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Coach Adam Gase made headlines from the NFL owners meetings last week when he said playoff contention is a "realistic" goal for the New York Jets, who haven't contended for anything lately except the top pick in the draft. The Jets improved their postseason chances by adding big-name talent in NFL free agency, but they can't call themselves a legitimate contender unless quarterback Sam Darnold takes a big step forward in his second season. Le'Veon Bell, Jamison Crowder and Kelechi Osemele will help the offense, and C.J. Mosley will bring a new level of nasty to the defense, but the 2019 Jets need a galvanizer. It has to be Darnold. That can be said about a lot of quarterbacks, but it's especially true in this case because the organization has invested so much into making sure he maximizes his potential. A new running back for Sam. A new slot receiver for Sam. A new bodyguard for Sam. A new coach for Sam. It's a smart strategy. The Jets are giving their most valuable asset a real chance to succeed, and now it's up to him to build on his roller-coaster rookie season. "I'm excited to see how Sam works with Adam, quite frankly, and really see how Sam develops," Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan said. "To me, that's going to be [a] key thing that I'm excited about." CEO Christopher Johnson said of Darnold, "I think we're going to see him take the next step" as a leader. After some bumpy moments, Darnold gave the organization a feel-good finish after missing three games with a foot strain. His post-injury numbers were impressive -- a league-leading 80.9 Total QBR over the final four games. But in the three games prior to the injury (Weeks 7 through 9), his Total QBR was only 17.4, worse than every quarterback except one -- Nathan Peterman. No quarterback wants to be mentioned in the same sentence as Peterman. Anyone with a modicum of football knowledge can see Darnold has special gifts, but now the goal is to eliminate the maddening dips in consistency. (He threw 15 interceptions in 13 games.) The notion he has arrived is wrong; the growing pains don't stop when the rookie season ends. It's a constant evolution for young quarterbacks. Darnold is bound to hit some rough patches, but he must raise his overall level of play for the Jets to be taken seriously. "He's got that swagger," Gase said. "You can see how important this game is to him. He's excited to get going. The last time I saw him was way before free agency. He was excited to see what pieces we were going to add, and how this thing would grow. I know him being healthy is really the most important thing." Gase saw his new quarterback twice in person last season, and neither game went well for Darnold, who had only one touchdown pass and six interceptions in two losses to the Miami Dolphins. Since being hired, Gase has studied every Jets play from last season and came away impressed by the manner in which Darnold adjusted his game after returning from the injury. The coach noticed Darnold's improved mechanics and a better field presence, knowing when to escape the pocket. He saw a patient quarterback willing to throw to his checkdown options instead of forcing a pass to his No. 1 read. Gase really got into the deep dive. As he watched Darnold absorb a couple of big hits against the Houston Texans, he found himself saying, "Run!" But for the most part, he liked Darnold's decision-making. "You can just tell he had a different feel [after the injury]," Gase said. "That was good to see. ... I think it was actually good he was able to sit back and watch. I know everybody is like, 'Play, play, play,' but you have to step back, you have to watch and you have to get back in there.  "And have you guys crush him," he said, smiling. "It was good."
Actually, Darnold wasn't criticized by the media because everyone recognized it was his honeymoon period, but the scrutiny will increase in Year 2. Expectations are higher for him and the team, and that usually brings added pressure. "He'll be a rookie again," said an opposing defensive coach, alluding to the new system Darnold must learn. Ex-NFL quarterback Ron Jaworski, a former ESPN analyst who has studied Darnold since his college days at USC, believes the 21-year-old has "all the God-given talent in the world to be a great NFL quarterback." But Jaworski stressed it can't be a one-man show. "The supporting cast is always very important," he said. "You need the balance with the running game, you need a strong offensive line, you need playmaking wide receivers and tight ends. That's what the game's about right now, but I think the future's very bright for Sam Darnold." In many ways, the future is now.
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