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Florham Park – My take on the Sam Darnold news . . .
If you were in a cave today, Sam Darnold has mononucleosis, so he will be out this week, and probably in New England. The Jets have a bye-week after New England, so a possible target return date is in Philadelphia on October 6.
So Trevor Siemian will take over?
He started 24 games in 2016-17 for the Denver Broncos, and had a 13-11 record.
I was impressed with him in the spring and summer. He’s very cool in the pocket and does a nice job of going through his progressions.
There was a beat-writer who wrote in the spring during one of the camps that there is a big drop-off from Darnold to Siemian. That isn’t what I saw.
I’m not putting Siemian in Canton, but my take-away watching him in the spring and summer is he’s competent QB who knows what he’s doing out there.
One thing I like about it is he has a really calm pocket demeanor and isn’t easily frazzled.
In his press conference today, Adam Gase seemed very upbeat.
Same on the practice field while talking to some reporters on the sideline.
Part of this is being a good leader and for his team not to see the coach being uptight and panicking in a time of crisis.
But also, I think he knows that there isn’t a big drop-off from Darnold to Siemian, especially at this stage of Darnold’s development.
Of course Darnold has a much bigger upside than Siemian. That is obvious. But right now, as a 22-year-old QB, entering just his second year in the league, and trying to get comfortable in second system in two years, Darnold is a work-in-progress.
Even Gase, who was all positive about Darnold to the press in the spring and summer, said after the game when asked about the young quarterback’s performance, said “Room for improvement.”
Gase isn’t going to say this publicly, but he knows, at this stage of Sam’s development, it’s really not a big drop from Darnold to Siemian. In a couple of years, that will likely be a different story.
Gase said something mysterious today that caught my attention.
“We are going to look back and see this as a good thing for us,” Gase said.
I don’t think this was a shot at Darnold at all, but more about the team learning from dealing with adversity.
From a football standpoint, this is a good time to pull out that legendary Thomas Paine quote – “These are the times that try men’s souls.”
And from a culture building standpoint, as 19th century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said, “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.”
The Jets can survive Darnold’s probably brief absence with Siemian at QB.
Think about it, Siemian has 24 career starts and Darnold has 14, so Trevor actually has more NFL game action. This isn’t his first rodeo. I really think he will do fine.
But some of these of these other injuries could complicate things, like Le’Veon Bell (shoulder), Damaryius Thomas (hamstring) and C.J. Mosley (groin). All are iffy for the game. Quinnen Williams (ankle), is also a question mark.
If there are too many key starters out, it might be a challenge for whoever is under center.
September 12, 2019
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