Jets plan to turn Sam Darnold loose in 2019
The Jets signed a lot of weapons for Sam Darnold this offseason. Now they plan to see just what they have in their second year quarterback.
Sam Darnold didn’t have a lot of weapons when he looked around the field during his rookie season with the Jets. His front office changed all that this offseason. 2019 will be the season where Darnold loses the training wheels and Jets fans find out if he can pilot their offense to big things.
Signings like Le’Veon Bell, Jamison Crowder and Ty Montgomery will get most of the headlines, but the Jets’ decision to hire Adam Gase as their new head coach should have more impact than any roster changes. Darnold is very excited about having an offensive-minded head coach. He already believes the manta of his offense this year will be to “attack” defenses on a week-to-week basis.
It’s one thing to talk about attacking in the preseason, but it’s quite another to live out that philosophy every week in the NFL. If the Jets are going to successfully implement that sort of offensive style, Darnold will need to take a massive step forward in his sophomore season.
The former Southern Cal star showed flashes of brilliance in his rookie campaign, but overall the results were a mixed bag. Some of his struggles can certainly be blamed on the lack of talent around him. The likes of Isaiah Crowell and Robby Anderson don’t exactly terrify opposing defenses. Those two players were the leading rusher and pass catcher respectively for the Jets last season.
The biggest key for Darnold will be to improve his efficiency with the football. His completion percentage of just 57.7% last season will not be acceptable in 2019. Neither will his ugly touchdown to interception ration of 17:15. Darnold must improve both numbers significantly if his team is going to sniff the playoffs in 2019.
The Jets coaching staff is counting on the addition of high-priced veterans like Bell and Crowder to make life easier for their franchise quarterback. Bell, in particular, should draw a lot of attention from opposing defensive coordinators. The former All-Pro running back is a bigger threat in the passing game than he is as a traditional runner. Look for Gase to scheme a lot of easy throws from Darnold to Bell out in the flat to help boost his quarterback’s confidence.
Crowder isn’t the electric, No. 1 wide receiver that Darnold will ultimately need to thrive in New York, but he is a dangerous weapon in the slot. Again, the key here will be to give Darnold more easy throws than he enjoyed in 2018. Crowder isn’t as electric with Bell after the catch, but he can rack up yards if he’s left in single coverage over the middle.
Next. 5 potential first round sleepers for the NFL Draft. dark
The simple reality for the Jets is that they’ve gone all-in to help Darnold succeed. That’s the right way to build a franchise in the modern NFL, but time will tell whether or not Darnold is the right guy to lead the Jets to the promised land. They’ll attack opposing defenses in 2019, but it remains to be seen just how many points they can score.