New York Jets: Is Geno Smith an Upgrade at QB
By Nick Ziegler
Retired linebacker Bart Scott hasn’t held anything back when it comes to the situation of the quarterback position for the New York Jets.
After recently signing Muhammad Wilkerson to a five-year contract extension, everyone wants to know whether or not the New York Jets will be signing Ryan Fitzpatrick. Last season, Fitzpatrick played very well for the Jets, as he helped lead them to a 10-6 season, but they did fall short of making the playoffs.
Related Story: What are 7 position battles to watch for in camp?
Fitzpatrick was brought in to be the backup to Geno Smith last season, but a jaw surgery for Smith resulted in Fitzpatrick getting the job. With a talented duo at wide receiver, Fitzpatrick was able to have success right away and never looked back.
Bart Scott has been very outspoken about the Jets’ quarterback situation, and in a recent interview with NJ.com, he cleared some things up.
“I’m sure they would want to reward him for what he was able to do,” Scott told Darryl Slater of NJ Advance Media, regarding Fitzpatrick. “But at the end of the day, we would be having a different conversation if they would’ve made it to the playoffs. I didn’t say he doesn’t have much left. What I’m saying is, Geno went 8-8 [in 2013] with Clyde Gates and some other receivers that we didn’t know of.”
Scott brings up the point that many others have made. When Smith was the starting quarterback for the Jets in 2013 and 2014, he didn’t have much to work with weapon-wise. Last season, the Jet addressed that by adding Brandon Marshall to play opposite of Eric Decker, and it worked out very well for Fitzpatrick.
"“Geno brings something to the table because he can throw the long ball, so it makes defenses have to step back and play more honestly, defend the entire field, because he can throw the 70-yard bomb on a rope. Fitz has to step into that. He can throw the same route, but he has to let it go earlier, which doesn’t allow the big receivers or the speed of [Eric] Decker to separate. So he has to throw it up, and they have to go get it. That’s just what it is, man. I wasn’t trying to cause any controversy, but I just understand the business side of it, from both sides, because I’ve been in that same situation.”"
Even though Fitzpatrick set the single-season record for passing touchdowns, there were a lot of passes that could have been intercepted last season. Fitzpatrick did get a bit lucky at times, as he showed that he has a gunslinger mentality without necessarily the arm to back it up. Nobody has ever doubted Smith’s physical tools, and a year of sitting on the bench might have been really beneficial toward his development.
Next: Who are the 5 best quarterbacks in franchise history?
The signing of Wilkerson has made it easier for the Jets to sign Fitzpatrick, but their best chance to win in 2016 might actually be with a more mature Smith under center.