With the COVID-19 pandemic preventing teams and players around the league from getting after it on the field during OTAs, Jets quarterback Sam Darnold decided to take matters into his own hands in an effort to get ready for the 2020 season.
Several Jets spent the weekend working out together in Florida, a gettogether that was initiated by Darnold. Joining him were skill position players such as Le’Veon Bell, Frank Gore, Braxton Berrios, Denzel Mims and Breshad Perriman. The workouts were not anything special, as Darnold is working with his teammates against air. However, the workouts should have the Jets pleased with the direction their franchise quarterback is trending.
Here’s another video of Sam Darnold led #Jets workout in FL. Other QBs in attendance, too. (Via d.izzzz on IG) pic.twitter.com/ewgw6EOakb
— Ryan Dunleavy (@rydunleavy) June 13, 2020
Darnold is still relatively wet behind the ears as a professional quarterback. He is entering his third season in the NFL and does not have a reputation as a vocal leader in the locker room like other quarterbacks around the league. Still, he went out of his way to set up a throwing session with the receivers he will be targeting throughout 2020.
The workouts are somewhat reminiscent of Mark Sanchez’s “Jets out West” camp he used to hold for his wide receivers in the offseason, but there is a major difference between the two. Sanchez orchestrated his workouts in the middle of an offseason in which football was already in full swing. Darnold got guys to the field in the middle of a health crisis.
That’s not to say Darnold is some sort of miracle worker, but it’s easy to understand why some, if not most, players would want to work out on their own until team facilities open back up. Heck, it would be hard to blame Darnold himself for wanting to do anything more than work out on his own with his trainer considering the circumstances.
Darnold understands the importance of developing a rapport with an almost entirely new group of wideouts, though. Other than Bell out of the backfield, Jamison Crowder in the slot and Ryan Griffin and Chris Herndon at tight end, Darnold is working with a new cast of characters in 2020. Perriman is new to the Big Apple and Mims has yet to suit up for any sort of professional action.
Chemistry with receivers is key for any quarterback. This year’s abbreviated offseason threatened Darnold’s ability to get on the same page with his new targets before the beginning of the regular season, which would have served as a detriment to New York’s offense. The USC product was having none of that, though. He wanted to make sure cohesiveness is not an issue this upcoming season.
Say what you want about the first two years of Darnold’s career, but it is apparent that he is dedicated to taking the steps necessary to becoming the elite quarterback the Jets need. Now he just has to demonstrate that he can consistently lead New York to victories on the gridiron.