SAM'S BIG WIN
Darnold can reap big benefits from signing of Pro Bowl center Kalil
Joe Douglas made the type of creative, shrewd personnel decision this week that reveals that he sort of knows what the hell he’s doing. Sure, the Jets general manager is new to the big chair, but Douglas’ realization that Sam Darnold needed a savvy, accomplished center to take the next step in his development should be lauded.
In some ways, Douglas’ decision to lure five-time Pro Bowl center Ryan Kalil out of retirement this week shouldn’t be surprising. The GM has been a witness to the impact that a veteran center can have on a young quarterback on two notable occasions.
“It’s cool to have Joe go out there and continue to get pieces that we need to succeed,” Darnold said Friday after practice. “It’s just another tool in the toolbox … to help us win games.”
Douglas watched All-Pro Jason Kelce do wonders for Carson Wentz in Philly. Kelce’s
role in Wentz’s MVP caliber second season in 2017 was real.
Douglas’ exposure to the importance of the centerquarterback relationship actually extends back a decade. He was on the Ravens staff that signed 33-year-old perennial Pro Bowler Matt Birk to help second-year quarterback Joe Flacco. Birk was an invaluable resource for Flacco for four seasons in the twilight of his career. Douglas, a former college offensive lineman, knows the deal: Centers matter … especially for evolving signal callers.
Although Adam Gase didn’t want to fork over big money for a center in free agency, the coach surely knows that there’s little downside bringing in the 34year-old Kalil on an incentive-laden, one-year deal.
“His experience, his knowledge speeds up the process,” Gase said of how Kalil can help Darnold’s growth. “There’s a lot of things that the center takes off the quarterback … He knows a form of our offense. It’s not the exact same, but he’s been in one that’s similar. He’s going to be able to help us out in that aspect. It’s going to be about those guys’ communication and getting on the same page quickly.”
Although Gase maintained that last year’s Carolina tape revealed that Kalil can still play at a high level, the 12year veteran’s institutional knowledge alone should upgrade the offense. The twotime All-Pro has plenty of wisdom in his 145 career starts that he’ll share with Darnold. From pre-snap ad
justments in the run game to protection tweaks, Kalil should take some of the stress off Darnold in his second season.
“Having a guy like that could be good … It could be really good,” Darnold admitted. “Having a center to help in the run game and just have that vet guy. He’s seen a lot of football. To have a guy out there that you’ll be able to watch tape with and he’ll be able to know when something’s coming just by watching tape. On the field on Sunday, he’ll be able to recognize something and fix the protection himself and we’ll be able to get going that way. I think it will help with tempo as well. So, there’s so many things that such a vet center can bring to the team. And we’re excited to have him.”
Credit Douglas for recognizing that going into the season with Jonotthan Harrison as the starter simply wasn’t good enough for his franchise quarterback’s development. Credit the new GM for thinking outside the box, too, at a time when many people figured that he arrived so late in the game that he could only make minor adjustments to the roster in the run-up to the season.
There’s a sense of urgency to maximize Darnold’s prodigious gifts.
Douglas pulled off the ultimate low-risk, high-reward move. The best-case scenario: Kalil turns in a second consecutive solid 16-game season that pushes Darnold further along the road to stardom.
Worst-case scenario: The shoulder and neck injuries that robbed Kalil of 18 games from 2016-17 prompt Gang Green to turn back to the player that they were preparing to be the starting center all offseason anyway.
Kalil, who initially lost some weight off his 300pound frame before gaining it back, according to Gase, isn’t expected to practice for a few days after he passes his scheduled physical. He’ll have about a month to develop a foundation with Darnold before the Bills roll into town for the season opener on Sept. 8. “We’re fired up,” Gase said. There’s good reason for that. The new GM just made a smart decision.