New York Jets: Jeremy Bates handling Sam Darnold right
New York Jets offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates praised Sam Darnold, and it’s a clue as to whether or not he think he’s capable of being the Week 1 starter in 2018.
Starting Week 1 as a rookie quarterback is a daunting task. In fact, some would say it ruined some careers. Others, on the other hand, have thrived after starting Week 1 as a rookie. Payton Manning, John Elway, and Troy Aikman — all of whom are either in the Pro Football Hall of Fame or likely to be enshrined — come to mind.
The New York Jets have to answer that question with third overall pick Sam Darnold in 2018, and offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates has given us a clue into their thought process with Darnold.
Before we discuss Bates though, let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way first — the idea that starting Week 1 is a mistake and ruined some careers.
We don’t know for a fact that starting Week 1 — for those that failed — ruined careers. It may have exposed them early, and they just couldn’t fix their issues. We will never know if it actually ruined careers definitively. We can speculate as to how we think they could’ve done had teams waited, but those players may have failed anyway.
Now onto Bates and Darnold. Here’s what Bates told the press at minicamp, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini.
"“If you treat them like a rookie, they’ll become a rookie, so we threw the whole book at him to see what he can handle and what he needs to work on — just like the other two — and he’s done a really good job. Ever since rookie camp, he hasn’t flinched.”"
He also told reporters “if he can prove that he’s the starter, then that will take place when the time comes.”
That’s a good way to handle things. Every person isn’t the same. Teams shouldn’t treat every player and every situation. From a maturity, learning, psychological, and emotional standpoint we’re all different.
Some will use his inexperience in college and his age as an excuse also. Age is just a number, it doesn’t actually tell you a person’s intellectual capability nor does it tell you how fast a learning someone is. That can’t be decided by those outside the organization. Unless you actually work with him daily, you can’t see that. Apparently, according to Bates, he’s learning quickly and not making the same mistakes twice.
People will see what the Jets are saying about Darnold and assume they are “rushing” him. They’re handling it perfectly. Throw everything at him, and see what he can handle.
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We treat quarterbacks like kids, and then wonder why they fail. It’s time we treat them like men, and if they can’t handle it, slow it down. Since they believe Darnold is handling it well, then why not consider him in the running to be Week 1 starter.
It’s not about past failures or successes. It’s only about what Darnold can handle.