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They will address the media on Wednesday.
Talking about Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh.
Why now?
Because many teams are making either their coach or GM available now, because they would’ve had press conferences at the Combine, which was cancelled.
So questions about Sam Darnold like this one: “Will Sam Darnold be the quarterback in 2021?”
There is no reason Douglas needs to answer that question now. A lot can change between now and the season.
But I challenge those involved to not make this presser all about Darnold.
This obsession with Darnold in press conferences is getting boring.
Granted, I know that the NFL is a QB-driven league, so the position is of great importance, but we kind of know who Darnold is at this point, whether they keep him or trade him.
People continue to focus on his weapons, but that isn’t his problem. In the last game of the season against New England, with Denzel Mims, Jamison Crowder, Breshad Perriman and Chris Herndon, who was back to his old self, Darnold threw a pair of misguided picks late in the game.
Patriots radio color analyst Scott Zolak was nervous as a Jets offensive play was unfolding late in the third quarter and said “uh-oh.”
He saw a player wide open on the left side, but that isn’t where the ball went. It went into heavy coverage and was picked off.
“That guy that is wide open is at the top of the screen, and he’s running an in-cut and I’m going ‘uh-oh’ – it was a blown coverage – they had him there,” said Zolak, a former NFL QB, during the broadcast of the game on 98.5 in Boston. “Darnold, for whatever reason, throws to a guy into triple coverage, and it’s a moonball that sails into (J.C) Jackson’s stomach.”
Then late in the fourth quarter, Darnold threw a pick in the end zone, which was snared by cornerback Jonathan Jones.
“Darnold went there too late and hung the ball,” said Zolak.
It’s not the weapons. This is more a matter of whether the Jets feel that Darnold can play better in the 49ers’ offensive under Mike LaFleur.
So I hope the press conference isn’t all Darnold, all the time.
There are so many questions, about so many areas, that need to addressed with this team.
Remember, Douglas and Saleh just finished an extensive review of last year’s game tape, and now the coach has a better feel for how guys fit his scheme.
And that’s what this is about moving forward, in free agency and the draft, scheme fits for the Saleh/Jeff Ulbrich defense, and LaFleur’s offense.
You just don’t sign talent willy-nilly, they have to fit the schemes you are running, and on both offense and defense, the Jets are moving to schemes that are way different than what they played under the previous regime.
They have so many needs, and will add some weapons, but that won’t be to “fix” Darnold. That is foolish. Look for them to bring in some 49ers, perhaps a guy like San Francisco wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, or a cornerback. like the 49ers’ Jason Verrett.
They need help at guard, cornerback, defensive end and linebacker.
So people, let’s not make the press conference all about one guy, and make it a yawner.
March 2, 2021
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