FLORHAM PARK, NJ—No matter the play, despite how impressive the throw, something just didn’t feel right as it pertained to Sam Darnold’s rookie campaign.
It had nothing to do with the rookie. Instead, it was a lack of trust in him. Offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates simply didn’t allow the kid to operate with freedom at the line of scrimmage.
From Week 1 through Week 17, the New York Jets young arm took the play call from the huddle and carried it out despite the look of the defense. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out.