Sep 25, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) runs the ball as Kansas City Chiefs strong safety Eric Berry (29) attempts the tackle during the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 24-3. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Facing the first great covering defense of 2016, New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick failed miserably on Sunday.
Larry David couldn’t have written a worse script if he tried. The man who’s internationally known as the self-loathing comedic star couldn’t have taken his New York Jets and their veteran quarterback and written them into a more enthusiastically curbed script.Ryan Fitzpatrick’s performance against the Kansas City Chiefs was horrifying. His 188 yards, zero scores, six interceptions, on 20-of-44 passing was, by all accounts, his worst game as a member of the green and white.
Worse than that, in one fell swoop the man who so many fans dubbed FitzMagic provided so much credence to those who, instead, blurt out the word “FitzTragic.”
He simply cannot take such an attitude with the media and his own organization (holding out all offseason) if he’s going to play like that on Sundays.
Forget principle, though. The heart of the issue is what he faced.
In 2015, Fitzpatrick and the Jets finished 10-6. They did so against a cupcake schedule, half of which was littered with the miserable AFC South and NFC East. In 2016, the word cupcake has no meaning to the Jets schedule. In fact, the schedule is so rough that many believe the first six or seven games can ruin a very talented roster’s season.
In Week 1, Fitz was alright against the Cincinnati Bengals. In Week 2, he flourished against a very stubborn Rex Ryan who continued to hand his secondary out to dry.
In Week 3, he faced a legit defense — one that is among the best in the NFL.
The Chiefs secondary led by Eric Berry and Marcus Peters didn’t just defeat Fitzpatrick and Chan Gailey’s offense, they embarrassed them. They ate him and his wide receivers for lunch. Bob Sutton also took Gailey to the woodshed and taught him a hard lesson.
Join us as we navigate and analyze exactly why this day was such an offensive disaster for the New York Jets:
Sep 25, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Jalin Marshall (89) is tackled by Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Allen Bailey (97) and outside linebacker Frank Zombo (51) during the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 24-3. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
The Weapons Created No Separation
Did you happen to notice how covered New York’s receivers were all day long? It wasn’t an accident. K.C.’s coverage defense dominated all game long.
First of all, Brandon Marshall was hobbled. This affects everything for the Jets offense. This side of Nick Mangold, B-Marsh is the most important figure on the offense. His presence alone changes strategy and game planning due to the incredible focus defenses need to place on him.
Secondly, every other weapon on the team failed in creating separation. Fitz’s first interception was key in realizing this.
On a 12-yard comeback route, rookie Jalin Marshall created zero room for error against stud Marcus Peters:
Granted, the pass was high. In this situation, Fitz’s target needs to be low but the point about creating space still holds true.
Instead, turning around and remaining stationary, the rook needed to come back to the ball. Peters is that good a corner that if the receiver doesn’t come back to the ball, disaster will strike.
Chan Gailey’s Horrid Playcalling
Many Fitz non-believers are under the assumption that any QB can be plugged into the Chan Gailey system and flourish.
This couldn’t be farther from the truth.
In Dallas, Chan’s first attempt as head coach in this league, his QB, Troy Aikman, was very ordinary with a 29-17 TD-INT ratio in two seasons. Instead, Gailey was a fun first offensive mind. He showcased this same run-first mentality under Bill Cowher in Pittsburgh, his NFL stop prior to taking over Dallas. (Also, Mike Tomczak and Kordell Stewart did not exceed expectations at QB under Gailey in Pittsburgh, but that’s a different story for another day.)
Still, even in this pass-crazed league, he continues to jam the run down the throat of the defense. In K.C. on Sunday, he did this far too often in between the 20s and not enough in the red-zone.
Although Matt Forte finished with 65 yards, he had to get it done on a pretty solid number of 15 carries. The opportunity to pass more between the 20s and run more near the goalline did present itself at times.
Take Marcus Peters’s second interception as an example. The Chiefs defense begged the Jets for a run through the right-side B-gap:
It was only 2nd-down. K.C. was in a serious pass defensive look with their MIKE lined up on the left-side over the Jets running-back.
Instead of a quick hitter behind Nick Mangold and Brian Winters, what came was a rushed play and a poor (high) throw that led to another turnover.
Sep 25, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) throws an interception under pressure from Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Jaye Howard (96) in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City won 24-3. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Fitzpatrick’s Alarming Decision Making, Lack Of Route Progressions
The worst part about Sunday afternoon wasn’t the six interceptions. It wasn’t even the two critical tipped interceptions in the end-zone.
The worst part about Sunday was the lack of actual dissecting of the defense by Ryan Fitzaptrick.
As most are aware, Fitz and Gailey thrive off a pre-snap read and quick-react system. Fitzpatrick scans the defense pre-snap and pretty much already has his mind made up on where he’s going to go with the ball once Nick Mangold snaps the pigskin.
This is fine … as long as it’s not the majority of the play calls.
Bob Sutton and the Chiefs were all over it. Gailey needed to mix in more seven-step drops and Fitz needed to demand it for himself. This is the only thing that would have seen success based on the way K.C.’s defense game planned.
Take a look at this incompletion as an example. The Chiefs were in a classic 2-man under, press look. Instead of allowing the play to develop, Fitz predetermined where he was going to go with the ball:
Fitzpatrick looked to take advantage of Quincy Enunwa against a strong safety, No. 38 Ron Parker. Instead, he should’ve allowed the play to develop more. If he did, he would have seen that a wide-open Brandon Marshall beat his man on a slant.
Final Thoughts
Listen, it’s only one game. Any cries for Geno Smith or Bryce Petty are cries that should be met with folly.
Ryan Fitzpatrick is a guy who saw much success in 2015 when nobody thought it was possible. The six interceptions should never be made worse than a horrid two interception day. The Jets were still in the game and Fitz went down swinging.
He is New York’s starting quarterback.
At the same time, it’s distressing to see what unfolded against a top notch secondary, a phenomenal covering defense. What Fitz thought would work pre-snap didn’t work as the play unfolded. He and Gailey need to mix the offense up a little more and rely on Fitzpatrick’s in-route progressions rather than his pre-snap reads on three-step quick-hitters.
What’s worse, is the only other defensive backfield who can give the Chiefs a run for their money is coming into MetLife Stadium on Sunday. The Seattle Seahawks, with one of the best corners in the game (Richard Sherman) and the best centerfielder in the NFL (Earl Thomas), will present the same problems the Chiefs did.
As a Jets fan, you simply need to throw this one away and see if Ryan Fitzpatrick and the offense can get it done against another top notch secondary in Week 4.
If he doesn’t get it done, let the mass concern begin.
How many times has smith thrown Six interceptions in one game? Would you be so kind as to answer that?