Koi Ecke » Chenard refereed the final

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets quarterback situation is no mystery. And, if it was, everyone has gotten enough clues by now to solve it. While no one who has a say in the decision-making process has come right out and said it, it has become very clear that Geno Smith is the starting quarterback and Michael Vick is the backup. Today, tomorrow and next month. And its offensive co-ordinator Marty Mornhinwegs task to make it all work. "Heres my job, this is my responsibility and my duty, really: Ive got to continue to progress the young quarterback thats got 16 games under his belt," Mornhinweg said Wednesday. "That has to happen." Thats why, despite Vicks extensive experience and familiarity with Mornhinwegs offence, Smith is getting the bulk of the work with the starting offence in minicamp and will continue to do so in training camp in late July. "Things can change, as you know," Mornhinweg said. "Theyll start out very similarly. Geno has gotten, and hell get about, lets say 70-75 per cent of the reps with the 1s. Geno, Ill get him a couple reps there with the second group as well." Its not a major revelation, especially after Mornhinweg recently acknowledged that the snaps wouldnt be equal between the two quarterbacks -- confirming Vicks assertion that it wasnt necessarily an "open competition." The two will continue to compete, of course, with Smith getting the chance to end any debate with a solid showing this summer. From what Mornhinweg has seen, he believes that could end up being the case. "Last year about this time ... things were spinning on him a little bit, which was certainly anticipated," Mornhinweg said. "We started our off-season, hes got the bull by the horns (and) hes driving it. Quite different that way. "Very confident, very sure of himself with each play." Last season, Smith threw 12 touchdown passes and 21 interceptions after being thrust into the starting job when Mark Sanchez was lost for the season with a shoulder injury. Cutting down on the turnovers has been the major focus since December. Quarterbacks coach David Lee has worked closely with Smith, who is getting rid of the ball a lot faster than he was at any point a year ago. "Hes thrown a couple of interceptions since OTAs and hadnt thrown any in minicamp," Lee said. "Of course, its not 82,000 (fans) out there and nine million people watching on television. And thats really where youve got to evaluate a quarterback is in those games. "Thats when you really know how much better hes gotten when you get to the ballgames." But if Smith struggles or is injured, Mornhinweg is counting on Vick -- who thrived under him during their four seasons together in Philadelphia -- to be able to step in seamlessly and lead the offence. "We just have to get Michael Vick playing at the high level that he played at in the past within this system," Mornhinweg said. "So, he needs some reps." Both Smith and Vick are getting used to a revamped wide receiver corps, which has Eric Decker, Jeremy Kerley and a host of others trying to earn roster spots. That might be where the real competition is with the Jets -- not with the guys throwing the football, but the guys catching it. "We are extremely deep at that spot," Mornhinweg said. "So weve got more than a handful of guys that can play at a high level." David Nelson and Jacoby Ford are two veterans vying for spots, while youngsters Greg Salas, Clyde Gates, Michael Campbell and Saalim Hakim and draft picks Jalen Saunders, Shaq Evans and Quincy Enunwa are also in the mix. "Weve got four to five guys total that I know can play at a real high level, that will catch the ball consistently, will separate consistently," Mornhinweg said. "We have three to four guys who can really run. I mean fast, fast. ... Then we have another handful of guys, many of them young players that have shown some things where, this is going to be a heck of a competition here for some roster spots and some playing time and being able to help our football team." Coach Rex Ryan is also intrigued by a promising group of tight ends, including Jeff Cumberland, second-round pick Jace Amaro and the developing Zach Sudfeld. "I could see Marty being real creative with this group," Ryan said. Running back Chris Johnson is expected to be ready to go when training camp opens after recovering from off-season knee surgery. Chris Ivory rolled an ankle Wednesday, but Ryan said it was nothing serious. If healthy, Johnson and Ivory could form one of the leagues most lethal backfield duos. "We need to get Chris Johnson on the field," Mornhinweg said. "He needs some reps, certainly, but it is going to be exciting. At least Im excited." Maury Wills Dodgers Jersey . 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James Erskine said Tuesday that Thorpe was "quite sick" in a Sydney hospital but dismissed media reports the swimmer might lose the use of his left arm. "Hes not in the intensive care," Erskine said.MONTREAL -- In keeping with the rest of their tournament, Germany left it late before it could claim victory. The Germans scored in the eighth minute of extra time to beat Nigeria 1-0 and claim the under-20 Womens World Cup at Montreals Olympic Stadium on Sunday. Coming into the final, Germany had scored in the last 10 minutes of a game in four of five contests. The victory is Germanys record-tying third top finish at this competition, after winning the event in 2004 and 2010. "Obviously we never expected to be standing here as champions," said German coach Maren Meinert through a translator. "Considering the teams we had to play against, were especially proud and happy to be here, to have achieved such an amazing thing. "The game today was crazy, like all the other games we played in this tournament. The one thing that was really important and crucial was that we not only played well offensively, but we also played defensively. The whole team worked together, and Im very proud." Nigeria was the better team for much of the game, as the Falconets pinned the Germans in their own half for lengthy periods of time. Nigerias shots were dangerous, and its crosses constantly threatened the German defence. Midfielder Asisat Ochoala, who came into the game with a tournament-leading seven goals, was menacing throughout. But it was Germanys Lena Petermann who broke the deadlock in extra time, firing home from close range past goalkeeper Sandra Chiichii for her third goal of the competition. Forward Pauline Bremer of Germany got the play going, stripping Nigerias Gladys Abasi of the ball on the edge of the 18-yard-box. Bremer walked in to the penalty area and squared the ball to Petermann, who scored Germanys 17th goal of the tournament. "We showed again today that were strong, physically," said Meinert. "Each player wants to do everything until the last minute, until the whistle. Weve played so many difficult games in this tournament. We know the pain, and we know how much it hurts." For the second time in four years, Germany were winners over Nigeria in the final of the under-20 tournament. In 2010, with Meinert in charge, Germanys Alexandra Popp scored early in the final to defeat Nigerias Falconets 2-0 in front of 24,633 in Bielefeld, Germany. Nigerian coach Peter Dedevbo was looking for redemption on Sunday. "We did our best to see that our image was redeemed," said Dedevbo. "We had opportunities to win this match in the first half. We created chances, but we couldnt take them. Germany had their chance, and they took it. "We had an opportunity in the finals, and we threw it away. My players had an opportunity to wrap it up, and they threw it away." Germanys win wasnt without controversy. The Nigerians looked to have won the match and the title in the 85th minute of regular time when Oshoala, by far the games best player, beat German goalkeeper Meike Kaemper to the ball with a header. With the balll trickling towards the goal line, an overzealous Loveth Ayila, Oshoalas teammate, booted the ball in the back of the net for added emphasis.dddddddddddd. Ayila was in an offside position, however, and the goal was disallowed. To make matters worse for Nigeria, video replay showed the ball had already crossed the line before Ayila got a foot on it. "For that goal, I dont want to say anything about it," said Dedevbo. "I dont want to answer your question. Because I will answer it in a way you wouldnt like, in a way FIFA wouldnt like." Kaemper, who made six saves on Sunday and was named the finals best player, thought the call on the pitch was the right one. "The girl who headed the ball was not offside, but in my opinion, the girl who took the shot on goal was offside," she said through a translator. It wasnt the first time, either, that Ayila got in Oshoalas way. The tournaments leading scorer was denied a promising opportunity in the 38th minute when Ayila walked into her shot, deflecting it wide. Oshoala had another glorious chance in the 22nd minute when she stole the ball from German defender Margarita Gidion, walked in on a breakaway, and sidestepped Kaemper before finding the side netting. The game was 0-0 at halftime, with Nigeria directing nine shots towards target to Germanys four. But Germany began pulling away as the game wore on. Its best chance in regular time came late when Petermann walked in on the Nigerian net on a partial break in the 78th, but her shot was scooped up by Chiichii. The Germans finished with 13 shots on target. Nigeria had six. "We played a very compact game in the back," said Kaemper. "We were able to prevent Nigeria from having many direct chances. Everyone worked together. You cant defend perfectly against such a fast-paced and such a quick opponent." There were 15,822 in attendance at Montreals Olympic Stadium. Earlier in the day, France beat North Korea 3-2 in the third-place match. Frances centre half Aissatou Tounkara scored the winner in the 79th minute to lead the Bleuettes to their first podium finish at the U-20 Womens World Cup. "Our goal, at the very beginning, was to reach the final day, which we did," said French captain Griedge Mbock Bathy. "The bronze medal is a good reward, and were going to celebrate." In the semifinals, Nigeria beat North Korea 6-2, while Germany won 2-1 versus France. Notes: In 2004, when the tournament was an U-19 format, Germany defeated Nigeria on penalties in the quarter-finals en route to its first championship. à Canadas Carol Anne Chenard refereed the final. Chenard was also the referee in charge of the 2010 final between Nigeria and Germany. à Next summer, six Canadian cities will host the 2015 Womens World Cup, the first senior FIFA tournament held in Canada. The month-long, 50-match event will run from June 6 to July 5, 2015, with the final game being played at Vancouvers BC Place. ' ' '