Geno Smith has been confirmed as the starting quarterback for the New York Jets' opening match of the season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

Jets coach Rex Ryan had refused to name who his number one quarterback would be until this afternoon, when he confirmed that Smith had ousted the injured Mark Sanchez.

Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg acknowledged that not everything would go the rookie's way from the start, but hopes that Smith's teammates will help him settle into the NFL.

"We'll go through some ups and downs, I can guarantee you that," Mornhinweg told reporters.

"Knowing Geno, hopefully there will be more ups than downs. The whole team has to be part of this. Everybody has to play just a notch above for him to perform at a high level."

Smith will become the Jets' first rookie quarterback to start the season opener since Sanchez himself was handed the job in 2009.