If we get slaughtered it will be because the defense sucks, you know the one we spent 150M on this past off season and not because of Fitz.
This entire post is spot on, how anybody can overlook the game changing mistakes Smith continued to make boggles the mind. Smith has more arm talent for sure. But arm talent and potential don't make a good or even serviceable QB (Smith is neither). The mistakes that Smith continued to make week in and week out were HIS MISTAKES. Not on the recievers, not on the line; on Geno. That's what the QB position is, it's the ultimate accountability position in all of sports. I would also emplore the pro Geno crowd to truly ask themselves if his teammates respect or follow him? Watch his pressers VS Fitz pressers. It's obvious that the team sees Fitz as a leader of men and a communicator. Something Geno doesn't bring to the table. I'm over Geno Smith
I don't understand the militant anti-Geno people. I think any sane Jets fan (oxymoron?) would realize he's a young quarterback who's been largely bad, but also has been surrounded by a bad supporting cast. Fitzpatrick is poor, even with a great supporting cast. A known lousy quantity. Geno at the very least has the physical tools to give the offense an added dimension that's impossible to have with Fitzpatrick. That bomb to Brandon Marshall was I think the only deep ball he connected on all year, and it was still underthrown. Am I particularly a fan of Geno? No. But do I think he could lead a better, more dangerous offense? Probably. It ain't saying much.
Exactly! Here are the two biggest things Fitz has going for him in this QB debate: 1) The D is VASTLY improved, to the point where it is going to take an elite QB to beat it. Rewind the last two seasons, particularly last season when the secondary was in utter shambles. We weren't forcing turnovers and any decent QB was going to light up our secondary. No matter what you thought about Geno, he did not have the luxury of the D forcing the opposing QB into 19-45 days, or multiple fumbles, or multiple INTs. The D wasn't doing those things. Fitzpatrick being the starter this season has ZERO to do with the improved D. Rather, it was the offseason acquisitions that have been massive. Just look at the starting secondary this season! Fitz is getting the credit for our GM revamping the D, and that's not fair. 2) The Jets have, for the first time in ages, a legit top 10 WR in the league with top 10 WR physical attributes. Marshall is a monster, the type of player that will make ANY QB better. Geno has never played with him. Much of Fitz's big plays have gone to him. These aren't brilliant throws, these are "Eli to Plax" back in the day throws, just put it in the great WR's area code and you have yourself a nice QB day. You put Fitz with the WRs Geno played with his rookie year, and we are talking about Fitz having been benched already. You even give Fitz the WRs Geno had last year (where Decker was in and out), and you are going to see him perform much worse than he has. I suspect that Geno could play well with Marshall and Decker starting at WR, and with this D backing him up. I suspect most QBs could. The difference is talent. With Geno, there are just more possibilities because he has franchise QB talent. Fitzpatrick does not even really have NFL caliber talent, even for a backup. He gets by with his smarts and hard work, but you can't do worse from a physical perspective. Opposing Ds know that too.
Another good post. Most seem to be on the same page...to varying degrees. I feel Smith gives us the better chance......ideally. IF he really doent gas, or cant grasp the offense.........then bets are off. I dont know where the kid's mind is at. But Obviously, its Fitz performance that is driving this thread, not hate towards him and not just a blind love for geno.
It doesn't always take a bad defensive performance to get killed. A couple turnovers in minus territory will do you in. Keeps the defense on the field way too long and gives the other team short fields.
It's no surprise to many that we can win with Fitzy playing mediocre to average. The contention is that Geno has historically shown that he is incapable of rising to those heady heights unless its against teams that are pure trash or what are effictivley pre-season games in December. We could ofc use the bye week to bring Geno in and see if he makes the leap but if he plays in the same vein as before then we're down to 3-2 before a visit to Foxboro which in all probability means we've pissed away our good start to end up back at .500 and having to go into a suddenly relevant Oakland to snap our losing streak.
No ones here to excuse Geno of some of his costly mistakes in the past as a young player....it's just about projecting forward and seeing if Geno was able to improve on the mental side of things.....it's not a crazy stretch to think that he would look OK in this situation and in this offense...I mean he looked pretty good late last season with Harvin and Decker so who really knows how much he's improved..... And the main point is that it's not a set in stone decision Fitz OR Geno...If someone isn't performing it's not the worst thing in the world to see what the other guy can bring We're also comparing a 24 year old 3rd year player vs a journeyman who's seen it all Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Nonsense, the supporting cast is exactly the same with the addition of Marshall and he had two full years to prove he was competent and he failed miserably. If you don't like Fitz fine then put Petty in because Geno's time has come and gone.
It's been a rough stretch the past 4 years. We are 3-1 and people are likely to attribute that to the QB position more than anywhere else, when that isn't reality. This roster was massively upgraded in the offseason, and we played an easy first 4 games. Fitzpatrick isn't "leading" us to wins, or acting as the driving force. He's along for the ride but at the most high profile position. People also think "if we are 3-1, it ain't broke so no reason to tinker." But what if our first 4 games was the schedule of our last 4 games? We would be 1-3 right now (or worse), and everyone would want Fitz benched anyway. The problem is people are analyzing the wrong things, rather than just looking at Fitz as a player and his performance overall. As a player he is a backup, and was brought in here for that. Any "magic" from week 1 is long gone now as his flaws that have existed his whole career have become very evident. Basically, he didn't suddenly improve. He's the same guy. Which means the same reasons for not naming him the starter when we traded for him, and not clamoring for him to play before Geno got punched; well those same reasons still exist. Nothing Fitz has done the first 4 games should change any of that thinking. But it has for so many fans....
How can you talk about Geno Smiths performance "historically"? The kid played 2 years!! Lol. And has never had a receiver close to brandon marshall. Now if were talking "historically" bad qbs, fitzpatrick......... But we shall see. Just hold your breath......every pass.
Like the Geno supporters are not using this to back their agenda. You don't have to use his name to read between the lines. If Geno was starting and we were 3-1 I would be thrilled. Why can't the Geno supporters do the same with Fitz? Some times I think you have to hate the Jets and love losing to become a Jet fan. Why not wait until we stinking up the joint?
You are severely underestimating how good and important Brandon Marshall is, as if he's a marginal starter. He is a game-changing, huge-bodied playmaker whose presence alone opens up Eric Decker and the entire offense. To deny that is to put your head in the sand. I think Geno would absolutely have this team at least 3-1. And once again, I'm not in the "Geno Fan" group. Fitz just sucks and hasn't been exposed yet.
I was about to say the same thing. To downplay Marshall is utter lunacy, he is a phenomenal player. Can you point to any Jet WR in franchise history that was clearly better? I have been a fan since 1986 and I would argue that he is better than anyone we have ever had. This guy is a legitimate monster and top 10 (if not 5) NFL WR when healthy. He can take a moribund offense and make it competent, just by his presence alone.
Exactly. It wont kill anyone, fitzpatrick included, to SEE what were dealing with. Thats fitzpatrick's strenght. Hes mature. Decker had close to a thousand yards in 15 games last year..with a nagging injury.btw I just SUSPECT that geno CAN thrive in this environment. But we'll see. 3-1 Enjoy the week off.
If you call wanting to see the Jets offense(possibly) at its best then I guess that's my agenda Fitz is the safe option. Safe is nice but it doesn't win you a Super Bowl. Is Geno a better option? No idea that's all on if he's improved but many Jet fans are eager to find out. We all want the same thing in the end...some people can't stand Geno, some people see potential there Not a bad thing to have this argument just be happy we're looking really good otherwise Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Very nice to see the sensibility today. Some excellent points all around. Like i said, Fitzpatrick is fueling this thread. It has nothing to do with being a "geno supporter" or "geno apologist"or a " geno nuthugger" lol And no agenda other than a SB. We see a glaring weekness on an otherwise ferocious team and we are wondering if the more talented young starter, who was injured and is now healthy, can be an upgrade to the deficient journeyman backup. Its very simple actually....when seen objectively.
I agree. Ftr I can sort of understand this business about seeing what you've got and all that. Only problem is after having seen Smith the last two years it's not a logical position to think it LIKELY that Smith will show any progress if given the chance. Comparisons of rosters for Smith v. Fitzpatrick are in any event overrated (i'll get back to that one), but those asserting that Smith had no receivers to throw to ignore that his play was lousy because of his own unforced mistakes. Holding the ball too long was a big one. Fitzpatrick does not do that. The uninformed and casual viewer thinks qb pressures, hits and sacks are all on the OL. Smith Fans quite simply do not understand the game very well. The roster argument is way overstated to begin with. Compared to last year the Jets have a new LG and Marshall. But Marshall is not a complete upgrade, as in his ill advised lateral and his own admission he gives up on blocks sometimes. Imo he had a ball go through his hands yesterday. An interception against the Eagles was also on him. Meanwhile and elsewhere both Ivory and Decker missed the Philly game, and the Jets had to play the whole game with a jag like Davis as TE. Don't get me wrong I am all for the the Marshall addition. But it's not a much different look through the whole roster on O. Carpenter has played well, but imo most of what looks like improved OL play is because the Qb is not holding the ball too long and is keeping the pass rush honest.
