NFL News: Geno Smith Named New York Jets Starting QB By Offensive Coordinator Chan Gailey

Geno Smith entered last season battling Michael Vick for a starting quarterback job with the New York Jets. This year the third-year player from West Virginia won’t be looking over his shoulder because Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey has declared Smith the starter over recent acquisition Ryan Fitzpatrick. Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reported the news on Twitter.

The 24-year-old Smith, who was the Jets' second-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, will have wide receivers Brandon Marshall, Erick Decker, Devin Smith and Jace Amaro as his primary targets this season. “I think you see an awful lot of talent there,” Gailey was quoted saying in Mehta’s article. “And if we can get him where he puts all that together, I don’t know how good he can be. To be honest, I don’t know how good he can be, but he can be pretty good though.”

Gailey also described Smith as “very talented” and that the third-year QB can “make very throw in the book.” “Just like anybody else in the NFL,” Gailey said. “If you don’t play well over a period of time you could. Not in preseason. Not in practices.”

In 30 games in his first two seasons with the Jets, Smith has accumulated 5,571 passing yards on 466 of 810 passes or 57.5 completion rate with 25 touchdowns and 34 interceptions. He also has 604 rushing yards on 131 carries with 7 rushing TDs.

The Jets placed last in the AFC East division with 4 wins against 12 losses in the 2014 NFL Season.