New York Jets: Ryan Fitzpatrick breaks down Week 2 matchup

Ryan Fitzpatrick has so far proved to be an adequate starting quarterback for the New York Jets. Last week against the Cleveland Browns, Fitzpatrick totaled 179 passing yards on 15 completions for 2 touchdowns and an interception. He was effective and led the Jets to victory which at the end of the day, is really all that matters.

This week however, a true test will be hitting him and the Jets. They will face an angry Indianapolis Colts team looking for revenge in their shocking Week 1 loss at the hands of the Buffalo Bills. They have a tough defense that will surely bring it against Fitzpatrick and the Jets’ offense.

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We here at The Jet Press would like to thank the Media Relations Department of the Jets for sending us a complete transcript from Fitzpatrick as he breaks down his Week 2 matchup, talks about individual players and why it’s important to strike in the red-zone. Enjoy!

On what jumps out at you about the Colts defense…

They’re always tough. The last two years when I was in Tennessee and Houston I got to play them multiple times and it’s always a challenge. They’re fast. They create a lot of havoc moving around on third down with the line games and the blitzes and getting after the quarterback, a lot quarterback sacks and a lot of quarterback hits. That’s kind of what you know going into this game. On third down, you’re going to get hit, but they have a talented secondary too. It’s going to be a big challenge for us. They are a physical team. We get an extra day to prepare just as they do and we have to be able to take advantage of it.

On how you see Vontae Davis’ mental sharpness on film…

I have been able to play against him a lot too. When I was in Buffalo, he was in Miami and with him being on the Colts the last few years. He’s obviously a great player, a guy I think maybe who is underrated a little bit in terms of his talent. I always think he’s tough to go against. They ask him to do a lot of different things, but when he plays man coverage he always does a great job at it. Physical guy, and Brandon (Marshall) is familiar with him, just from being in Miami. It will be a good match up. I respect his game and respect how he plays a lot.

On his impression of Chris Owusu…

The first I’d ever heard of Chris was when I got traded here and they said some guy named Chris Owusu has number 14 and I was like, ‘Well, okay.’ So I texted Chris and we texted for a little bit and he was nice enough to give me the number. He’s great. From day one, he’s really jumped out to me as a talented guy that has a great upside. Catching the post route having a few catches the last game, I think his confidence is just going to grow. He’s a guy I really look to. He does a great job of getting off press on the line, he’s a smart receiver so he knows end zone coverages, where to find the right holes and run the right routes. I just think he’s going to get better as the year goes on.

On if he has had any Harvard-Stanford chats with Owusu…

Yeah, his brother was a Harvard guy. We can talk in code and the other receivers don’t really know (joking). We’ll use binary sometimes, but he’s the only one who really understands it (joking).

Sep 13, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Chris Owusu (17) during the first half against the Cleveland Browns at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports

On if he drove a hard price for the jersey number…

You can ask him about that.

On if there is a common thread with him starting the season efficient and well…

Yeah, in Buffalo we started out real hot one of the years. I don’t know. For me, it’s just continuing to get better every week and knowing that you are only as good as the next game. We had a great start, but we can do a lot of things better on offense. If we come out and lay and egg this week, that’s all forgotten quickly. You’re only as good as your next game. Everybody has to continue to work and we have to go out and prove it each and every week.

On if he looks back on his past seasons to avoid repeating past struggles…

I look back at all my stuff, all my experiences, whether they were good or bad and try to learn from them. So, I don’t know if I necessarily break it up into first half of the year, second half of the year, more so than, ‘Hey, I’ve played this team before, I’ve had some success, I’ve had some struggles, what do I need to do to get myself better?’ That’s kind of the way I look at it.

On last week’s runblocking…

It was good last week. But, like I said, it’s a new opponent, a new challenge this week. We’ve got to go out there and prove it and prove it again. We’ve got to be able to block these guys up front, they’re a physical group. Chris (Ivory) is going to be a workhorse for us all year long, he’s going to get his touches. We just have to make sure that we’re being efficient, converting on third-down to stay on the field.

On his familiarity with the Colts and if he feels like he’s better prepared being on a new team…

I feel comfortable right now with who I’m playing with and who I’m throwing to, and the system I’m in and all that. I know their defense and kind of the things that they like to do just from the last few years and their personnel more than anything, but that’s kind of a wash because they know me and they’ve played against me. I’m sure they know all my strengths and weaknesses, so it’s always fun playing against them, though. It’s a fun atmosphere to go there and to have the loud fans and then when they get on offense for the place to just be silent. It’s a pretty cool atmosphere and Monday Night will just add to that.

Sep 13, 2015; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Indianapolis Colts inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman (50) tackles Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy (25) during the first half at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

On converting in the red zone…

We put a huge emphasis on that. Seven is obviously way better than three and can really turn a game around. That’s going to be a point of emphasis for us all year long. I think we have good red zone targets, I think we’ve got a few backs that can do some things and that makes it difficult for people to cover us. They’ve got to kind of pick their poison in the red zone and hopefully that success continues.

On if there is more pressure on the offense when going up against an offense that is strong…

I’m used to answering this question when I was in Buffalo with Tom Brady (in New England), it was kind of the same thing, “What do you think going into this game?” But, we’re not really going to change our mentality or who we are. We’re going to go out there and try to put our stamp or our identity on this game. I think you just put more of an emphasis on being as efficient as possible and you try and do that every game, but it’s going to matter that much more this week, just because of the opposing quarterback and all that stuff. We definitely have to be efficient and stay on the field.

On how he and Marshall got on the same page with back-shoulder throws so quickly…

Basically 99 percent on the receiver. He’s a big body (guy), he’s got a great football IQ and he’s able to move and adjust in a lot of different ways quickly. So, I would say that’s more a product of him and his talents than it is of me.

Next: Coffee with the New York Jets: Chris Ivory getting major praise

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