Silverman: Used To Changing Perceptions, Fitzpatrick Is Now Exceeding Expectations
By Steve Silverman
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Ryan Fitzpatrick has gotten hot at the right time of year, and he has found a formula that is successful for any quarterback.
Fitzpatrick is taking care of the football, having success in the red zone and conveying confidence when he looks around the New York Jets' huddle.
The numbers are enough to make even the most skeptical observer take notice of his ability to lead the Jets at the most critical time of the year. After nearly all Jets fans (and coaches) had been driven to maximum angst following a 24-17 loss to the Houston Texans in Week 11, Fitzpatrick has led the Jets to three straight wins over the Dolphins, Giants and Titans.
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During those three games, Fitzpatrick has completed 79 of 123 passes, averaged 310 passing yards and thrown nine TD passes. He has not thrown an interception, and his avoidance of those costly turnovers is the difference in his game from past seasons.
Throughout his career, Fitzpatrick has been something of an enigma because of his Harvard background. Ivy Leaguers are not supposed to make it in the NFL, and whenever they do, it's a shock to the system. Especially at the quarterback position. A guy who played his college ball for the Crimson is supposed to make his living without putting his cranium at risk, right?
If anything, that's been the most head-scratching aspect of Fitzpatrick's career. He does not play the game in a very studious way. He will take off from the pocket without a moment's hesitation and he is not afraid to put his body -- and therefore his brain -- at risk by taking a big hit if he thinks it will get his team a first down or touchdown.
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It may not compute, but that has been his MO throughout his career. He has played that way since he started playing regularly in 2008 (with the Cincinnati Bengals), even though most expect Mr. Ivy League to stand in the pocket and get rid of it.
The other key aspect of Fitzpatrick's game has been his accuracy. He has completed 60 percent of his passes in every season since 2011.
Fitzpatrick does understand that he has limitations, and so does Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey. Fitzpatrick is at his best when he is throwing short- and medium-range passes, because that allows him to get rid of the ball quickly and on time.
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He has not been asked to throw the deep ball with regularity. He will push it hard downfield on occasion, but more to get the defense's attention and show that he can stretch the field. That keeps the defense from playing lockdown on the Jets' receivers, and that's important because they are so dependent on the screen-pass game with running backs Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell.
Fitzpatrick has won over head coach Todd Bowles.
"I think he's doing things a lot better," Bowles said. "I think he's a lot calmer. I think he's not trying to win games by himself, mainly."
Fitzpatrick has gotten the protection he needs from his offensive line, and that has enabled him to go find Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker with regularity.
Marshall is a No. 1 receiver with all the physical tools needed to command the attention of opposing defensive coordinators. While he is not always productive, he has done enough with 89 reception, 1,187 yards and 11 touchdowns to give the Jets a good return on their investment.
Decker has been sensational in his role as the No. 2 receiver. He has 14 receptions of 20 yards or more, and that's the same number of long plays as Marshall. Decker has caught 66 passes for 875 yards and nine touchdowns, and his ability to get free in the red zone has been a revelation.
Unlike past editions of the team, the Jets have been tough to figure out from an offensive game-plan perspective. That's because Ivory has run the ball with a fervor and Fitzpatrick has executed so well in Gailey's attack.
Fitzpatrick has regularly been a quarterback who exceeds perception, but now he has become a quarterback who can win at the most important time of the year.
He should not have a problem this week against the injured and woe-is-me Dallas Cowboys, but the final exam will come the last two weeks of the season against the Patriots and the Bills.
The Harvard quarterback is as prepared as he has ever been to bring home an honor-roll grade in those two games and help his team get to the promised land of the postseason.
