FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Geno Smith was surrounded by a throng of reporters, a crowded scene usually more appropriate for a No. 1 draft pick than a second-rounder. But Smith, of course, isnt your ordinary No. 39 selection. And, the New York Jets are certainly used to their quarterbacks -- and backup quarterbacks, for that matter -- getting this type of attention. "I just come out," Smith said Friday, "and be my natural self." Who that is, exactly, has been open to some debate in recent weeks as Smith has taken lots of criticism for his abilities on the field -- despite a record-breaking career at West Virginia -- and his attitude off it. Various published reports painted Smith as an immature diva who didnt always take football seriously enough. "Maybe I dont know what the diva behaviour looks like," coach Rex Ryan said. "I never saw that at all." Smiths free fall from potential top-10 pick, and his reported decision -- and later, change of heart -- to leave New York rather than return to the draft site at Radio City Music Hall added to the perception. As did Smith firing his two agents shortly after the draft. Hes done with all that. Still without an agent, Smith is ready to move on to football again. "I think its been a more eventful few weeks for the media," Smith said. "My only job is to focus on what I have here and get better." And theres plenty to do, if you ask Smith, who said all the right things after his first practice of rookie minicamp. "Im going to be tough on myself," Smith said. "Ill let the coaches do the grading, but if I say it, its an F because I want to be an A-plus. "Hey man, thats just the way I do things." Despite the tough self-evaluation, the quarterback looked pretty good during practice. Smith appeared to have a solid working knowledge of the playbook, and zipped many of his passes -- mostly in short yardage -- around the field. "Ive been studying my butt off, learning formations, learning protections," said Smith, wearing No. 7 because his old No. 12 from his college days is Joe Namaths retired number. "I think I did a good job overall today. There were some bumps in the road. Those are things I think I can clean up." He also worked under centre most of the time, something he wasnt used to doing during his time at West Virginia. Smith hesitated a few times on some throws, and was even yelled at by offensive co-ordinator Marty Mornhinweg for failing to pull off a play-action bootleg pass. Rookie jitters? Smith wont go there. "There are no excuses here," Smith said. "Weve all got to study our playbooks and be prepared for practice. If he felt like I needed to pick things up, then hell get on me, which he did. Im receptive to that, and I did what he asked of me." Yes, the man some outside the Jets organization anonymously labeled as not very coachable said all the right things after practice, appearing humble and clear of his role on the team. While many assume that will be to someday become the Jets starting quarterback, Smith refused to look too far ahead. "I have a job to do as of right now, and thats to come in and compete," he said. "Right now, theres a long ways to go in that process. This is only Step 1, Day 1, but it was fun to get out here on the practice field and enjoy my teammates and coaches." The plan is to have Smith compete for the starting job this summer with Mark Sanchez and David Garrard, as well as Greg McElroy and Matt Simms -- although those two likely have no realistic shot at winning it. Smith said he was told that Sanchez will get "the majority of the reps" in training camp. "I know Mark is a competitor, and I understand Mark wants to win the job," Smith said. "We all do. But at the same time, Im going to learn from him and David and Greg." He already impressed his fellow rookie teammates on offence by getting together with several of them at the players hotel Thursday night and going over the playbook. "I think thats great," Ryan said. "Its unusual the way he commanded the huddle. And the fact hes already telling guys (instructions), thats pretty sharp." Smith has also studied former quarterbacks such as Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jeff Garcia and Donovan McNabb, trying to get an even better handle on Mornhinwegs West Coast offence. So, Smith says, the critics can keep on talking about him. He has better things to worry about. "I dont resent any of it," Smith said. "I dont pay attention to any of it. I just focus on what I can control and thats being a Jets quarterback, being a great teammate and just getting better as a quarterback daily." ------ NOTES: CB Dee Milliner, the teams top draft pick at No. 9 overall, didnt practice as he recovers from off-season shoulder surgery. He expects to be ready in time for training camp in late-July. ... Ryan said he was "disappointed" in Quinton Coples work in the weight room Thursday. "If Quinton doesnt do a better job in the weight room," Ryan said, "hell have to compete like anyone else for a job," Ryan said. It was a clear motivational ploy since Coples, the teams first-rounder last year, is a rising star for the defence and will move from the line to outside linebacker this season after leading the team in sacks with 5 1/2. "Hes been doing a great job, but any chance I have to get him, Im going to," Ryan said. "I expect so much from him and if he lets up a little bit, were going to make sure he knows it." Cheap Hornets Jerseys China . 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Soukalova missed only one target and completed the 15-kilometre course in 40 minutes, 32.6 seconds for both victories in this seasons individual discipline. Darya Domracheva of Belarus was second, 34. The Los Angeles Dodgers will start ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw on three days rest in Game 4 of their NL Division Series?against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday.Washington, which leads the series 2-1, will start right-hander Joe Ross.?Kershaw was the winning pitcher in Game 1 on Friday, gutting out five innings and giving up eight hits and three runs. Kershaw was limited to 21 starts this season because of a back injury.Still, first-year Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was undeterred.One, Clayton gives us the best chance to win, and No. 2, he gives us the best chance to go deeper into a game, Roberts said before the game.Rookie left-hander Julio Urias was originally slated to start Game 4 for the Dodgers. If the series goes to five games, Roberts wouldnt rule out a Urias start.Depending on how this game plays out, well make that decision, he said.?According to ESPN Stats & Information, this will be Kershaws fourth career postseason start on short rest. In the three previous starts, covering 19 innings, he has given up only four earned runs and struck out 23; the Dodgers went 2-1 in those games.Kershaw said once the series began that he wanted to pitch Game 4, according to Roberts.He wasnt as sharp as I had seen himm, but hes still Clayton Kershaw, Nationals manager Dusty Baker said of Kershaws Game 1 performance.dddddddddddd He kept them in the game, whether he was sharp or not. Hes one of the best around, if not the best.Ross, a 23-year-old former first-round pick, was 7-5 with a 3.43 ERA in 19 starts for the Nationals this season, but he missed two and a half months after going on the disabled list in July with shoulder inflammation.Since returning, Ross has averaged 68 pitches in three starts, as the Nats tried to stretch him out and get him ready for postseason action. In his most recent outing on Sept. 29, he threw 90 pitches in four innings.?In 9? innings since coming off the DL, Ross has a 2.79 ERA and has allowed 14 hits, striking out 14 while walking three.Baker was choosing between Ross and rookie Reynaldo Lopez for his Game 4 starter. Lopez, a hard-throwing righty who appeared in 11 games (six starts) for Washington but has yet to pitch in the postseason, will likely be the first man in from the bullpen in relief of Ross.ESPNs Eddie Matz and The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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