Once again for the New York Jets, their quarterback situation has a huge question mark on it as they prepare for the upcoming regular season. Is it time to be concerned?
At this point in time, the New York Jets don’t have any new agreement with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick for him to return in 2016. There is a major stalemate between both sides involving money and well, with training camp on the horizon, it’s looking more and more likely Fitzpatrick isn’t coming back.
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That leaves the Jets with just three quarterbacks to work with for the upcoming regular season, two of which have never started an NFL game and one with a past everyone would like to forget. The quarterback situation can be a bit concerning as it’s a whole different ballgame when comparing training camp to the speed and aggression of the regular season.
Both quarterbacks in Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty are nowhere near ready to start with the Jets as they simply aren’t there yet. Petty is at best a backup but even then, there is no guarantee he can run the Jets’ offense effectively if his number is called upon at any point in 2016.
That now leaves quarterback Geno Smith as the only hope for salvation to get the job done. On one side of the coin, if he ends up starting he would be surrounded by the best talent and coaching staff he’s ever had in his young career. On the other side of the coin however, he’s been known throughout his tenure with the Jets as a turnover machine that makes dumb mistakes on the gridiron.
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The Jets are a team built to win now and even if Fitzpatrick doesn’t return, there is plenty of optimism in the air that he can deliver similar or even exceed expectations this time around.
Hope is one thing as reality is another, all that matters is that the Jets put Smith in a position to thrive and by the looks of it, he will.
They did it last year with Fitzpatrick and he delivered one of the greatest seasons ever in franchise history under center.
Smith is younger, faster and has a much stronger arm. If he can be consistent in executing what he needs to do, the Jets will pick up exactly where they left off from. It’s hard to forget the past but remember, not many expected Fitzpatrick to do what he did last season and he landed in the record books of the Jets.
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Overall, while the Jets’ quarterback situation can come off as concerning, all will be fine from the most important position of the team. Give Smith a clean slate and let his confidence once again return, like it did last summer before his injury, to lead this team to the NFL Playoffs in 2016. He has the talent, system and support around him, now it’s time to finally deliver.