Ryan Fitzpatrick Numbers On Opening Days
June 28th, 2018
Fitz has started on five opening days.
So how does a Harvard-man quarterback, with months to prepare for an opening day opponent, fare as a Week 1 starter?
It’s a question Joe wanted answered as the Buccaneers ready for the likelihood of Ryan Fitzpatrick heading to the Superdome to lead the Bucs offense in a Week 1 clash against the Saints.
Fitzpatrick has played for seven NFL teams, and three made him their opening starter for a combined five years.
His overall record as a starter is 48-70-1, but he is 3-2 on opening days, 1-1 on the road. On those opening days, Fitzpatrick has combined to throw 12 touchdowns and five interceptions with a 60.1 completion percentage.
So what does this all mean? Not much. But at least Fitzpatrick doesn’t have some weird slow-starting issue. So Joe considers Fitzpatrick’s Week 1 record to be a positive.
The Saints have lost three consecutive home openers — and Joe will be clinging to that nugget for several weeks.
June 28th, 2018 at 11:27 am
So way better than Jamies
June 28th, 2018 at 11:29 am
Fitz’ “opening day record as a starter” with other (mostly bad) teams is completely meaningless.
But hey – if this somehow gets posters talking about something other than Ubergate – then thumbs up for the effort Joe.
June 28th, 2018 at 11:30 am
Y’know…just thought of something…If Jaboo is as painfully average or worse as many of us think, maybe having Fitz in there gives us a better chance to win.
Unlike Jaboo, he won’t make the stupid mistakes and if we are going to keep it close, the defense will have to play lights out and we have to be able to move the ball…regardless of who is taking the ball from center. A QB that we can trust to make the smart play will be a plus, not a negative…suspend away.
June 28th, 2018 at 11:30 am
Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Signed,
My Stock Broker
June 28th, 2018 at 11:36 am
@GMAN well the defense has that going for them, JW won’t be their to turn the ball over at least 3 times a game. 0-3 was very possible anyway with JW, how much worse could Fitz be? And he sucks!
June 28th, 2018 at 11:42 am
it means fitz will be fitz……
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
June 28th, 2018 at 11:42 am
I simply can’t comprehend going into the pre and regular season with Fitz as the only QB on the team to have taken meaningful snaps in this league. It’s beyond arrogant presumption to think that Fitz can’t or won’t get hurt. I know the team has invested in Griff and he is well regarded by coaches and teammates, but the GM has an obligation to put this team in the best position to win and win now. By that, he should not only bring in an experienced player as a back-up, but seriously consider the opportunity cost for acquiring someone who can challenge Fitz!
June 28th, 2018 at 11:55 am
@Joe … “So Joe considers Fitzpatrick’s Week 1 record to be a positive.”
@Dave Pear … “Past performance is no guarantee of future results.”
It’s so nice to read something nice about Fitz taking over for ‘America’s QB’ even if only for 3(?) games. And Dave, you (and your stock broker) are exactly right … no way for us to tell in June how this will turn out in September. If Koetter calls a ball-control game (shorter passes, balanced running attack, etc), and Fitz executes it well, AND if our defense plays a decent game, then Bucs will be competitive against the Saints, Eagles & Steelers. Starting strong out of the gate in each game is a key IMO, as is dominating OLine & DLine performances. Really anxious to see how this group comes together as a T-E-A-M. Still predicting that we go 2-1 in those first 3 games with Fitz at the helm.
June 28th, 2018 at 12:10 pm
Havent you learned yet that it doesnt matter what the players history is. When they come to the Bucs it all changes. Every time.
June 28th, 2018 at 12:12 pm
Not a large enough sample size to be meaningful….for “America’s Backup QB”
June 28th, 2018 at 12:19 pm
Fitz played well in his three appearances last year and he didn’t have first string reps during camp and the Preseason then either. I do agree we would be better off getting an experienced backup now to add to our roster to learn our playbook and then take on our present third string QB. Go Bucs with Fritz!!!
June 28th, 2018 at 12:34 pm
Best news is we still own our own pick next year
June 28th, 2018 at 12:39 pm
Joe- check out Fitzy’s stats during seasons where he started every game he played in (i.e., prepared to be QB1)? They’re pretty dang good.
#FreeTheAmishRifle
June 28th, 2018 at 12:46 pm
Not sure why everyone keeps thinking Fitz doesn’t throw INTs. Trevor at PP did a great write up about just how similar their attitudes are. Fitz is very much like Winston, just can’t make the Elite throws that Winston can. Lifetime he is 173/136 td/int compared to 69/44 for Winston. Winston‘s ratio is actually better.
I‘m not saying Fitz can’t win but you guys expecting Montana to come in really should check yourselves.
June 28th, 2018 at 1:25 pm
gman– you “just thought of something”? Most of us have been saying it all along. Fitz throws to the open man and understands how to read defenses. Winston has a better arm but still hasn’t learned that turnovers lose games…
June 28th, 2018 at 1:36 pm
Gman you are a moron. Fitz takes care of the ball? Pretty sure last time he started a full season as a starter he lead the league in interceptions. You guys just want to hate so bad!
June 28th, 2018 at 1:50 pm
Fizpatrick is trash. People hate Winston so much they rather lose with fizpatrick .
June 28th, 2018 at 2:04 pm
Fitz is our man! Siberia’s QB is a serial sexual assaulter!
June 28th, 2018 at 2:14 pm
The Irish Rifle is our man. Go Bucs!!!
June 28th, 2018 at 2:25 pm
Americas Qb Says:
June 28th, 2018 at 1:36 pm
Gman you are a moron. Fitz takes care of the ball? Pretty sure last time he started a full season as a starter he lead the league in interceptions. You guys just want to hate so bad!
Yeah…acting like a 4 year old will get me to change my mind.
I know what I saw LAST YEAR from Fitz in 3 games…2-1 vs 3-10 from Jaboo.
Since Jaboo is an immature, undisciplined individual, we have no choice but to rally behind Fitz the first 3 games….get over the America’;s QB nonsense.
June 28th, 2018 at 2:34 pm
Past history is not a guarantee of future performance.
June 28th, 2018 at 4:25 pm
Clearly, Joe did his homework on Ryan Fitzpatrick on opening day – mostly. How about a comparison of the weapons Fitzpatrick had at his disposal then and the weapons he has available now. While the weapons Brad Johnson had as his disposal in 2002 were enough for a game manager to notch a Super Bowl victory. what could Johnson have accomplished with the array of weapons Fitzpatrick has at his disposal? Given Ryan’s vast experience, it’s unlikely he’ll try to make every play a winner, like Jameis Winston, and is more likely to let the game come to him and his array of weapons. If Fitzpatrick let’s the game come to him and the weapons perform as advertised the Bucs might just wind up 3-0 after the Monday night game.
June 29th, 2018 at 9:15 am
Licht better be quarterback shopping just in case Fitz gets hurt. You can’t expect Ryan Griffin to be a starter if Fitz goes down.