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For three years, just touching Sam Darnold’s non-contact jersey could have kicked a Jets fielder out of practice.
Protection rules change on Sunday, when a heartbreaking free kick on Darnold – traded to the Panthers in April – will be celebrated on the sidelines of the Jets.
“Every time you face a quarterback that you’ve played with, you’re excited just because you can hit it now,” said linebacker CJ Mosley. “This is the big picture. After getting past the old teammates part, it’s just another opponent that we have to prepare for. “
If only it was that easy.
NFL players are creatures of habit, and it’s unusual for the Jets to study the internal movie of their own offense when they recruit Darnold. Or to review mental notes they didn’t expect to use so soon, learned from recent training camps when newbies frequently practice one-on-one.
“We know we have to make him uncomfortable, put pressure on him in the face,” said defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers. “This is what we plan to do. Make people back down, make sure he can’t see past us and run all over the game. He makes great plays on the fly, so we have to chase him and follow the ball. “
Because all is fair in love and football, defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has opened up his game planning to more votes than normal. Seven of the planned starters are former Darnold teammates, but only defensive linemen Quinnen Williams, Franklin-Myers and Foley Fatukasi as well as safety Marcus Maye have significant one-on-one experience.
“They definitely gave some insight over the week of what they felt was causing him problems, what they thought of his strengths,” Ulbrich said. “At the same time, I think you are going to see a different version of him from the point of view of the [Panthers’] system is completely different from the one it ran here. I think it’s very favorable to the player he is.
On the same day the Jets traded Darnold, Maye posted a face-palm emoji on Twitter to suggest he thought it was a mistake. Or was it something else?
“I had a headache at the time. That’s all it was, Maye said dryly. “Sam is a friend. Obviously, you don’t want to see anyone go, but that’s a big deal at the end of the day. “
Familiarity is a two-way street: Darnold can tap into what he knows about the veteran Jets staff even if, like him, they’re in a new system. To Darnold’s advantage, his main weapon, catcher Robby Anderson, is also a former Jet turned Panther, and their relationship is well established.
Young Jets that Darnold doesn’t know – like rookie linebackers Jamien Sherwood and Hamsah Nasirildeen, and almost a whole new group of cornerbacks – are unlikely to be involved in too many exotic disguises for fear of information overload. .
“Maybe you need to be simpler than you want,” Ulbrich said. “Let these guys perform at a high level and make sure everyone is on the same page so that our technique, physique and effort come to life. You really have to fight the urge to do schematic answers to problems sometimes because, while it may be the right thing to do schematically, it is not the right thing to do through a young group.
A limited pre-season Darnold movie that exploits the Panthers offense at its simplest is so helpful. The same goes for watching the 2020 Panthers playmaker movie when Teddy Bridgewater was the one dealing the ball. The answers could come from within.
“We’re shooting the movie and looking at our attack from last year for trends in what Sam can and can’t do,” Franklin-Myers said. “All we’re looking at is the quarterback in this case. It’s a little weird, but it’s part of the game and you get the idea.
One of the defining moments of Darnold’s three seasons with the Jets was when he was caught saying he “saw ghosts” – a football code to expect pressure to come from. ‘one place when she comes from another – in a 2019 game against the Patriots. The Jets won’t be looking for a haunt.
“The system is built [so that] we are not a big drop end, drop tackles [in pass coverage]’and go crazy with them,’ Ulbrich said. “We are training them very well to move forward. This is generally conducive to good rushers, good tacks and good race defenders. Just let them eat.
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