Bart Scott

Feb 3, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets former linebacker Bart Scott on radio row prior to Super Bowl 50 between the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Bart Scott isn't a fan of Ryan Fitzpatrick. He made that abundantly clear this offseason.

And the Jets' starting quarterback isn't out of Scott's crosshairs just yet. Only this time, the former Jets linebacker is electing to build up Fitzpatrick's backup, Geno Smith, instead of throwing shots at the bearded signal caller.

"I think it's set up perfectly for Geno Smith to come in and be the hero," Scott said Tuesday morning on the Boomer and Carton Show on WFAN.

Scott's assertion is predicated on the Jets' difficult schedule to start the year. New York will play five playoff teams the first six weeks of the season. The Buffalo Bills, the lone team that didn't qualify for the postseason, is one the Jets haven't beaten since Sept. 22, 2013.

Scott implied Fitzpatrick will struggle early, and the Jets will lose. That will lead to Fitzpatrick's benching and Smith's return to the starting lineup.

"If Geno would have started the year, [Jets fans] would be screaming for Fitz," Scott said. "If I'm Geno, I'm encouraged that I get to come out and be the hero. The most popular person on a football team is the backup quarterback.

"If [the Jets] come out and struggle because of the teams they're playing, people will start saying, 'Give Geno a shot!' He's going to get more strength because they aren't going to bench Fitzpatrick, then put him back in."

In Scott's opinion, the Jets' offense is better off with Smith under center because of the quarterback's arm strength. As has been well documented, Fitzpatrick struggles to make certain throws on the field. Smith, from a talent standpoint, can make them all.

As long as Smith can be successful in the red zone, Scott says there's no reason he can't match and exceed what Fitzpatrick did in 2015.

"I think Geno gives them an ability to use more of the field because of his big arm," Scott said. "Most people sit on [Fitzpatrick's] routes. They know he can throw the deep ball, but he has to throw it earlier which doesn't allow for much separation.

"[Eric] Decker and [Brandon] Marshall have tremendous catch radiuses. They make it look a lot better because they're sure-handed receivers. The ball doesn't have to be on point."

Arm strength aside, Fitzpatrick is coming off one of the best quarterbacking seasons in Jets franchise history. He led the team to a 10-6 record (six games better than 2014) and threw for 3,905 yards including a single-season, franchise-record 31 touchdowns.

Granted, that was throwing to Decker and Marshall. Smith never had the luxury of playing with those two, absent a few quarters in Oakland last year.

"He had Clyde Gates," Scott said.

Connor Hughes may be reached at chughes@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connor_J_Hughes. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.