has outstanding raw stills, but he needs to be refined.
