Interesting. I agree on one hand, but OTOH, I think I can understand why he went with the Lions. With the Jets, he'd be facing a lot of competition. Even though he could learn from Revis & Cro, he'd be sitting behind them for at least this season, and in Revis' case, until he retires. Then there's Milliner, Walls, Williams and McDougle. He'd have had a much easier time if he switched to FS, but he wants to play CB. It's uncertain whether the Jets envisioned him as a CB or FS, but they had strong interest in him. Meanwhile, the Lions have neither the caliber of starting CBs, much less the depth. He'd have a much easier time of becoming a starter there. He also has a college teammate on the Lions, Mohammed Seisay. The Lions' starting CBs are Darius Slay and Rashean Mathis. Even though he'd just have been on the PS, one thing the Jets' interest in Jean Baptiste might show is that they're not totally satisfied with their CB depth, or they might have envisioned switching him to FS. Baptiste has talent and if I remember correctly, great size (6'3", 216). I can see why Bowles and Mac would be interested in him from a physical standpoint. I think they want to emulate the Seahawks D backfield with bigger DBs. He was the Saints' 2nd round pick last year. For the Saints to have given up on him already, he must have worn out his welcome or just not have played very well at all or perhaps was having a hard time learning their system (not that bright). I haven't heard about any off field incidents, so barring any problems there or with the CS, his play must not have been very good. Keenan Lewis and Brandon Browner are the Saints' starting CBs. Revis and Cro they aren't. He was only with the Saints one year and only appeared in 4 games last year. I had forgotten that he has only been playing CB a short time (4 years), and that he used to play WR and dabbled with S some in college. It would have been fun to have seen what Bowles could have done with Baptiste Jean. Oh well. Thanks for posting the info.
Yes, he was outplaying Fitz in camp. You may be right. I agree that the Jets need to see what they have in Geno. Bowles just sounded pretty final that Fitz was the starter, and if the Jets are winning, often times HCs are very hesitant to make a change. I do think that if by the half way point of the season they're struggling and appear to be out of the playoff race, that Geno will get a shot. It will be interesting to see what Bowles does.
Here's the one absolute though...if/when Geno comes back and he begins to, again, clearly outplay Fitz in practice then Bowles has to start him. He can't sit the more "talented/ready" player because of a perceived injustice or Smith being a doofus. Each year is it's own entity and these guys MUST win each year. Bowles will be only given so many years to field a winning team and he certainly won't waste a year to, potentially, make the playoffs just because Smith isn't a "good leader" and got himself "knocked out" by a scrub player. Of THAT you can bank on. He will not sit Smith on "principal" if it's clear to he and the team Smith should be starting to give the team a better chance to win. That will always win out over blah blah blah...Fitz is doing JUST O.K. etc.... Mark it down...Fitzpatrick will have to be sitting on something like 10 TD passes to like 2/3 INT's and the Jets be 3 & 2 or BETTER for Geno NOT to get the nod at the BYE....or sooner...
In game team chemistry matters more than practice play. If the offense with Fitz is functioning well enough to win games and giving the defense a chance to rest and come out and play well, I can't see Geno's practice play, no matter how good, getting him in as a starter.
Well...that was my key...IF they are winning and Fitzpatrick is a key component as opposed to "in spite of."
You're probably right, but how many snaps will Geno get once the season starts and he's ready to fully practice again? Won't 90% of the snaps go to Fitz? If so, it will be hard for Geno to outplay Fitz in that few snaps.
You are probably right...again, it really goes back to Fitz's performance...unless he's blowing the doors off...Smith will get "looks" in practice.
Bowles has been quite specific, it's Fitz job until he loses it period...there is no longer a competition...camp is over.
I feel you "Don" but my point stands...Fitzpatrick has to be "killing" it...not just tossing .500 winning ball. Period. Bowles can't afford to toss the season at the 10 or 11 game mark just because...if we're turding around at 3-3 or 4-4...you start Smith. Period.
Nah, one of my favorite guys wore #84, Fred Baxter. However, what they could do is take it out drop it in a vat of Oxyclean and Lysol to get the "suck" Hill contaminated it with washed out.
You need to consider that Fitz was not healthy during OTA's and most of camp. Comparing their play early on isn't a great gauge. Bowles even said Fitz improved greatly the last few weeks. It all depends on how Fitz plays out of the gate. If he stumbles geNO takes over, if he manages the games well and doesn't turn over the ball they'll keep him going as the starter
Thank you, Bowles even said he was nicked up and that is why they brought in the two QBs.... If the OL holds up Fitz will be fine and geno we be on the bench where he belongs.
I don't know about that..over two years Smith is .375 and there would be no rational to replace a .500 hitter with one that has a track record of .375..he would face a lot of tough questions if he wasn't better.
4-4 after 8 is about where I expect us to be based on the schedule. If we are 4-4 at 8, I could see us at 9-7 or even better by season's end. No way is 4-4 reason to take Fitz out imo.
bowles will make the call based on individual play not record. This team could very easily be 4-4 in spite of the qb. if fitz is playing like the qb the bills thought they were paying big money to he will stick. If he's the one that bounced from the bills to the titans to the texans to land here we will se what geno has after the bye. Regardless of record
I'm not so sure about that. Even if Fitz's play is unsteady and he's turning the ball over some, if the offense is clicking in spite of his TOs, the RBs are producing chunks of yardage, and Fitz hits enough passes in the clutch for the team to win, and if the team is 5-3 or better, I'd be surprised to see Bowles make a change. That would especially be true if the team was 6-2 or 7-1. While the Jets need to find out what they have in Geno, if they are winning, have a good chance to go to the playoffs, and could possibly be risking that by making the switch at QB, Bowles may be reluctant to make a change.
to further your point, it is illogical to think that inserting Geno will mean reducing turnovers... unless Fitz arm goes totally shot, he stays in.
