JetNation Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 By Glenn Naughton (@acefan23) When Todd Bowles hired Chan Gailey as his offensive coordinator to help turn around an offense that has seemingly been stuck in neutral for the better part of a decade, he added a coach with a reputation for getting the most out of what he’s had to work with at the quarterback position. Barring an unforeseen blockbuster trade for an established quarterback, the Jets will likely enter the 2015 season with Geno Smith, a rookie draft pick, and perhaps a veteran or two to compete for playing time. While some fans are sold on Marcus Mariota as the answer at quarterback if he were to fall to the Jets as some are predicting, expecting him to be able to step in and play well in 2015 might be asking too much. Despite his prolific college production, some analysts have noted Oregon’s up-tempo offense and Mariota’s ability to effortlessly outrun defenders, something that won’t come so easy in the NFL, as a reason for his success. Dan Leberfeld of Jets Confidential nails it in discussing Mariota, saying that while he may end up being a franchise quarterback, his situation is nothing like that of Andrew Luck who came from a pro-style offense at Stanford. Leberfeld notes that Mariota is coming from a system with pre-determined throws being made to often wide 0pen receivers. Leberfeld has also suggested the possibility of a blockbuster trade with the Philadelphia Eagles at number 20 if Mariota is still on the board when the Jets select. Which quarterback(s) the Jets may target in the draft, free agency or any potential trade is pure speculation at this point as teams prepare to attend the NFL combine later this month. However, given the number of years Gailey and Bowles have been roaming NFL sidelines, it’s worth taking a look at a few current QB’s they’ve seen up close and personal who could be available once the off-season is under way. Ryan Fitzpatrick Gailey’s most successful pupil who could be available via trade is Houston Texans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Harvard product played for three seasons under Gailey who was the head coach of the Buffalo Bills from 2010-2012. During that time, Fitzpatrick went from inexperienced journeyman to three-year starter. Teamed with Gailey, Fitzpatrick averaged just over 20 touchdown passes per season, twice completed at least 60% of his passes, and threw more interceptions than touchdowns just once. While none of those numbers will get Fitzpatrick a bust in Canton anytime soon, that type of production would be a significant upgrade over Geno Smith who has completed just 57% of his passes in two NFL seasons while posting 25 touchdowns and 34 interceptions. Tyler Thigpen One under-the-radar option for the Jets could be the same quarterback who backed up Fitzpatrick during the 2011-2012 seasons in Tyler Thigpen. Thigpen, a virtual unknown to many NFL fans, has started just twelve games in his career, eleven of which were with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2008 when Gailey was calling plays for Herman Edwards. During that season, the former 7th round pick of the Minnesota Vikings far outplayed his draft slot when he managed to throw for over 2,600 yards to go along with 18 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions. Like Fitzpatrick, the numbers don’t jump off the stat sheet, but unlike most quarterbacks the Jets have gone to battle with over the past six seasons, Thigpen protected the football and put it in the end zone more often than he put it in the hands of opposing defenses. That 2008 Kansas City Chiefs team finished a paltry 2-14 as Thigpen was sacked 26 times in his twelve games of action, but Gailey did like him enough to bring him to Buffalo as a back up. While Thigpen doesn’t stand much of a chance to start anywhere in 2015, an invite to Jets camp to compete for a roster spot may not be out of the question. As a defensive coach, Todd Bowles would have spent more time going against the previous quarterbacks on his roster than developing them, but seeing them perform on a regular basis should not be ignored. Matt Moore In his final season with the Dolphins in 2011, Bowles watched an unlikely candidate, Matt Moore, start twelve games for Miami and put together a season that once again, would be a vast improvement for the Jets at quarterback (60.5% comp pct, 16 TD’s, 9 INT). For the purpose of this discussion, none of those starts would have been more important than Moore’s final three of the season. At that point, Bowles had relieved the fired Tony Sparano as the team’s head coach and would have more say in the offensive game planning. In those two games, the Dolphins posted a 2-1 record as Moore threw for six touchdowns and three interceptions. Nick Foles From Miami, Bowles moved on to coach the Philadelphia Eagles secondary in 2012 where he would get a look at a potential target in any possible Jets/Eagles draft day trade. Nick Foles was a rookie third round pick that season under Andy Reid and former Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. In Reid’s final season, Foles stepped in as the Eagles starter from weeks 9-15 and the Eagles didn’t hesitate to let him throw the ball. In seven starts, Foles averaged just under 38 pass attempts per game, completing 61% of his throws to go along with six touchdowns and five interceptions. Since that time he has gone on to perform at a high level for Chip Kelly’s up-tempo offense in Philadelphia but speculation regarding his future with the Eagles continues to mount. If the Jets were to have any interest in acquiring the young quarterback, Bowles’ familiarity with how he performed in a more traditional offense as a rookie could play a big part in the Jets’ evaluation. So as the Jets join the rest of the NFL in laying out the groundwork toward assembling a roster for 2015, time will tell if any current NFL quarterbacks made a strong enough impression during their time with both Bowles or Gailey to land them in green and white next season. 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#27TheDominator Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 I am saddened because I look at each sh*tty name on that sh*tty list and I think "Cool, let's give him a shot" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drsamuel84 Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 I am saddened because I look at each sh*tty name on that sh*tty list and I think "Cool, let's give him a shot" It's true, the fact that names like Matt Moore and Ryan Fitzpatrick excite me is just sad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointman Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 I am saddened because I look at each sh*tty name on that sh*tty list and I think "Cool, let's give him a shot" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BroadwayJoe12 Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 One of the first times that I can remember where I'm not even remotely excited about next season. I said it with every win, but this team has no legitimate starting QB for the forseable future and each win further cemented that fate. Rather disheartening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peebag Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 One of the first times that I can remember where I'm not even remotely excited about next season. I said it with every win, but this team has no legitimate starting QB for the forseable future and each win further cemented that fate. Rather disheartening. I hear good things about black tar heroin.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joewilly12 Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 That is a sh*t list Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villain The Foe Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 I hear good things about black tar heroin.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFJF Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 That is a sh*t list I wouldn't mind Foles getting a shot to be the long-term guy, or Fitz as a stopgap while they bring a kid along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohio State NY Jets fan Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Amazing that everyone on the list (except Foles) could-have/should-have been the backup for Sanchez at some point and agree that all could provide better QB play then we have seen since Favre but the list does not inspire... Draft a QB till you find a QB, sign a vet until you are sure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFJF Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 I am saddened because I look at each sh*tty name on that sh*tty list and I think "Cool, let's give him a shot" This is the worst part of all of this. Jets QB over the past six years has been so bad, that virtually any other QB would likely be an upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsfan80 Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 There is absolutely nothing wrong with signing a Fitzpatrick or Moore to come in here for 1 year. I imagine we're going to be bringing in plenty of fresh faces on offense. You need to find a little bit of stability at the QB position so that you can properly evaluate the rest of the offensive unit. We can't just throw Geno out there again. Not an option. Either we're starting a veteran week 1 (likely) or throwing an early-round QB out there (less likely). New regimes mean new QB's so anyone still on the Geno train (Gato?) might as well jump off now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyLV Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 There is absolutely nothing wrong with signing a Fitzpatrick or Moore to come in here for 1 year. I imagine we're going to be bringing in plenty of fresh faces on offense. You need to find a little bit of stability at the QB position so that you can properly evaluate the rest of the offensive unit. We can't just throw Geno out there again. Not an option. Either we're starting a veteran week 1 (likely) or throwing an early-round QB out there (less likely). New regimes mean new QB's so anyone still on the Geno train (Gato?) might as well jump off now. Prepare to be shocked then. There u s way more than 50% chance Geno starts again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RutgersJetFan Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Sign two of them and draft someone. **** Geno. He hasn't earned the right to come back in the least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RutgersJetFan Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 I am saddened because I look at each sh*tty name on that sh*tty list and I think "Cool, let's give him a shot" J! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsfan80 Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Prepare to be shocked then. There u s way more than 50% chance Geno starts again Disagreed. New GM, new HC, new OC. They have no ties to Geno Smith. Geno doesn't have the advantage of saying he "knows the system". He's shown enough in 2 years to say he doesn't having much of anything to offer, and there's at least a few more decent names out there on the FA/trade market than there were last offseason. I'd say there's at least an 80 % chance Geno is on the bench Week 1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#27TheDominator Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 J! E! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFJF Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Disagreed. New GM, new HC, new OC. They have no ties to Geno Smith. Geno doesn't have the advantage of saying he "knows the system". He's shown enough in 2 years to say he doesn't having much of anything to offer, and there's at least a few more decent names out there on the FA/trade market than there were last offseason. I'd say there's at least an 80 % chance Geno is on the bench Week 1. I think Geno is a lock to be back, but if they don't bring in somebody to unseat him then Gailey is really going to have his work cut out for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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