Geno Smith Named Jets Starting QB over Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. Ravens

Ryan Fitzpatrick has faltered since the start of the 2016 season, and New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles decided to bench him in favor of Geno Smith on Wednesday.

"I felt like it was time for a change," Bowles said, adding, "This was strictly my call."

"The coach made the decision, and I back him 100 percent," Jets owner Woody Johnson said after the move, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

When asked about the decision, Smith replied, "It's not about me. It's about every single guy in this locker room and the entire offense finding its rhythm."

"It’s been amazing to see this guy grow and really punch adversity in the face," Jets receiver Brandon Marshall said, per Bob Glauber of Newsday.

Following the news, Bleacher Report's Jason Cole reported the Jets won't be active at the trade deadline despite their 1-5 record:

Football Outsiders' Aaron Schatz wondered if a change under center will really remedy the team's early-season woes: 

Fitzpatrick strung together a career year in 2015 to the tune of 3,905 yards, 31 touchdowns and 15 interceptions while completing 59.6 percent of his passes, but the 33-year-old has looked like a shell of the quarterback who had the Jets on the fringe of postseason contention a season ago. 

"I don't like it. I'm disappointed we're making the change," said Fitzpatrick, per Ralph Vacchiano of SNY. I'm disappointed in my play this year as well." Fitzpatrick added "it would be unfair" to give Smith just one game and the Jets need to "sink or swim" with Smith.

Although he opened the season with three touchdowns and one interception over his first two games, Fitzpatrick imploded in Week 3 against the Kansas City Chiefs. 

The 12-year veteran completed 20 of 44 passes for 188 yards and six interceptions in the 24-3 loss, and those woes carried over to the following week when the Seattle Seahawks picked him off three times in a 27-17 loss. 

A 174-yard passing day that included an interception and no touchdowns in Week 6 against the Arizona Cardinals opened the door for Smith to see playing time, but Bowles had initially decided to stick with Fitzpatrick for Week 7 against the Baltimore Ravens. 

"Smith played [the role of] a relief pitcher," Bowles said at the time, according to NFL.com. "Fitz will be back next week. ... It definitely wasn't Fitz's fault. He barely had any time to throw."

But after watching Fitzpatrick throw for 1,441 yards, five touchdowns and a league-worst 11 interceptions while completing 57 percent of his passes through six games, Bowles had to make a change. 

Now it will be up to Smith—who has long lobbied for the starting gig—to try to lift Gang Green up following a 1-5 start to the season. 

Season	Starts	Passing Yards	Comp. %	TD	INT	Rush Yds	Rush TD
2013	16	3,046	55.8	12	21	366	6
2014	13	2,525	59.7	13	13	238	1
2015	0	265	64.3	2	1	34	0

"Eventually everybody will see," Smith told Bleacher Report's Tyler Dunne in September. "Eventually everybody will see."

But to prove his worth, Smith will need to flash marked improvement. 

The West Virginia product was intercepted on 4.7 percent of his pass attempts as a rookie, a number that was a full two percentage points higher than his touchdown percentage of 2.7. 

Smith improved in the efficiency department the following year when he completed 59.7 percent of his passes and posted touchdown and interception percentages of 3.5 percent, but the Jets went 3-10 over the course of his 13 starts. 

However, now that he's had time to sit back and analyze his game more, Smith could prove to be a more mature and composed signal-caller. 

"Now, I know where the guys are going to be," Smith said, per Dunne. "It's not like I'm dropping back and trying to figure out where they're going to be. I know where they're going to be, and I can just react."

Stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com.