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Geno Smith Speaks At OTA's

With the news breaking that Gailey suspects Geno will be the opening day starter, the 3rd year QB took the time to meet with the media.

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

On how the second day of OTAs are going...

Pretty good. I think we are getting somewhere with learning the offense. Obviously getting the timing down with one another, quarterbacks to the wide receivers and running backs. Really seen a lot even from defense, so it's helping us out a bunch.

On how comfortable he is with the offense...

Being in my third year I feel like I'm still studying, still learning. Obviously, most of the concepts have been plays that I've repped before, so it's not all unfamiliar for me. I still get the opportunity to get better. I still get the chance to really study and put the time into the classroom and really make sure that I'm on top of the things I need to be on top of on the field.

On how long he expects it will take him to feel really comfortable...

I don't know. I think every day is a new process, it's a new chance to get better and learn the system. No matter how many times we are writing down the minor details, still focusing on the little things, on the little details that are important. So, you know I don't know an exact date, but every single day I'm getting better with it. Every single day I'm becoming more comfortable with it. I'm able to go out there and coach the guys up and that's a good sign because we are all putting the time in in the classroom, but as a quarterback you have to put in extra time, so that's what we're going to do.

On how things are going with Coach Gailey so far...

Coach Gailey has been great. He's very smart. He's a guy we can learn a lot from, so (I'm) being a sponge and soaking up everything I can.

On how important this time is with the new coaching staff and the rookies...

Time is valuable. It's important for all of us. First of all, team bonding. Being together, being around one another, competing with one another is huge. As well as focusing on ourselves, becoming better at the individual things we can get better at and holding ourselves accountable every single day. There's a lot of good competition at every single spot so I think it's going to help us out in the long run.

On whether he feels like this is his team...

I feel confident in myself and my place on this team, but every single day is a new experience for me, a new chance to get better and continue to lead myself first of all, try to become the best player I can be so that when it all comes together for us all, we can all be good.

On whether he feels threatened by younger quarterbacks on the team...

You know, threatened is a strong word. Obviously there is competition like I said and the guys that we have will definitely come in here to compete. We've always got to be mindful of the fact that we got to show up every single day and going up against a great defense like that, they'll expose you if you aren't ready. So, staying on top of our game as far as in the classroom, knowing what we have to do on the field and then once we get out there as a team, as a unit, just make the simple plays, just get the ball into the hands of the guys that can really play for us.

On his confidence...

You know confidence goes a long way. I'm very confident in myself, but like I said we're far from Week One. So, what we're doing right now is becoming the best players that we can be individually. Obviously we get to do a bunch of team reps. We get to compete against a great defense and go up against some great guys on the opposite side so I think it's going to make me a lot better and I think come Week One we'll see what happens.

On his role on the team under the new regime...

I think I know my role. It's to get better and I think that's the role of every single guy in this locker room and the coaches are going to do their jobs and they are going to do the evaluations, but my job is to go out there every single play and make the best of it. Put us in a position to win games and as long as I am on the field, that's what I'm trying the best to do.

On whether is attitude coming into the season is any different than last year...

No, not at all. It's not to say anything about anyone or the situation. I just always go into it with the right mindset, believing that if I do what I have to do and take care of my job that I'll be out there, but my main focus right now is to focus on the day. Try to get better from today's practice. Really go in there, watch film, study it, study the playbook and become the best I can be today.

On whether he was surprised Bryce Petty was drafted...

No. Since I've been here we've drafted guys and my reaction has never changed. I don't think it ever will. Like I said, I'm always confident in myself, but I believe in the process and I believe that we've got to continue to work hard. Bryce is my teammate, so I'm going to be here to help him get better. The competition, I think, will help all of us.

On whether he reads into the Jets drafting Petty...

I don't know if you can read anything into being drafted or me being here. It's about the reps that we get on the field and the way we can take advantage of those reps. All of us are going to get the opportunity to compete, so I think that's what most important and I think if you go into it with the right mindset, the intent to get better, I think everything will work itself out.

On going into camp knowing that he will be getting first team reps...

Obviously getting first-team reps is important. Like I said, going up against that first-team defense will make all of us a lot better so whenever you go (Darrelle) Revis and Cro (Antonio Cromartie) on that opposite side, you got Mo (Muhammed Wilkerson) and Sheldon (Richardson) and Leonard Williams and all the guys that we have, they are going to help us out. As far as myself, I have to go out there and make the right read, make the right throw, not do too much. I'm not going on the field thinking about anything other than getting better. I think that's going to help me out most of all.

On whether he thought Tom Brady's punishment was fair...

You know I can't really say much on that, about the NFL issue, about the punishment. It is what it is. We just have to move on and continue to work hard on our side of things and try to get better in that aspect.

Thoughts: Geno always says the right things and he comes across as quite an articulate man. However I think most fans just want to see what he says translate on the field. He needs to do interviews and he needs to respond to questions, that's part of his job. However we won't know what we have until we see him on the field taking snaps, making reads and delivering the ball under pressure. He obviously wants to get better, and everything I hear about Geno indicates he works his tail off and he wants to improve, I'm willing to give him another shot this year and hpefully he breaks out, because if we do happen to have a QB capable of winning us some ball games, this team has double-digit win potential.