New York Jets: 3 Players to watch in Preseason Week 3
2. Sam Darnold
If he starts, it’ll probably indicate where the Jets will go Week 1 at quarterback. However, that’s not all to the storyline here.
All offseason and throughout training camp we’ve heard two main things from the Jets players and coaches. We’ve heard how he has progressed fast, and like ESPN’s Rich Cimini tweeted, he has taken to the playbook really quickly.
Jets OC Jeremy Bates gushes about Sam Darnold’s NFL readiness: “He has owned the playbook.” It’s hard to imagine an OC being more positive about a rookie QB. #Jets
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) August 20, 2018
According to Eric Allen of newyorkjets.com, Bates told reporters about Darnold’s playmaking ability.
In meeting with reporters, #Jets OC Jeremy Bates says Sam Darnold is a student of the game and he’s owned the playbook. Impressed by the ability to make plays off schedule and find open receivers. Makes plays from an uncomfortable position. #JetsCamp
— Eric Allen (@eallenjets) August 20, 2018
Another thing we heard about was Darnold’s ability to learn from mistakes and not make the same mistake twice and also how it seems like the mistakes don’t bother him. Well, at the end of the first half against Washington, he did make a mistake, but didn’t get to show us right away how he deals with adversity.
The next play he makes against the Giants will be his first since that mistake. We will finally get to see for ourselves what kind of mental makeup he has. We will get to see if the mistake he made in Washington lingers or if he’s back to normal (whatever that is for preseason). If it’s water under the bridge, then we’re off to the races for Sam Darnold starting Week 1 in Detroit.