What a difference two weeks makes. Two weeks ago, Ryan Fitzpatrick had his best game as a Jet. Fast forward to this appropriately cloudy Monday, and Fitz has thrown 9 picks in two embarrassing Jets losses.
Last week, I wrote about how the Jets should stick it out with Fitzpatrick, even after his dreadful 6 interception performance against Kansas City. I thought that shaking things up this early in the season would have been disastrous for a team that had playoff hopes coming into the season.
Now though, it may be time for the Jets to look ahead. Yes, the season isn't necessarily over if your record is 1-3. In fact, the 2001 Patriots started their season at 1-3 and ended up being Super Bowl champions. However, this Jets team isn't that 2001 team, and Ryan Fitzpatrick isn't Tom Brady. So therefore, although it may look foolish if they end up making a run at the playoffs, I'm gonna consider this season awash.
Keeping that in mind, Todd Bowles should look to the future, past Fitzpatrick's $8 million contract for the year. Bowles should start either Geno Smith or Bryce Petty against the Steelers in Week 5.
I know a lot of Jets fans have reservations about going back to Geno. After all, he hasn't started a game since 2014, and when he did play he didn't impress all that much. A lot of fans will be clamoring to see young Bryce Petty get his shine. After serving as a backup his rookie year, many people feel that Petty would be the better option over Geno if one had to take over the starting job.
Yet even though Petty might be the future, I believe the Jets should go back to Geno. People forget that he might have had the starting job locked up last year if it wasn't for IK Enemkpali's right hand. They also foget that he set two Jets rookie records, one for most passing yards and one for highest completion percentage. If Fitzpatrick, a journeyman quarterback, could flourish as well as he did last year, who knows what Geno could have done? Maybe last year could've been Geno's graduation from being average to being a good starter. He never got his deserved second chance last year.
Furthermore, Geno didn't have the luxury of throwing to both Decker and Marshall like Fitz did last year. When Geno came into the league in 2013, his best receiver has a washed-up Santonio Holmes. Now, with Enunwa's emergence as a legitimate third passing option, along with Forte's balanced approached at running back, Geno may have the requisite offensive pieces he needs to prosper in the league.
And who knows, maybe Geno can be the difference maker and propel the Jets to the playoffs. As I said, history shows that a 1-3 start to a season isn't necessarily a death sentence. Instead of plugging in Petty to play a tough road game at Pittsburgh, the Jets can turn to Geno, who already has two years of NFL experience as a starting QB.
What's for certain is that Ryan Fitzpatrick has shown how limited of a quarterback he is. He isn't a gunslinger, and when his favorite targets aren't there, he suffers. Fitz's 10 interceptions so far leads the league, and there isn't much more hope for him as the Week 5 showdown looms. Therefore, it's time to think about the future of the season and the franchise. It's time to give Geno another shot at being the Jets' quarterback.
