New York Jets: Starting Ryan Fitzpatrick won’t hurt season

Are the New York Jets okay when it comes to their quarterback situation? The bizarre injury to Geno Smith has forced Todd Bowles and Chan Gailey to name Ryan Fitzpatrick the starting quarterback to open the season. He’s the guy the Jets will have to lean on, until at least Smith’s return somewhere around Week 6. Much has been written about the change in the quarterback position since Smith had his jaw broken. I did an article just last week concerning the mess the position has once again turned into for the Jets.

After discussing the article with readers here and with a few of my local Jet fans, I realized Fitzpatrick isn’t being given a fair shake by many Jet fans. Of course there are those fans that see Fitzpatrick as a better option than the injured Smith.

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As fans, we can only hope this doesn’t lead to a quarterback controversy mid-season. Fitzpatrick stepping in to start is not all gloom and doom as many believe. He is a viable option for the Jets this season.

He was signed as a back-up to Smith as there was never a true competition this summer, Fitzpatrick was only going to be used in an emergency. The emergency got here long before anyone anticipated however, leaving fans divided on the topic on what to do next. The Jets clearly need to sign a backup to Fitzpatrick, but what about the quarterback himself?

Fitzpatrick is an 11-year veteran of the NFL. His career has never been spectacular, but he’s provided adequate enough play to keep him around the league all these years. He started his career in St Louis, with the Rams as a 7th round pick of the 2005 NFL Draft. Standing 6’2″ and weighing 221 lbs, Fitzpatrick has the ideal size to play the position.

He came to the Jets this past off season when Mike Maccagnan traded a late-round conditional pick for his services. The signing reunited Fitzpatrick and Chan Gailey from their time with the Buffalo Bills. Fitzpatrick is not new to stepping in for injured starters and he’s familiar with Gailey’s offense. These two points just might make him the perfect guy to get the job done.

Fitzpatrick has been an effective passer in his career. He’s not going to dazzle anyone, but he plays a smart high percentage game. In 2014, he played in 12 games for the Houston Texans, completing 197 passes on 312 attempts for a 63.1 completion rate. That is Fitzpatrick’s kind of game, high percentage passing as for his career he has a 60.2 completion rate. It’s that rate that makes him perfect for Gailey’s high percentage offense.

Fitzpatrick is not afraid to throw the long ball either. His career long pass came in 2009 while with the Buffalo Bills when he went deep for a 98-yard touchdown pass. Through his career, Fitzpatrick has shown he can go deep, posting passes of 60 or better yards in every season he’s played. His career has shown that given the right system, he can step in and provide adequate play and post some fairly good numbers in the process.

August 11, 2015; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) during training camp at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: John Munson/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports

It’s not an easy job being the back up quarter back in the NFL. Fortunately for the Jets, Fitzpatrick has shown he can handle the job. Another thing that is fortunate to this situation is Smith’s injury came early. Fitzpatrick will get the opportunity to work himself into the position. He will have time to become more familiar with his receivers and his running backs. He’ll be able to start the preseasons games and acclimate himself with what Gailey wants to do this season. If the injury had to happen to Smith, it happened at an opportune time for Fitzpatrick and the Jets.

Fitzpatrick comes with some concerns as well though. I’m not going to say he’s an ideal starter at this point in his career, but he is the best option at the moment. After years in the NFL, the tackles and hits begin to take their toll. Fitzpatrick was once a very mobile quarterback, avoiding would be tacklers and taking off when need be. In his career he’s rushed for 1,599 and 11 touchdowns. Fitzpatrick suffered a nasty leg injury last season, and it has had an effect. Fitzpatrick has looked slow and immobile in camp this year, and has even looked awkward in his footwork at times. Injury has to be a concern for the Jets.

Interceptions have always been a problem with Fitzpatrick, mostly because he isn’t afraid to go deep and take chances. For his career he’s thrown 123 touchdowns to go along with 101 interceptions. He’s played for some sub-par offenses in his career however, so it might not be a really good gauge to go by.

The Jets need a starting quarterback in the wake of Smith’s injury. Fitzpatrick is the only viable answer to the problem that the Jets have on their current roster. It may not be ideal to have to start a 32 year old career back up as your starter, but Fitzpatrick can run this system. He isn’t as mobile as he has been in the past, and some of his arm strength may have diminished over the years as well. Still, it’s not gloom and doom as the season is not lost.

Fitzpatrick will need to run the show until at least Week 6 when Smith returns. At that point, the Jets will need to make a decision on who takes the team through the rest of the season. It will be essential for Fitzpatrick to play smart football, be efficient in the passing game and keep the interceptions in check. The most important thing for Fitzpatrick though is he needs to stay healthy as the offensive line will need to protect him and he needs to get rid of the ball quickly.

Aug 13, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) drops back to pass during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions in a preseason NFL football game at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Nobody has a clue what Smith will look like when he returns. It’s not clear what Smith’s future will be with the franchise. Only time will tell. In the meantime, fans need to get behind Fitzpatrick and hope for the best. Like any other player in the league, Fitzpatrick has his strength’s and his weaknesses. It will be up to Gailey to play to Fitzpatrick’s strengths and avoid the downside of his game.

Fitzpatrick is good enough and the Jets have enough weapons for him to keep them in games. If all goes to plan, Fitzpatrick will win the Jets some football games and that is what fans need to understand. So, what’s your take on Fitzpatrick? Does he have what it takes to keep the Jets competitive in the AFC East? Will he be a complete bust?

We here at The Jet Press value your opinion and want to hear it. Please leave us a comment and Let’s Talk Jet Football!!

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