OC Chan Gailey.. re our 4 QB's ~ ~ ~

[kelly]

— For all his flaws, Rex Ryan has always been pretty good at coaching the defensive side of the ball. 

OK. That's an understatement. Ryan is undeniably one of the best defensive minds in the NFL today. He has made a name for himself ruining offensive game plans each Sunday. Again, Ryan's not perfect, but the Bills' head coach knows how to drive quarterbacks crazy. 

The Jets' Ryan Fitzpatrick is no exception. Heck, it's a bit surprising Ryan hasn't had him committed yet.

"I just think he's a smart coach," Fitzpatrick said Tuesday. "He does a good job."

During their overlapping 12 years together in the NFL, Fitzpatrick and Ryan have matched up 11 times. Rarely has No. 14 come out on the winning end of things.In those games, Fitzpatrick has a 2-8 record (we didn't count a third game because Fitzpatrick threw only eight passes), a completion percentage of 47 and has thrown 16 touchdowns to 12 interceptions. His average game? 13 of 28 for 165 yards with 1.45 touchdowns and one pick. 

"Rex's defenses over the years, the thing about them is they're so multiple," Fitzpatrick said Tuesday. "It's changed a little bit. It's gotten a little bit different based on personnel. When he's here versus when he's there, and year to year, you see differences too." If the Jets hope to make the playoffs this season, Fitzpatrick is going to need to figure out a way to have success against Ryan. The Jets lost their season opener to the Bengals. If they fall again Thursday night in Buffalo, their record will be 0-2. 

Since the NFL's changed to this present playoff format, just 12 percent of the teams that have started the season with two straight losses made the playoffs that same year. Since 2007, just seven percent have made it.If that's not enough, the Jets' next four games are against the Chiefs, Seahawks, Steelers and Cardinals— all four teams not only made the postseason last year, but advanced to the second round.If the Jets don't take care of business against the Bills, well, things don't exactly get easier. An 0-2 start could quickly turn to 0-3, 0-4, 0-5 or 0-6. 

"There (is a) sense of urgency," Bowles said earlier this week. "We don't want to go 0-2."

*

Here is a look at Ryan Fitzpatrick's stat line in each of his games against Ryan: 

2008 
LOSS: Ravens 34, Bengals 3 
Fitzpatrick: 12/31, 124 yards

2009 
WIN: Bills 16, Jets 13 
Fitzpatrick: 10/25, 116 yards, TD, INT

LOSS: Jets 19, Bills 13
Fitzpatrick: 9/23, 98 yards, INT

2010
LOSS: Jets 38, Bills 14
Fitzpatrick: 12/27, 128 yards, 2 TD

2011
LOSS: Jets 27, Bills 11
Fitzpatrick: 15.31, 191 yards, TD, 2 INT

LOSS: Jets 28, Bills 24
Fitzpatrick: 26/39, 264 yards, 3 TD

2012
LOSS: Jets 48, Bills 28
Fitzpatrick: 18/32, 195 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT

WIN: Bills 28, Jets 9
Fitzpatrick: 12/26, 225 yards, TD

2013: 
WIN: Titans 38, Jets 13
Fitzpatrick: 3/8, 108 yards, TD

2015: 
LOSS: Bills 22, Jets 17
Fitzpatrick: 15/34, 193 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT

LOSS: Bills 22, Jets 17 
Fitzpatrick: 16/37, 181 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT

Connor Hughes may be reached at chughes@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connor_J_Hughes. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.

>       http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/09/jets_ryan_fitzpatrick_historically_bad_vs_rex_ryan.html#incart_river_index

[kelly]

1:28 AM ET

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New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick turned the clock back to 2015, and not the 2015 version that was off target in the season-finale loss to the Buffalo Bills that cost the Jets a playoff spot.This was the great Fitzpatrick that the Jets saw in his first 15 games. In some ways, he was even better on Thursday night.

He totaled 374 passing yards in 37-31 victory at Buffalo, the third most against a Rex Ryan-coached team (Tom Brady had 466 in 2015, and Drew Brees had 382 in 2013). In two games against the Bills last season, Fitzpatrick had 374 passing yards combined.

A high accuracy rate

Fitzpatrick was 21-of-27 for 364 yards and a touchdown while targeting his wide receivers on Thursday (his most passing yards to wide receivers in any game of his career) and 14-of-15 for 317 yards on throws from 10 to 30 yards. Last season against Ryan’s Bills, Fitzpatrick completed 9 of 29 passes and had five interceptions on such throws.

Eric Decker had 126 yards receiving and Brandon Marshall had 101 yards. It was the second time that both have topped 100 yards since joining the Jets last season.Decker has a receiving touchdown in six straight games, tied for the second-longest streak in Jets history (Santana Moss had seven straight in 2003).

Elias Sports Bureau research shows that this was the fourth time in team history the Jets had two 100-yard receivers and a 100-yard rusher (Matt Forteran for 100 yards on 30 carries against the Bills) in the same game, and the first time since 2013 (Stephen Hill and Santonio Holmes receiving, Bilal Powellrushing).

Setting the tone

Though the Jets’ first drive netted only three points, it set a tone for how the game would go. Fitzpatrick completed a pair of third-down passes to get first downs and scrambled for another on third down.

Though Fitzpatrick is not fleet of foot, a key part of his game last season was to scramble and make big plays in important spots.On Thursday, he went 7-of-9 on third down, converting six through the air. The Jets converted 8 of 13 third downs for the game. They were 4-of-12 against theCincinnati Bengals in Week 1.

>       http://www.espn.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/124041/how-the-jets-won-ryan-fitzpatrick-was-a-pinpoint-passer

[kelly]

RYAN FITZPATRICK STOOD OUT IN WEEK 2

The Jets QB only threw one TD, but he peppered the Bills in all parts of the field, including 10 completions that traveled at least 15 yards in the air. Only two QBs had a higher QBR in Week 2. Week 2's best, worst QBs

 

> http://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets

 

 

•  
•  
•  

[kelly]

A look at what's happening around the New York Jets :

~ ~  7. Putting on the Fitz : One last note on Fitzpatrick's huge game against the Bills: His completion percentage to wide receivers (77.8) was the best by a Jets quarterback in the last 10 seasons (minimum: 25 attempts), according to ESPN Stats & Information. It topped Brett Favre's 76.0 mark in Week 3 of the 2008 season.

rest of above article : 

>      http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/63216/jets-welcome-matt-forte-with-heavy-workload-too-heavy-for-own-good

[kelly]

-- Ryan Fitzpatrick has an interesting set of games from over the years when the veteran quarterback played against the Kansas City Chiefs. Fitzpatrick has started against the Chiefs with three teams and will make it four with the New York Jets on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.

“Any time I see Kansas City on the schedule, especially when it’s an away game, you start to think about the experience of playing in Arrowhead and how difficult it is to come in and play with the noise and how great those fans are," Fitzpatrick said.

“I just know it’s always tough playing against the Chiefs because of their defense and especially in Arrowhead."But Fitzpatrick had one of the best games of his 13-year NFL career against the Chiefs at Arrowhead. In 2011, Fitzpatrick and the Buffalo Bills opened the season in Kansas City. Fitzpatrick threw four touchdown passes in Buffalo’s 41-7 victory.Fitzpatrick and the Bills also won in 2009 at Arrowhead, though against a dreadful Chiefs team. He’s 2-1 against the Chiefs in Kansas City and 4-2 overall.

His two best games against the Chiefs have come with Chan Gailey coaching his offense. Gailey coached the Bills in that 2011 game and again the next season, when Fitzpatrick threw a couple of touchdown passes in a 35-17 Buffalo victory.

Gailey is now the Jets’ offensive coordinator.

Fitzpatrick this season might have the best supporting cast he's ever had. The Jets are tied for sixth in the NFL in scoring and he’s the 11th-rated passer. He threw for 374 yards in last Thursday's victory over the Bills.“The biggest thing with us is that it’s an experienced group," Fitzpatrick said. “We’ve got talent but we’ve got guys that are on the same page and understand what we’re trying to accomplish on every play. To me that’s the biggest difference this year from any other years that I’ve played."

Fitzpatrick’s most vivid memory against the Chiefs actually happened during the preseason in 2005, his rookie season. He threw a couple of touchdown passes, including the game-winner late in the fourth quarter, to help the St. Louis Rams beat the Chiefs.“I was walking out after the game," he said. “I was thinking I’d played well enough to make the team and somebody yelled at me, ‘Hey that’s players only, you’re walking through the wrong exit. Players only!’

“My mom turned around at that point and said back, ‘He’s Ryan Fitzpatrick. He just won the game for the St. Louis Rams.’ That’s the only reason I remember one of those games. What a humbling experience, being an NFL quarterback."

>       http://www.espn.com/blog/kansas-city-chiefs/post/_/id/18470/jets-qb-ryan-fitzpatrick-has-an-interesting-history-against-the-chiefs

[kelly]

The Jets Three Coordinators Addressed the Media Thursday

Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey appeared at the podium first, immediately addressing the media about his unit’s explosion in Buffalo. Gailey said he expects a high production level on a weekly basis because of the amount of talent on his side of the ball. With WRs Brandon Marshall (knee/foot) and Eric Decker(shoulder) banged-up going into Kansas City, the preparation has changed on the practice field. Marshall has yet to practice this week and Decker was listed as limited Thursday.

“Any time you’re not sure about exactly the way it’s going to fall on any given week, it makes it tougher,” Gailey said referring to his game planning strategy. “But at the same time, you have to be flexible enough to be able to adjust. If they were both perfectly healthy, but got hurt on the first play, you have to adjust. We try to make sure we have enough things in place where we can adjust no matter what.”

On the defensive side of the ball, ILB  Erin Henderson  has a foot injury and has yet to practice this week. Rookie  Darron Lee  would be the next man up and defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers expressed his confidence today in the Ohio State product, who is tied for the team lead in Tackles.“Like a typical, young player coming into the league, he’s still learning,” he said. “But a couple of times he’s made some plays that have really stood out. We just watched a couple plays here in practice where he’s really coming on with it. We’re very pleased.”

This weekend, the Jets face their toughest special teams challenge to date. Special teams coordinator Brant Boyer compared Chiefs rookie return specialist Tyreek Hill to Percy Harvin. Boyer has confidence in his scheme, but he said P  Lachlan Edwards  will be key in limiting Hill’s explosiveness, who is averaging 14 yards per return. 

“He’s done a nice job,” Boyer said of Edwards. “He’s improving, but he has a way to go. Just like any rookie, you don’t know until you see him in a game when the real bullets are flying. He’s got two games under his belt where he’s a done a nice job and he keeps competing. He’s going to do nothing but get better.”

>       http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-7/Coordinators-Corner-Gailey-Ready-to-Adjust-/742ae0dc-62cd-43d5-bf4f-90706b3f627b

[Beerfish]

The fact that I am this excited about a rookie punter really shows how bloody awful that position has been for the jets for year.

[kelly]

Chan Gailey's 5 biggest takeaways about Jets' offense through 2 games..

 

> http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/09/chan_gaileys_5_biggest_takeaways_about_jets_offens.html#0

[kelly]

Kevin Seifert NFL Nation 

Congratulations, Ryan Fitzpatrick. You've now produced one of the 40 games in NFL history to feature at least six interceptions by one quarterback in one game, according to Pro Football Reference. The record is seven, held by six players.

 

>   http://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets

[kelly]

 -- This might be painful, but let's take a look back at the positives and negatives from the New York Jets' 24-3 loss to theKansas City Chiefs (without the benefit of film review) :

~ ~     DOWN

Ryan Fitzpatrick, quarterback -- I compared him to Joe Namath in Week 2 because of his downfield success against the Buffalo Bills. You could make another Namath comparison this week, except it wouldn't be flattering. Fitzpatrick tied Namath's franchise record for most interceptions in a game -- six. He became the fourth quarterback in the past 35 seasons to throw no touchdown passes and at least six interceptions, the first since Tom Tupa (Cardinals) in 1989. This week, his downfield accuracy was poor, as he completed only 3-for-17 (three interceptions) on passes more than 10 yards in the air. He was 14-for-18 last week in that category. Football is hard to explain sometimes. Fitzpatrick has thrown end-zone interceptions in three of his past four games after not throwing any in the previous 37. In the end, the offense committed seven turnovers in 66 plays. Yikes.

rest of above article :

>  http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/63410/jets-offense-one-turnover-every-nine-plays-not-good

[kelly]

ESPN Stats and Information 

Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is the 4th quarterback in the last 35 seasons to throw no touchdown passes and at least 6 interceptions in an NFL game. The other 3 are Brian Sipe (1983 Browns), Todd Blackledge (1985 Chiefs) and Tom Tupa (1989 Cardinals).

 

> http://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets

[kelly]

— Sunday's terrible 24-3 loss at the Chiefs dropped the Jets to 1-2, with the Seahawks coming to MetLife Stadium next week. 

Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, in that game, will try to rebound from Sunday's six-interception fiasco. And Jets coach Todd Bowles thinks Fitzpatrick is plenty capable of doing it.

After Sunday's game, Bowles said he hasn't lost any trust in Fitzpatrick as his starting quarterback. "The trust is the same," Bowles said. "He had a bad day at the office. Last week, he had a great day at the office. Got to regroup." 

Last week, of course, Fitzpatrick excelled in a win at Buffalo. 

Bowles said he never considered pulling Fitzpatrick from Sunday's game, and that there's "no question" Fitzpatrick remains the team's starter. Fitzpatrick on Sunday played a big role in the Jets having eight turnovers — tied for the second-most in team history. The Jets hadn't had that many turnovers in a game since they had 10 (their record) in 1976 against the Patriots.

All 24 of the points the Chiefs scored Sunday came off turnovers, including a Fitzpatrick pick returned for a touchdown and a Jalin Marshall fumbled kickoff that was run back for a touchdown. 

> http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/09/jets_todd_bowles_says_he_hasnt_lost_any_trust_in_r.html#incart_river_index

 

[kelly]

There was no hesitation in Todd Bowles' voice. It was almost as if he prepared for the question, and the answer was waiting on the tip of his tongue. 

After Ryan Fitzpatrick tossed six interceptions in the Jets' 24-3 loss to the Chiefs, dropping the team's record to 1-2, was the head coach beginning to have concerns, questions about who his starting quarterback is ?

"No questions," Bowles chirped with a bit of attitude. And that's the right call. Fitzpatrick could have thrown 12 interceptions against the Chiefs and the job should still be his heading into next Sunday's game versus the Seahawks. 

But there is a follow-up question:

When should the Jets consider making a change at quarterback ?

As is well known by now, Fitzpatrick captivated the Jets' fan base with FitzMagic in 2015. After taking over for Geno Smith in the summer when the then-starter fractured his jaw, Fitzpatrick led the Jets to a 10-6 record and broke the team's single-season mark for passing touchdowns.

Was he flawed ? Sure.

But he gave the Jets their most consistent quarterback play in years, rallied the team together, and provided stability when the season seemed headed for disaster. He deserved to be the unquestioned starter heading into Year 2, and was announced as such before he had even re-signed.But three games into 2016, Fitzpatrick has been more tragic than magic. He has a 55.8 completion percentage and quarterback rating of 59.3. He has thrown three touchdowns and seven interceptions. The Jets' offense, which was arguably the best in franchise history last season, has been borderline anemic in two of their first three games.

Just how many more interceptions, losses, bad plays before the clock strikes midnight in Fitzpatrick's Cinderella story in New York?Odds are? Quite a few. It would take a near monumental collapse for Bowles to make a switch. As long as the Jets are relevant, Fitzpatrick will be under center. Maybe if come Week 7 the Jets are 1-6, or 2-7 in Week 9, Bowles could hand the reins to Smith again.But outside of that? It's going to take more than one game to get Fitzpatrick out of the lineup. As bad as he has looked at times — don't forget he was pretty flawless two weeks ago against Buffalo — he's still the Jets' best option at quarterback. 

See, the team knows what they have in Geno— more so than any reporter, fan or armchair quarterback . They've watched him every day in practice, the film room and meetings for the last 16 months. And in these last 16 months years, there were ample opportunities to give him a shot with the starters. 

Week 8 last year after Fitzpatrick tore ligaments in his thumb against the Raiders. Week 11 with the Jets having lost four of their last five games. This offseason with Fitzpatrick unsigned and locked in an ugly contract dispute.Each time, the Jets elected to turn back to Fitzpatrick without even the slightest form of hesitation. Read between the lines on that one.The fact is, Fitzpatrick is the Jets' quarterback. In all likelihood, he'll be the quarterback throughout the entirety of this season. 

It's going to take a bit more than a bad game less than a month into the season to change that. 

>         http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/09/when_would_jets_consider_going_back_to_geno_smith.html#incart_river_index  

[kelly]

-- One day after tying a franchise record with six interceptions, New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick admitted it was tough to face his teammates. But he said he's hoping his leadership, and that of coach Todd Bowles, can rally the team from a deflating 24-3 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

In Monday's team meeting, Bowles delivered a speech that was "potentially a turning point in the season," Fitzpatrick said.

Bowles, not known as a fiery speaker, chuckled when asked about his speech.

"Anytime you lose like that, you have to have a come-to-Jesus meeting," he said.

The Jets (1-2) suffered one of the sloppiest losses in their history Sunday, committing eight turnovers, their most since 1976. It ended with Fitzpatrick throwing interceptions on five straight possessions, including three in the red zone."It's a hard day for me to come in today," Fitzpatrick said. "We lost that game because of my performance. We don't need to pin it on anything else. That was pretty evident. To walk in today and face the guys, it's not an easy thing to do."But at the same time, I've got to be the same guy every day as a leader, as a player."

Bowles has tried to spread the blame around, but he obviously couldn't make an alibi for a quarterback with six interceptions. He insisted his confidence in Fitzpatrick hasn't wavered, but he added, "I saw what I saw. It wasn't good."Fitzpatrick signed a one-year, $12 million contract on the eve of training camp, saying he turned down a multiyear offer because he was willing to bet on himself.In Week 2, he played one of the best games of his career (374 yards in a win). On Sunday, he played one of the worst, setting a career high for interceptions. "It was so bad, and there were so many poor things on my part that happened in the game that you want to put it behind you as fast as you can," Fitzpatrick said, joking how the Jets were hailed as the "Greatest Show on Turf" after a 37-31 win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 2.

Bowles, so angry after Sunday's game that he dropped several expletives in his news conference, took a calm yet firm approach Monday. His message to the team: Don't let one bad game ruin the season."We talked about accountability and just understanding where we are in the season, who we are and what we need to be," Bowles said, adding that he's confident the team "got the message."Bowles gave a memorable speech last season the day after an ugly loss to theHouston Texans, and the team proceeded to go on a five-game winning streak."I think the way he delivered the message today was great," Fitzpatrick said.

Tackle Ryan Clady added, "I wouldn't call it fiery. It was very direct. He's not a yeller type of coach. It was a good message, though."

>          http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/17646580/ryan-fitzpatrick-new-york-jets-takes-responsibility-6-interceptions-loss-kansas-city-chiefs

[kelly]

To Ryan Fitzpatrick's credit, the quarterback hasn't tried to hide from his brutal, awful, unwatchable, six-interception outing this past Sunday in the Jets' 24-3 loss to the Chiefs. 

He talked about it after the game. He stood and faced the critics the next day. And now, he has "flushed" it from memory. 

But before we here at NJ Advance Media turn our complete attention to the Seahawks, we thought Fitzpatrick's performance deserved one final look. So in this week's film review, we're breaking down each of Fitzpatrick's six interceptions. 

Interception No. 1: 
Score: Jets 0, Chiefs 0
Down and Distance: 3rd-and-9
Formation: Shotgun. Three receivers to the right, one to the left. Matt Forte in backfield 
Time Left: 2:30 in the first quarter

What went wrong? A lot of credit needs to go to the Chiefs' Marcus Peters on this play. With the Jets facing a third down, the second-year cornerback sat at the sticks anticipating a throw near the marker. 

 

Jets' receiver Jalin Marshall was running a pretty typical route for this situation— a 10-yard in. Just as Marshall broke, Peters broke. As you can see in the picture below, Peters anticipated the route perfectly and had a better cut in than Marshall did. 

Fitzpatrick, feeling the pressure, threw the ball without seeing Peters break. Peters came away with the pick. 

Connor Hughes | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

Interception No. 2: 
Score: Chiefs 17, Jets 3
Down and Distance: 2nd-and-goal [Chiefs six-yard line]
Formation: Shotgun. Two receivers stacked to the left, two receivers to the right. 
Time Left: 1:37 in the third quarter

What went wrong? This horrendous on all fronts. 

OK, for starters, there's no one open. Fitzpatrick was attempting to get the ball to Jalin Marshall on a slant, but the receiver was covered both by a cornerback, and linebacker Derrick Johnson underneath.

Not terribly sure what Fitzpatrick saw, but he elected to throw it nevertheless. Johnson tipped it up, and safety Eric Berry came down with it. 

Connor Hughes | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

Interception No. 3: 
Score: Chiefs 17, Jets 3
Down and Distance: 2nd-and-goal [Chiefs six-yard line]
Formation: Shotgun. Two receivers to the right, a receiver and tight end to the left 
Time Left: 8:25 in the fourth quarter

What went wrong? This was a case of Fitzpatrick trying to make nothing into something. Credit the Chiefs' defense because they had just about everyone covered (as outlined below). Fitzpatrick, attempting to buy his receivers some extra time, scrambled out of the pocket. 

As the rush closed on Fitzpatrick, he fired the ball in front of him to receiver Quincy Enunwa. Enunwa had the ball bounce off his hands, and into the waiting arms of a defender. Fitzpatrick needs to take the sack here. 

Connor Hughes | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

Interception No. 4: 
Score: Chiefs 17, Jets 3
Down and Distance: 4th-and-10
Formation: Shotgun. Two receivers to the left and right.
Time Left: 4:43 in the fourth quarter

What went wrong? Of Fitzpatrick's six interceptions, this is the one that isn't entirely his fault. Needing a chunk of yards, the Jets ran a combination route withBrandon Marshall and Eric Decker on the right side of the field. Decker ran a post, and Marshall a wheel. 

Decker here was the decoy. He was supposed to run into the player covering Marshall man-to-man and cause his defender, and Marshall's defender, to collide. This would give Marshall some separation. 

The play worked, too, as you can see below. However, Marshall pulled up on his route and Fitzpatrick threw it as if he was going to continue to run. The safety made the easy interception. If Marshall doesn't stop running, it's probably a completion. 

Connor Hughes | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

Interception No. 5: 
Score: Chiefs 17, Jets 3
Down and Distance: 2nd and 2
Formation: Shotgun. Two receivers to the right. Two to the left.
Time Left: 3:59 in the fourth quarter

What went wrong? Just a horrible pass from Fitzpatrick. Matt Forte ran from his running back position, to the sideline, and up the field. He beat linebacker Derrick Johnson on his break and was open, but Fitzpatrick threw it behind him and right at Johnson. Easy interception which the linebacker then returned for a touchdown. 

Connor Hughes | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com 

Interception No. 6: 
Score: Chiefs 24, Jets 3
Down and Distance: 2nd and 7
Formation: Shotgun. Three receivers to the left. One to the right. 
Time Left: 2:00 in the fourth quarter

What went wrong? Desperation throw. Brandon Marshall ran a streak and was covered by both the cornerback and safety overtop. The game was over, and Fitzpatrick was looking for a miracle. Easy interception. 

Connor Hughes | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

 

 

> http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/09/what_went_wrong_on_ryan_fitzpatricks_6_interceptio.html#incart_river_index

 

 

 

[kelly]

 -- Todd Bowles said they need to figure out a way to get the ball into Brandon Marshall's hands more often.

Marshall agreed, adding that he needs to do a better job of getting open.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has the biggest say of anybody on this matter, believes Marshall's involvement in the offense must happen organically, it can't be forced.Here we are, in Week 4 of the NFL season, and the New York Jets have a Marshall issue. He's not catching as many passes as he did last season, the offense is sputtering (except for four fantastic quarters in Buffalo) and you can feel the tension mounting in the locker room.

To me, Bowles' comments are notable. He stopped short of an edict, but there was a sense of urgency in his voice -- for him, anyway. Bowles isn't the type of coach who makes declarative statements, so this jumped out."I’m sure (defenses are) paying attention to him; they were paying attention to him last year. We just have to find better ways to get him the ball," he said Wednesday. "It’s early on, so we still have some kinks we’re working out. We’re going to make sure we get him the ball."

They're trying.

Marshall has been targeted 27 times in three games, only six shy of last season's three-game total. The problem is, they're not connecting. He has only 12 receptions, meaning his catch percentage is a poor 44 percent, down from 65 percent in 2015. That's a serious drop.

It's worse in the red zone -- only one catch in seven targets.

Clearly, Fitzpatrick and Marshall haven't been able to recapture their magic from last season."We have to be more consistent on our end, and it starts with guys like Fitz and myself," Marshall said. "I have to play better. I haven't scored a touchdown this year. I haven't done a great job of getting open. I just have to make more plays. I have to find a way to make more plays and make the tough plays, and things will improve."Marshall, playing on an ailing knee, didn't get much separation last Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Neither did his partner, Eric Decker, who is battling a shoulder injury. In Week 2, they dominated the Buffalo Bills' smallish cornerbacks, but they couldn't win the 50-50 balls against the Chiefs' big, physical cornerbacks, contributing to Fitzpatrick's six-interception nightmare.

Fitzpatrick sounded less concerned than Bowles about Marshall's involvement. He's the point guard of the offense, so his job is to find the open man and keep everybody happy. He doesn't want to turn this into A Marshall Thing."Brandon is always going to be involved -- he had three catches -- but there were a lot more targets going his way, and there always will be just because of how special of a player he is," Fitzpatrick said. "It’s a fine line. I can’t force him balls, I can’t try to force feed him. When it’s there, I have to take it. When it’s not, I have to go elsewhere."

At least Marshall has maintained his sense of humor.

"Not a good start to the season if you have me on your fantasy (team)," he cracked.

>       http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/63472/jets-turbulence-ryan-fitzpatrick-brandon-marshall-not-clicking-like-15

 

[kelly]

There was a time, believe it or not, when throwing six interceptions in an NFL or AFL game was kind of normal. Between 1948 and 1989, it happened roughly once a season. Only when the NFL began its shift toward a passing league, via rule changes and skill shifts, was breath summarily removed upon a quarterback completing that many passes to the opposing team.Ryan Fitzpatrick's gem last Sunday for the New York Jets was the seventh instance of a six-plus-interception performance since 1990. But it was the 39th in NFL history, according to the Pro-Football-Reference database. Such games have usually come in the midst of tough stretches -- teams were 7-26 in games played the following week -- but have hardly been career-enders.

Indeed, of this tapestry of fiascos, 10 featured future members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Another was authored by Peyton Manning, a certain first-ballot enshrinee when he is eligible. Four offenders survived long enough to do it a second time, and two -- Hall of Famers George Blanda and Joe Namath -- committed the gaffe three times. Blanda, for pete's sake, did it twice in one season to cap the most mistake-prone year in NFL or AFL history. (Fortunately, ol' George was inducted as much for his kicking skills and longevity as for his quarterbacking.)

So what should Fitzpatrick take from this history as he prepares for Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks? Let's look at how a sampling of this group responded the following week, keeping in mind that in five cases, the six-plus interception outing occurred in the final game of the season :

The good

Houston Oilers QB George Blanda

Year: 1962

Rebound: A week after throwing six interceptions to the Dallas Texans, Blanda limited himself to one in a 194-yard, two-touchdown outing to defeat those same Texans 14-6, this time on the road. As you'll see, 1962 was an eventful season for Blanda, who threw an NFL/AFL-record 42 interceptions in 14 games. (That's not a typo.)

---

New York Jets QB Joe Namath

Year: 1967

Rebound: Namath completed 13 of 15 passes for 199 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in a 33-14 victory over the Miami Dolphins. That came a week after he threw six picks in a 28-28 tie with the Oilers.

 

Oakland Raiders QB Kenny Stabler

Year: 1977

Rebound: A week after throwing seven interceptions to the Broncos, Stabler passed for 230 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in a 28-27 victory over the Jets. Stabler was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.

---

Atlanta Falcons QB Bobby Hebert

Year: 1993

Rebound: He followed a six-interception game against the Oilers with a 290-yard, three-touchdown performance in a 27-24 victory over the 49ers. He did not throw an interception and played another three seasons in the NFL.

 

Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning

Year: 2007

Rebound: Yes, Manning once threw six interceptions against the Chargers -- including four in the first half in a prime-time game. He wasn't great the following week, either, completing 50 percent of his passes and throwing one interception against the Chiefs, but the Colts snuck by with a 13-10 victory on a field goal from Adam Vinatieri.

 

The bad

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Tommy Wade

Year: 1965

Double down: Wade threw four interceptions to the Redskins one game after throwing seven to the Eagles. Mercifully, that ended the Steelers' season with a 2-12 record. In his only season of significant action, Wade threw a total of 13 interceptions in 66 attempts for a slick 19.7 percent interception rate.

---

San Diego Chargers QB John Hadl

Year: 1968

Double down: Hadl threw two interceptions in a 34-27 loss to the Raiders a week after throwing six to the Chiefs. He threw a total of 32 interceptions in 14 games that season, tied for fourth-most in a single season in AFL/NFL history.

---

Denver Broncos QB Don Horn

Year: 1971

Double-down: Horn's four-interception game against the Chiefs, a week after throwing six to the Packers, seems tame compared to Wade's disaster. Horn threw 10 over two games but hung around for another three seasons.

---

Oilers QB George Blanda

Years: 1962 and 1965

Double down: In 1962, Blanda followed one of his six-interception games with four interceptions against the Boston Patriots. After his third and final six-interception game, this one in 1965 against the Broncos, he threw three in a 41-14 loss to the Jets.

 

The benched

Alas, 12 quarterbacks didn't make it to the end of their team's next game, benched either at midweek or during the game itself.

Chicago Bears QB Zeke Bratkowski (1960)

Detroit Lions QB Ty Detmer (2001)

Oakland Raiders QB Cotton Davidson (1964)

Buffalo Bills QB Joe Ferguson (1974)

San Francisco 49ers QB John Brodie (1973)

Denver Broncos QB George Herring (1961)

Oakland Raiders QB Donald Hollas (1998)

St. Louis Rams QB Chris Chandler (2004)

Seattle Seahawks QB Jim Zorn (1976)

New England Patriots QB Steve Grogan (1980)

Kansas City Chiefs QB Todd Blackledge (1985)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Vinny Testaverde (1988)*

* Testaverde finished that season with 35 interceptions in 15 games, the second-highest single-season total in history.

>     http://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/215924/the-good-bad-and-benched-how-qbs-in-six-picks-club-fared-the-game-after

[kelly]

-- When Sunday's nightmare was over, Chan Gailey -- the New York Jets' 64-year-old sage -- offered advice to his beleaguered quarterback. He has known Ryan Fitzpatrick longer than anyone in the organization, so he has a pretty good idea what makes Fitzpatrick's Harvard brain tick.

He talked baseball.

"It’s like a pitcher that gives up five home runs in the first three innings, and you have to go out there the next week or the next time it’s your turn in the rotation and forget about that and go back and do what got you to the major leagues," the Jets' offensive coordinator told Fitzpatrick.Fitzpatrick gave up home runs as if he were pitching batting practice to Gary Sanchez. He tied the franchise mark with six interceptions, including a pick-six and three red zone interceptions. His day ended in Kansas City with interceptions on five straight possessions, a stunning turn after his brilliant performance the previous week in a victory over Buffalo.

The question is, can Fitzpatrick shake off Sunday's 24-3 disaster and pitch a gem Sunday against the NFL's top-ranked defense of the Seattle Seahawks?

The Jets desperately need the Week 2 Fitz because, as Darrelle Revis claimed Thursday, "it's a must-win game." Looking at the bigger picture, with regard to the quarterback position, they need the Week 2 Fitz because there's a considerable drop-off to Geno Smith.The organization's feelings on the two quarterbacks became apparent during the long contract stalemate with Fitzpatrick. Instead of moving on from him and handing the job to Smith, the Jets played it out until the eve of training camp, eventually coughing up $12 million for one year of Fitzpatrick. If they felt the two quarterbacks were comparable, do you think they would've put themselves through six months of drama with an expensive conclusion? Of course not.Even when things were going horribly wrong in Kansas City, coach Todd Bowles said he never considered a call to the bullpen.

Make no mistake : The Jets are all-in with Fitzpatrick, who still commands the respect of the locker room. Smith, whose off-the-field judgment was called into question this week with his activity on social media (and his subsequent ripping of the mainstream media on Twitter), is a nonfactor for now.

What if Fitzpatrick has another stinker? It's hard to imagine Bowles yanking him after two bad starts. Remember, Fitzpatrick had back-to-back clunkers last season, against the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans, but he responded with a five-game hot streak in which he played the best ball of his career.Of course, the fan base will be riled up if the Jets lose and Fitzpatrick has another multi-interception game. Some fans -- the shortsighted ones -- would be screaming for Smith. My response to that would be to paraphrase Revis: "You don't want to go there."

Gailey, who never gets fazed, said he's not worried about Fitzpatrick.

"No, I’m not," he said. "I think he is aware -- fully aware -- of what happened. I think he’ll do his level best to not let it happen again, and I trust he’ll play well again, just like he has before."

>      http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/63495/jets-need-a-gem-from-ryan-fitzpatrick-because-their-bullpen-is-thin

[kelly]

Our mailbag question this week focuses on the future of the New York Jets' quarterback position, always a relevant topic. I was tempted to pick six, but it's probably not the best week for that. Ouch.

@RichCimini  If Fitz flops this year , and Geno leaves via FA, are#NYJ ready to go with Petty & Hack next year ?

@RichCimini : First of all, I think it's too early to write off Ryan Fitzpatrick. A week ago, he was AFC Offensive Player of the Week, and now people want to run him out of town. The next four games -- all quality opponents -- will go a long way toward determining his fate.But let's run with your premise. Let's say they choose not to re-sign Fitzpatrick after the season. Let's say Geno Smith departs as a free agent, which will happen, count on it. Does Todd Bowles hand the reins toChristian Hackenberg or Bryce Petty? Unless one of them sees the field this season and displays promise, no, I don't see them anointing a quarterback with no regular-season experience. That would be a full-blown rebuild, a tough sell to the fan base. Neither one of them is Carson Wentz.

Despite his current shoulder injury, Petty is further along than Hackenberg, which was pretty obvious in the preseason. That said, the organization likes Hackenberg's long-term potential. The Jets made the right move by keeping four quarterbacks because it allows them to hedge their bets for the future. The problem is, neither one of them is getting significant work at practice. Petty is banged up and Hackenberg is picking up the scraps -- the reps that don't go to Fitzpatrick and Smith. It's hard to get better when you're not playing a lot.Chances are they'd need a "bridge" quarterback to hold the position until Petty and/or Hackenberg is ready. It's a vicious cycle, isn't it? The Jets always seem to be looking for a guy to hold the fort until the next guy is ready, but it never works out as planned.

There could be some interesting names on the quarterback market next offseason -- Tony Romo, Jay Cutler, Trevor Siemian, Kirk Cousins, to name a few. No matter what happens, the quarterback situation will be the No. 1 storyline in the offseason.

As usual.

>         http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/63521/jets-long-range-qb-forecast-mostly-cloudy-chance-of-romo

[kelly]

THE GOOD AND THE BAD : RYAN FITZPATRICK

Hot : Fitzpatrick has completed 65.7 percent of his passes with a 120.5 passer rating in second quarters. Not: Fitzpatrick has zero TDs with eight INTs in fourth quarters. Since 2015, he has more INTs in fourth quarters (16) than in the previous three quarters combined (nine). Evaluating starting QBs (Insider)

 

>       http://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets

[kelly]

-- You've heard it a thousand times: The NFL is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately league.But not when it comes to the New York Jets’ evaluation of slumping quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Coach Todd Bowles said he's sticking with Fitzpatrick based on what he did last season. You remember that, of course. Fitzpatrick enjoyed a career year, setting the franchise record with 31 touchdown passes. Bowles is hoping that guyreturns."Right now, it's chemistry, obviously," Bowles said Monday, explaining why he remains committed to Fitzpatrick. "Everybody has an arm and can throw the football, but based on what he did last year and the things they accomplished last year, going into the season -- from a confidence standpoint -- he's our best chance to win."

A segment of the fan base is riled up, screaming for Bowles to bench Fitzpatrick in favor of Geno Smith. Think about that for a second.

While it's true Fitzpatrick hasn't played well in back-to-back games since last December, it should be noted that Smith never has put together consecutive gems. This isn't to suggest he can't do it in the future, but he's an unknown in that respect. Bowles knows what he has in Fitzpatrick, and you can't blame him for sticking with a known commodity, warts and all.

What if the interceptions continue to pile up?

"We go game-by-game," Bowles said. "I don't foresee a change (at quarterback)."

Is Fitzpatrick on a short leash?

"Ryan's fine."

Fitzpatrick has nine interceptions in the last two games (the most by any quarterback in 30 years), so he hasn't been fine on the field. The interceptions have to stop or else he'll force Bowles into a decision he'd rather not make.He claimed he's not thinking about his job security, but it will be the No. 1 storyline as the Jets (1-3) prepare for a tough road test against the Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1)."I know I'm the right guy," Fitzpatrick Monday at his locker. "We found ourselves in a little slump last year and came out of it. Throughout all my experiences and all the things I've been through in my career, I know I'm the right guy to get this thing headed in the right direction."

Fitzpatrick was wearing a green "Star Wars" t-shirt. It read: "Trust me ... A Jedi I am."

Bowles trusts him. Fitzpatrick needs a bounce-back performance to validate that trust.

>     http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/63614/jets-coach-todd-bowles-says-ryan-fitzpatrick-is-our-best-chance-to-win

[phill1c]

"There could be some interesting names on the quarterback market next offseason -- Tony Romo, Jay Cutler, Trevor Siemian, Kirk Cousins, to name a few. No matter what happens, the quarterback situation will be the No. 1 storyline in the offseason."

 

PLEASE, J UST E ND T HAT S EASON if the Jets are seriously considering any of those retreads (not including Trevor Siemian, who I don't know).

[kelly]

Jets mailbag time, gang. 

On to your questions and our answers ...

@DarrylSlater Biggest question of the week when are they gonna sit #Fitz and start someone who can give us a chance

3:14 PM - 7 Oct 2016

After throwing nine combined interceptions in the past two games (though they all weren't his fault), Ryan Fitzpatrick needs to get things fixed quickly. If he plays terribly on Sunday in Pittsburgh, and the Jets lose, I think they'll have to at least startconsidering Geno Smith.

Now, do I think they will start Smith in this scenario? No. It'll take more than just a dud from Fitzpatrick on Sunday for the Jets to bench him. They like the continuity Fitzpatrick gives them. The other offensive players are confident in Fitzpatrick. That stuff means a lot to the Jets' coaches. Say Fitzpatrick struggles Sunday, and has another bad game or two after that. Then yes, I think you could definitely see Smith. 

> http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/10/what_will_it_take_for_jets_to_bench_ryan_fitzpatri.html#incart_river_index

[kelly]

Maybe Ryan Fitzpatrick, Kirk Cousins, Brock Osweiler are who their teams thought they were

 

Way back in the day -- say, February 2016 -- NFL teams were clawing over most any quarterback they could find. The Philadelphia Eagles were planning to commit $34 million to secure Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel. The Cleveland Browns were prepared to hand Robert Griffin III $6.75 million.And yet, three other quarterbacks were drawing middling interest from their own teams even after what could have been viewed as career-altering years. TheNew York Jets were offering Ryan Fitzpatrick backup money despite a 3,905-yard, 31-touchdown season. The Denver Broncos appeared ambivalent at best about keeping Brock Osweiler as Peyton Manning's successor, and theWashington Redskins made clear that they preferred carrying Kirk Cousins' franchise tag for one season rather than signing him to a long-term deal at market value.

One month into the season, it's difficult to argue with any of those teams' initial instinct.

Fitzpatrick, whom the Jets signed on the eve of training camp for $12 million, has thrown an NFL-high 10 interceptions, including six in a Week 3 loss to theKansas City Chiefs. Osweiler, who bolted Denver for a $72 million contract with the Houston Texans, has thrown seven interceptions and ranks No. 23 in the NFL in Total Quarterback Rating. And Cousins hasn't recaptured his 2015 magic, struggling in particular to get his team into the end zone.

So what has happened here ?

Let's take a look at a key area of drop-off for each player, with a big assist from researcher Jacob Nitzberg of ESPN Stats & Information.

Fitzpatrick is doing many of the things a team would want from a veteran starter. He's getting rid of the ball quickly; his average time of 2.23 seconds before throwing is the second lowest in the NFL. His quick release has helped minimize opposing pass-rushers, and he has faced pressure on the sixth-lowest percentage of any quarterback in the NFL (21.3).But opponents are blitzing Fitzpatrick less frequently this season (20.9 percent of dropbacks) than they did in 2015 (25.8 percent). That has left them playing in coverage more frequently, at times exacerbating Fitzpatrick's always-shaky accuracy.

Fitzpatrick has thrown 17.5 percent of his passes off target, as judged by ESPN video analysis, slightly below the NFL average. Put it all together, and his efficiency on the most fundamental of passes has dropped significantly. As the chart shows, his QBR on throws that travel 15 or fewer yards is nearly half what it was last season.

~ ~ The good news is that there is plenty of time to reverse these numbers. There can be a fine line between an aberration and a trend, and Osweiler appears to have joined Fitzpatrick and Cousins in the gray area in between. Are they the quarterbacks who inspired hope at times last season? Or were teams right to be wary about their return? We'll soon find out.

 

Ryan Fitzpatrick on Passes of 15 or Fewer Yards Downfield

How Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has performed on passes of 15 or fewer yards downfield the past two seasons:

CATEGORY	2015	2016
Comp Pct	67.6%	60.7%
TD-INT	20-5	4-7
Yards/att	6.4	5.2
Total QBR	70.6	32.7
Source: ESPN Stats & Information   rest of above article : >        http://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/216644/maybe-fitzpatrick-cousins-and-osweiler-are-who-their-teams-thought-they-were

[kelly]

Is Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick playing for his job ?

Apparently, not yet.

After Sunday’s latest loss, which featured no further turnovers from Fitzpatrick, coach Todd Bowles made it clear that he’s not considering a quarterback change.“He played well,” Bowles said of Fitzpatrick, adding that the team will “examine everything.” Asked later if that means Bowles may make a quarterback change, Bowles said, “No.”

One reason for the hesitation could be the team’s lack of faith in No. 2 quarterbackGeno Smith. With Bryce Petty injured and rookie Christian Hackenbergsimply not ready, Fitzpatrick necessarily gets more leeway.

Soon, it may not matter who the quarterback is. At 1-4, the Jets don’t have much of a margin for error, if they hope to make it to the postseason.

>       http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/10/09/todd-bowles-isnt-considering-a-quarterback-change-yet/

[kelly]

 -- Eric Decker arrived in 2014 with a perception problem. Many observers felt he didn't deserve the free-agent money he received from the New York Jets, that he was a product of Peyton Manning's greatness in Denver. Teammate Brandon Marshall admitted he wondered about that, too.As he proved last season, Decker is a really good wide receiver and the Jets will miss him tremendously over the final 11 games.

On Wednesday, Decker was placed on injured reserve as he prepares for season-ending surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff. This is turning into a Murphy's Law season for the Jets (1-4), who are falling apart before our eyes because of poor play and injuries, both of which have been magnified by a brutal schedule.It's not hard to predict what the offense will look like without Decker because it already has played two games without him, and it hasn't been pretty. The Jets scored three touchdowns in those two games, two of which were fluke plays -- a tipped pass in the end zone and a long fumble recovery in which most players stopped because they thought it had been blown dead.

Yeah, the Jets are in big trouble without Decker.

Embattled quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will feel the brunt of it because he has only two proven receiving options -- Brandon Marshall and running back Matt Forte, who, for some reason, hasn't been featured in the passing game (only 13 catches). Quincy Enunwa leads the team with 27 receptions in a possession-type role, but he was better as a No. 3 receiver. As the No. 2, he's facing better cornersbacks.

You can see where this is going: Fitzpatrick, already struggling, will lose his job at some point. He's not in any immediate danger, but the overall play of the offense could get worse before it gets better, and you know how it goes in the NFL. The quarterback usually pays the price.If the losses continue to mount -- and it looks like they will -- the Jets will pull the plug on the season and go with one of the young quarterbacks, Bryce Petty or Christian Hackenberg. Once they're eliminated from playoff contention, they might as well see what the future holds -- or doesn't hold.

It's a tough spot for Fitzpatrick because, under the right set of circumstances, he'd have a chance to duplicate last season's success. But now his most reliable receiver is gone. Decker isn't the most dynamic wideout on the team (Marshall is), but he's the best in the red zone and clutch on third down. He and Fitzpatrick have terrific chemistry.Without Decker, the Jets will be one-handed on offense. Marshall will see more double teams, forcing Fitzpatrick to feed the ball to less established options. What about Austin Seferian-Jenkins? He can run and catch, but does anybody really think offensive coordinator Chan Gailey will feature a tight end in the passing attack ?

Come on, now.

Good teams overcome injuries and suspensions. We've seen it with the Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots. The Jets' cupboard isn't bare without Decker, but they haven't provided much evidence to fuel optimism that it can get turned around.

>      http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/63872/jets-qb-ryan-fitzpatrick-ultimately-will-pay-price-for-eric-decker-injury

[kelly]

Rich CiminiESPN Staff Writer 

Jets QB Bryce Petty (shoulder) practiced fully for the first time since getting hurt in the preseason finale.

 

>     http://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets

[kelly]

 -- For the first time since the preseason, the New York Jets have four healthy quarterbacks at practice. Let the fun begin.Bryce Petty rejoined the party on Thursday, practicing for the first time since bruising his right shoulder in the final preseason game. He had been throwing in individual drills, but this was the first time he participated in the team period.

Practices are closed to the media, but coach Todd Bowles said Petty and rookie Christian Hackenberg -- third and fourth string, respectively -- divided the scout-team reps.The challenge is to keep every quarterback involved. Obviously, starterRyan Fitzpatrick will get most of the first-team reps. Backup Geno Smithgets "a lot" of them, too, according to Bowles, who said Smith needs to stay sharp in the event of an injury to Fitzpatrick. Petty and Hackenberg will lead the scout-team offense, running the opponents' plays.

The Jets are the only team with four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. Eighteen teams are carrying three quarterbacks, while 13 are carrying only two.Petty's injury afforded Hackenberg an opportunity to work at his craft. He needs a lot of work.

"I think the more throws he can make, the better," Bowles said.

Hackenberg said it was a huge benefit to have five weeks in the No. 3 role. He said he doesn't mind cutting back his reps to accommodate Petty."It can be two ways," he said. "You can make it really tough or you can try to incorporate something that makes it easier. That's what we're trying to do, make it easier, have fun with it and still get valuable reps."

>      http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/63915/hail-hail-the-jets-quarterback-gang-is-all-together-again

[kelly]

— During their current three-game losing streak, the 1-4 Jets have been terrible in the second half, especially on offense. 

The past three weeks, the Jets have been outscored 37-7 after halftime. And that one touchdown was a fluke fumble recovery play.The past two weeks, the Jets gained 76 and 100 yards in the second half, while converting just 2 of 12 total third down chances.

The Jets' running game has been a non-factor in the past two seconds halves, against Seattle and Pittsburgh, even though the Jets trailed just 17-10 and 17-13 entering the fourth quarter of those games. Against Seattle, the Jets ran five times for 13 yards after halftime. And against Pittsburgh? Five times for 12 yards. 

So why have the Jets been so bad on offense after halftime lately ? 

"It's execution," offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said Thursday. "That's the bottom line. We're getting behind in the sticks, and then we're missing our third downs. We can't miss third down and shorts. We did that." 

"I can help us get better plays to run and put us in a position to hopefully be successful [in the second half]. It falls to me to get that done."In the second half against Seattle, the Jets missed four third down chances. They missed all six in the second half at Pittsburgh. Against Seattle, the Jets missed on third downs of 1, 5, 8, and 14 yards. The missed third downs at the Steelers — 1, 2, 9, 9, 10 and 11 yards.

So six of the Jets' 10 missed third down opportunities in the past two games were third-and-long.  

Even though the Jets have struggled to run the ball consistently in the second half lately, Gailey said their run blocking has "been fine" and running back Matt Forte has "been playing good."  Really  ? "The problem is, we miss a couple here or there, and then you get behind," Gailey said. "Then when you get behind, you're trying to throw the ball to get back in it. So we've struggled running the ball, especially in second halves."And now, the Jets' No. 2 wide receiver (and prominent red zone weapon) Eric Decker isdone for the season, due to a shoulder injury, which means defenses can focus more on preventing the Jets from getting the ball to Brandon Marshall. 

That's exactly what the Cardinals — sixth in the NFL in Football Outsiders' defensiveDVOA ratings — will try to do Monday night."They'll make it hard," Gailey said. "It was hard before, but they'll make it even tougher. I'm sure they will."

The bottom line : This Jets offense currently ranks 24th in DVOA and 29th in red zone efficiency. It has been a massive disappointment. 

"That's on me, to make sure we get better in the red zone," Gailey said. 

>            http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/10/jets_offense_chan_gailey.html#incart_river_index
 

[kelly]

— Bryce Petty, the Jets' second-year, third-string quarterback, returned to full practice participation Thursday. 

Before that, and since Petty's shoulder injury near the end of the preseason, rookie Christian Hackenberg had received a lot of scout team reps — a beneficial experience for Hackenberg, who is a project player.Hackenberg and backup Geno Smith shared scout team reps while Petty was sidelined. But Smith also got reps with the starters, in case something happened to No. 1 quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Now, Petty and Hackenberg will share scout team reps.Hackenberg didn't get a lot of practice reps during the preseason, so playing frequently with the scout team during this stretch really helped him. 

The Jets will enter this offseason with Petty and Hackenberg as their only quarterbacks guaranteed to be under contract for 2017, so they need them to progress. And in the preseason, Hackenberg looked like he had a long way to go before he would be ready to play in an NFL game."I think it's good just to be able to get in the flow of practice and actually do it," Hackenberg told NJ Advance Media. "You can only do so much seeing and watching. That's been the coolest part, is being able to take the things I've learned in the film room and try to apply them." 

The obvious issue with running scout team plays is that Hackenberg isn't executing the Jets' offense. Rather, he is mimicking the opponent's offense against the Jets' first-team defense. Still, this is valuable learning time for him."I think any rep against a live defense has been really good," Hackenberg said. "It's helped me and I think it's going to continue to help me." 

The scout team experience has at least let Hackenberg get more work reading a defense, based on the coverage scenario."I think it's just seeing the big picture, seeing the defense, understanding the timing of it and where to go," he said. "If you can process that, whether it's complete or not, I think that's a win for me." 

Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey has said he doesn't want to perhaps overhaul Hackenberg's mechanics until the offseason. And Hackenberg said that's something the coaches haven't worked with him on just yet.But during the season, Hackenberg said, "we tweak little things."He sits down once a week with quarterbacks coach Kevin Patullo, and they talk about mechanical tweaks."Just try something different," Hackenberg said. "Obviously, you're doing something right to get here. So making a drastic change is hard, especially if you've been doing it for as long as a lot of us have. It's just really trying to find the little things that work. Kevin and I kind of bounce ideas off of each other." 

Hackenberg knows he must do a lot of work himself in the offseason, when he plans to again work with quarterbacks coach Jordan Palmer, the younger brother of Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer, whom the Jets will face Monday.In the meantime, Hackenberg is taking mental notes on his mechanical errors in practice, and filing them away for the offseason. The goal, said Hackenberg, is to "have a really good plan going into this offseason." 

It will be a critical juncture in his NFL career, after a rookie year spent as a practice player. 

>         http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/10/jets_christian_hackenberg.html#incart_river_index

[kelly]

 -- They’re an NFL odd couple.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer was a first-overall pick in 2003 who went to a college football powerhouse and has started at every stop he's made in the league.

New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was a seventh-round pick in 2005 who played at an Ivy League school and has had to fight, scratch and claw his way for starts with the six teams for which he's played.Yet the two years Palmer and Fitzpatrick spent as teammates with theCincinnati Bengals in 2007 and 2008 cemented a friendship that’s still going strong. Palmer described Fitzpatrick as “just a great friend” and said the two talk during the offseason, occasionally getting together for a round of golf.

Palmer and Fitzpatrick have more than friendship in common heading into Monday Night Football at University of Phoenix Stadium. They have both had a rough start to 2016. Fitzpatrick has 10 interceptions and Palmer a 58.8 completion percentage. Their teams, both of which had playoff buzz when the season began, have had rough starts -- the Jets are 1-4, the Cardinals 2-3.

“Ryan will bounce back," Palmer said. "He’s just that guy. He’s played a lot of football. He’s played for a lot of different teams, a lot of different systems. He’s always been counted out. I’ll be the first one to run around the locker room saying, ‘Don’t count him out.’”

Across the country, Fitzpatrick said Palmer “certainly” doesn’t receive the credit he deserves. He believes Palmer will rebound.“It’s just a reminder, too, that it’s hard to play quarterback in this league,” Fitzpatrick said. “This is a tough position. Once you think you’ve got it all figured out, you’re going to get humbled if you don’t make sure you’re doing it each and every week.

“It’s a tough position to play, but I know him, and not just the type of guy or the type of preparer he is, but the type of talent he is.”

Which quarterback has a better chance to start his comeback Monday night? Here's a breakdown :

Ryan Fitzpatrick

Height/Weight/Age: 6-foot-2, 223 pounds, 33 years old

Touchdowns/Interceptions/Total QBR: 5 TDs, 10 INTs, 56.8 (18th in league)

2015 season: Fitzpatrick enjoyed a career year. He set a franchise record with 31 touchdown passes and posted a winning record for the first time. He replaced the injured Geno Smith in training camp, and Fitzpatrick galvanized the team with his leadership, moxie and toughness. He played with a torn ligament in his left thumb, missing no action despite surgery. He landed a one-year, $12 million contract after a six-month contract dispute.

2016 so far: Fitzpatrick hasn't come close to last season's level. He played one of the best games of his career in a Week 2 win over the Bills, but regressed badly in Weeks 3 and 4. He threw nine interceptions in a two-game span, the worst two-game stretch in 30 years for an NFL quarterback. Despite the slump, he hasn't missed a single snap and still has the backing of coach Todd Bowles and the locker room.

How he can improve: Fitzpatrick's gunslinger mentality is backfiring. He needs to stop taking unnecessary chances, throwing 50-50 balls and relying too much on Brandon Marshall. Fitzpatrick misses wide receiverEric Decker, who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 3. Without Decker, Fitzpatrick lost his most reliable third-down and red zone weapon. He tends to press when the team falls behind, which has been often.

Carson Palmer

Height/Weight/Age: 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, 36 years old

Touchdowns/Interceptions/Total QBR: Palmer: 6 TDs, 5 INTs, 53.7 (23rd in league)

2015 season: Palmer set career highs in yards (4,671), touchdowns (35) and passer rating (104.6), which helped him tie for second in the NFL MVP vote with New England’s Tom Brady. While leading the Cardinals to the NFC Championship Game, Palmer enjoyed the best season of his career in 2015, showing off a strong arm, which he’s been known for throughout his career. He stayed healthy for all 16 games and showed a great command of the Cardinals’ offense while making every pass coach Bruce Arians required.

2016 so far: There’s no way around it: Palmer has been struggling. He doesn’t look like the same quarterback he was a year ago. He’s overthrowing some receivers and bouncing passes to others. The spark that was on his passes last season isn’t there this year as the Cardinals are off to a 2-3 start -- 1-3 under Palmer. He missed the win against the Rams last week with a concussion. In four games, he’s thrown six touchdowns and five interceptions and has completed 58.8 percent of his passes. Through four games last season, he threw 10 touchdowns and three interceptions with a completion percentage of 63.4.

How he can improve: Palmer has admittedly underthrown deep balls, so getting more air under his passes would make a significant difference. His receivers have dropped five passes, although the Cardinals had six drops a year ago through five games. Palmer needs to get more consistent, getting his deep balls to the right areas and placing his passes in positions where only his receivers can catch the ball, something he did well last year but has struggled with this season.

>     http://www.espn.com/blog/arizona-cardinals/post/_/id/22691/bounce-back-bowl-will-jets-ryan-fitzpatrick-or-cards-carson-palmer-get-back-on-track

[kelly]

The Jets' offense is a joke right now. 

During their current four-game losing streak, which dropped them to 1-5, they have scored two real offensive touchdowns, plus one fluke fumble recovery. 

The Jets have been outscored 51-7 in the second half during this skid.

They have scored three, 17, 13, and three points. They have gained 305, 305, 316, and 230 yards. Their 230 yards against the Cardinals on Monday night were their fewest since 2014. The Jets lost Monday's game 28-3. 

But Jets coach Todd Bowles said Tuesday,for the second straight week, that he is not currently considering any changes to his offensive coaching staff. So offensive coordinator Chan Gailey is safe for the time being.(Like last week, Bowles was specifically asked Tuesday about possible staff changes, and he answered the question.) 

Why is Bowles standing firm with these offensive coaches, despite the problems? "No different than [what] makes me want to stand firm with the players," Bowles said. "We've had success with the coaches and the players that we've had. We're not having success right now in the past four weeks."Some [teams] get rid of people and have success. Some [teams] can get rid of people and have failure. You have to know what you have, and you have to navigate it through and work towards getting better as a team. I think we have those people to do that." 

Meanwhile, Bowles acknowledged the obvious about the Jets' playoff hopes. 

"They're not finished, but they don't look bright," he said. "That's for sure. We're trying to win a ball game. We're not even discussing playoffs. We haven't discussed playoffs since the season began, actually."The Jets are currently last in the NFL in Football Outsiders' overall DVOA, including 30th in offensive DVOA and 30th in defensive DVOA. So Gailey's players and coaches aren't the only guys who are struggling. 

>  http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/10/why_jets_todd_bowles_doesnt_want_to_fire_chan_gail.html#incart_river_index

[kelly]

Rich Cimini ESPN Staff Writer 

Jets OC Chan Gailey said new QB Geno Smith has "a lot of talent." Gailey said he's not concerned about Smith's history of turnovers because that history didn't happen on his watch. Gailey believes he can add some wrinkles to the game plan because of Smith's skill set.

> http://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets

[kelly]

— The Jets have a new starting quarterback, Geno Smith. But will they have a new approach and/or new results for their sputtering offense ? 

During their current four-game losing streak, the Jets have done next to nothing on offense. They have three touchdowns, and one was a fluke play fumble recovery by their offense. They have gained 305, 305, 316, and 230 yards. They have scored three, 17, 13, and three points.

Can Smith bring a different dynamic to their offense ?

Sure.  But he must take care of the ball, first and foremost. He has 43 turnovers in 32 career games. The issue with Smith, all along, has been his decision making, and not his physical gifts — which are plentiful. 

Jets coach Todd Bowles said he expects "a few things" will change about the Jets' offensive approach now that Smith is starting over Ryan Fitzpatrick."We've got some different things in for Geno, and hopefully it [creates] a spark," Bowles said. 

Though Fitzpatrick is not a statue quarterback, Smith gives the Jets more mobility and athleticism. Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey can call some roll-out or bootleg plays for Smith, in order to move the pocket and neutralize the Ravens' pass rush Sunday. Smith also has experience with option-offense plays.

Don't expect the Jets to completely overhaul their offense with Smith starting. Though he is mobile, he doesn't necessarily prefer to run. He has seven rushing touchdowns, including six as a rookie in 2013, when he ran 72 times for 366 yards (5.1 per rush). In 2014, he ran 59 times for 238 yards (4 per rush).Not only is Smith a more athletic quarterback than Fitzpatrick, but Smith has a stronger arm. This could perhaps allow the Jets to better maximize the deep-threat potential of Robby Anderson, their speedy rookie wide receiver. 

With Eric Decker (shoulder) out for the season, Anderson is the Jets' No. 3 receiver right now, behind Brandon Marshall and Quincy Enunwa. Anderson is much faster than Marshall or Enunwa, who are bigger-bodied receivers. But the rail-thin Anderson has been minimally involved this year — nine catches for 80 yards.However the Jets adjust their offense with Smith — more pocket movement, more deep shots, whatever — they desperately need better results, as they try to avoid falling to 1-6. 

Gailey and Bowles were unsurprisingly coy this week regarding how Smith replacing Fitzpatrick might change the Jets' offensive approach. Even though Smith hasn't started since the 2014 finale, he has spent the past season-plus practicing in Gailey's offense, since Gailey arrived after the 2014 season."We're never changing too much," Bowles said. "[Smith] has been in the system for a while. Fitz does things in the system well. Geno does certain things in the system well, so we'll try to concentrate on those things." 

Bowles said Smith had been receiving about 20 to 30 percent of the first-team reps in practice when he was the backup. Now, Bowles said, Fitzpatrick will receive that same percentage of reps, as Smith's understudy.Gailey also played it close to the vest regarding potential schematic tweaks that could happen Sunday with Smith starting for the first time under his watch. 

"There could be some things that are different," Gailey said. "[Fitzpatrick and Smith] both do things in some unique ways that are unique to them. You try to tailor things that fit their uniqueness. That's what we will try to do." 

> http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/10/how_might_jets_offense_change_with_geno_smith_repl.html#incart_river_index

[kelly]

-- Fasten your seat belts real tight. The Geno Coaster is ready to depart yet again.

Finished with Ryan Fitzpatrick only six weeks into a $12 million contract, the desperate New York Jets (1-5) are ready for Geno Smith 2.0, hoping he's not the same guy from 2014. First opponent: the Baltimore Ravens(3-3), who visit MetLife Stadium for the second time in seven days.Smith has the worst touchdown-interception ratio (27-36) of any quarterback since he entered the NFL in 2013 (minimum: 500 attempts), but this is a different system and a better supporting cast than '13 and '14, so maybe he has outgrown his turnover-prone ways.

"I'm not concerned about anything because he didn't have that history with me," said offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, who took over last year. "I don't worry about history. I worry about what's going to happen on Sunday afternoon."On Sunday, it'll be a four-game losing streak (Jets) versus a three-game losing streak (Ravens). This match-up probably won't help the NFL's TV ratings problem.

Five thoughts on the game :

1. What Geno brings : Smith isn't an accomplished quarterback by any measure, but his arm strength -- greater than that of Fitzpatrick -- should allow the Jets to attack all areas of the field. The deep ball (remember that?) could be re-introduced to the offense. Smith is a 29-percent career passer on throws of at least 30 yards in the air; Fitzpatrick has hit only 11 percent (1-for-9) this season.

Gailey said Smith has "a lot of talent," and he believes that skill set will allow him to introduce new wrinkles. Naturally, he wouldn't reveal any, but there could be read-option plays to capitalize on Smith's athleticism. There could be more targets to Robby Anderson, whose vertical speed was wasted with Fitzpatrick. They have to do something to stretch the defense, which would help the stagnant running game.

2. Win the crowd : The Jets, returning to MetLife for the first time in three weeks, will be greeted by an impatient crowd. The fan base is understandably frustrated by the lousy start, and the boos will come early if the team is listless. Smith, hardly a fan favorite when he was the starter, will be targeted if he makes a bad play, so a fast start is imperative. In case you're wondering, Fitzpatrick will be the No. 2 quarterback. Bryce Petty, the fair-haired No. 3, will be inactive, eliminating the possibility (I think) of the crowd chanting, "We want Bryce!"

3. Picking on somebody their own size : After facing four straight 2015 playoff teams, the Jets finally get a breather. Wait, check that: There are no breathers for the Jets, but the Ravens are a similarly wounded team. They probably will be without at least six starters, including defensive stalwarts Terrell Suggs, Elvis Dumervil and C.J. Mosley. Quarterback Joe Flacco likely will play with a banged-up shoulder. Maybe the Jets can actually record a takeaway. Maybe Muhammad Wilkerson can make a sack -- if he plays. Maybe they can score a second-half touchdown on a designed play for the first time in five weeks. The possibilities are endless. This is a big game for coach Todd Bowles. Losing to good teams on the road is one thing; losing at home to a .500 squad would be damning.

4. Tweaking the defense : Bowles said he's planning to make personnel changes on defense. Those changes, he said, could be based on what he saw in practice this week. He held competition-style practices, hoping to generate some sparks. It's not like he has a lot of options, but you could see bigger roles for linebackers Bruce Carter and Mike Catapano and cornerback Darryl Roberts. Linebacker Erin Henderson and safety Calvin Pryor could have smaller roles. Cornerback Buster Skrine, who was awful last week, will remain a starter, according to Bowles. Curious.

5. Bad history : The Jets are 1-9 against the Ravens (their worst record against an AFC team), having lost eight straight. Remarkably, they've never -- repeat, never -- scored more than 20 points in a game. It's all yours, Geno.

>         http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/64171/geno-smiths-arm-strength-will-open-up-playbook-for-sputtering-jets