The Jets hope they found their answer at quarterback with Sam Darnold. Now entering his third year, the weight of the franchise is on the 22-year-old’s right arm.
The 2020 season and the future of coach Adam Gase rest largely on how far Darnold progresses in his third season. Darnold has had flashes of brilliance mixed with periods of inconsistent play in his first two years. His 2019 season was derailed early by a bout with mononucleosis that cost him three games. Darnold then had a rough stretch in October, which included him “seeing ghosts” against the Patriots. But things improved in the second half of the season.
Darnold threw six touchdowns and nine interceptions in his first five games. He turned that around to throw 13 touchdowns and four interceptions in his final eight games.
A midseason meeting between Darnold and Gase went a long way toward getting the QB more comfortable in the offense. Now, the two have a second year together, something both feel will benefit the Jets.
“I think it helps that our quarterback is returning and his knowledge of the game and his experience from this last year are very valuable to us because he’s able to communicate [with his teammates],” Gase said recently on the “Gang’s All Here” podcast. “Our meetings with him have been very, very good. You can tell that he has such a different grasp of everything compared to what he did in Year 1. I think that’s going to help us.”
It will also help Gase in finding ways to better play to Darnold’s strengths.
The Jets are very thin behind Darnold, and it will not be surprising if they add a veteran quarterback before the season. The Jets did have talks with Andy Dalton before he signed with the Cowboys, according to a source.
David Fales is a favorite of Gase, but he has never started a game in his six-year career. Darnold has missed six games in his first two years and the Jets went 0-6. They need to make sure they have a strong backup.
The team took James Morgan in the fourth round of the draft out of Florida International. He is a strong-armed quarterback who could be a long-term backup for the Jets, but should not be expected to contribute in 2020.
The Jets are very thin behind Darnold, and it will not be surprising if they add a veteran quarterback before the season. The Jets did have talks with Andy Dalton before he signed with the Cowboys, according to a source.
David Fales is a favorite of Gase, but he has never started a game in his six-year career. Darnold has missed six games in his first two years and the Jets went 0-6. They need to make sure they have a strong backup.
The team took James Morgan in the fourth round of the draft out of Florida International. He is a strong-armed quarterback who could be a long-term backup for the Jets, but should not be expected to contribute in 2020.
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The 2020 season and the future of coach Adam Gase rest largely on how far Darnold progresses in his third season. Darnold has had flashes of brilliance mixed with periods of inconsistent play in his first two years. His 2019 season was derailed early by a bout with mononucleosis that cost him three games. Darnold then had a rough stretch in October, which included him “seeing ghosts” against the Patriots. But things improved in the second half of the season.
Darnold threw six touchdowns and nine interceptions in his first five games. He turned that around to throw 13 touchdowns and four interceptions in his final eight games.
A midseason meeting between Darnold and Gase went a long way toward getting the QB more comfortable in the offense. Now, the two have a second year together, something both feel will benefit the Jets.
“I think it helps that our quarterback is returning and his knowledge of the game and his experience from this last year are very valuable to us because he’s able to communicate [with his teammates],” Gase said recently on the “Gang’s All Here” podcast. “Our meetings with him have been very, very good. You can tell that he has such a different grasp of everything compared to what he did in Year 1. I think that’s going to help us.”
It will also help Gase in finding ways to better play to Darnold’s strengths.
The Jets are very thin behind Darnold, and it will not be surprising if they add a veteran quarterback before the season. The Jets did have talks with Andy Dalton before he signed with the Cowboys, according to a source.
David Fales is a favorite of Gase, but he has never started a game in his six-year career. Darnold has missed six games in his first two years and the Jets went 0-6. They need to make sure they have a strong backup.
The team took James Morgan in the fourth round of the draft out of Florida International. He is a strong-armed quarterback who could be a long-term backup for the Jets, but should not be expected to contribute in 2020.
The Jets are very thin behind Darnold, and it will not be surprising if they add a veteran quarterback before the season. The Jets did have talks with Andy Dalton before he signed with the Cowboys, according to a source.
David Fales is a favorite of Gase, but he has never started a game in his six-year career. Darnold has missed six games in his first two years and the Jets went 0-6. They need to make sure they have a strong backup.
The team took James Morgan in the fourth round of the draft out of Florida International. He is a strong-armed quarterback who could be a long-term backup for the Jets, but should not be expected to contribute in 2020.
Sam Darnold is set up for long-awaited Jets breakthrough
Part one of a series analyzing the New York Jets. The Jets hope they found their answer at quarterback with Sam Darnold. Now entering his third year, the weight of the franchise is on the 22-year-o…
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