Geno Smith had a terrible performance on Sunday against the Dolphins.
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The Jets signaled they are more concerned with the future than the present when they announced on Monday that Geno Smith will be the starting quarterback for Week 14.
The rookie is coming off a 23-3 loss this past Sunday where he was benched at halftime in favor of Matt Simms.
Quarterback coach David Lee told Smith on Monday morning that despite a fourth straight game with a completion percentage less than 50 percent and a streak of five full games without a passing touchdown, he will start.
“Coming into this week, coming into this building today, my mindset hadn’t changed,” Smith said. “My goal is to go out there every single day in practice and prove myself and that’s what I want to do this week. Pretty much in this league, no one’s job is for certain. Everyone has to earn their pay and I’m no different.”
Smith was 4-of-10 for 29 yards with an interception against the Dolphins.
After the game on Sunday, head coach Rex Ryan said “we’ll put the guys in who we think give us the best chance to be successful.”
Smith acknowledged things need to improve quickly, especially with the Jets 5-7 and teetering on playoff elimination.
He admits to “feeling a sense of urgency” about his performance, knowing the team has zero margin for error. For a quarterback who is error prone, that is a high tight rope for Smith to walk.
“No one’s perfect. I know that my coaches don’t expect me to go out there and be perfect,” Smith said. “Now, we do strive for perfection, that is a different thing in its own right. No one can be perfect on the field. I don’t feel I have to be perfect out there, I just think we’ve got to do a better job as an offense and I have to do a better job as the quarterback in getting the right play and moving the chains.”
Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.
