Darnold: Gang's 'O' success is all in the 'details'
Jets get big piece back with Maye’s return
IT WASN’T exactly Joe Namath before Super Bowl III, but Sam Darnold all but predicted greatness from the Jets offense this season.
“If we can get the details right, I think we’ll be hard to beat,” Darnold said Sunday at the end of practice at the Jets’ training facility in Florham Park.
By details Darnold means finetuning an Adam Gase offense that is still building a scheme to take advantage of all of its weapons. It’s an evolving process that adds meaning to the preseason as Darnold and Gase learn the skills of those on his roster.
“That’s where we can really use these preseason games to our advantage,” Darnold said, “really understanding what guys do well. The fact of the matter is when the lights come on, some guys play well. We kind of got a glimpse of that in [the first] preseason game. There were a lot of guys who upped their game when the lights came on and it was good to see. As these preseason games continue we’re going to keep finding guys who play well. With this offense we haven’t found anyone who shies away from the bright lights either. It’s going to be fun and we’re going to continue to go out there and play football.”
Versatile running back Le’Veon Bell didn’t play in the Jets 31-22 loss to the Giants on Thursday night in MetLife Stadium, and the first-team offense was in for just one series. But the Jets are giddy over their sevenplay, 75-yard touchdown drive to start the game and see it as validation they may have something special brewing.
Receiver Jamison Crowder was one of those players who upped his game under the lights, catching two of Darnold’s four completions on the scoring drive, including a 3-yard touchdown pass. The Jets also look like they’ll use running back Ty Montgomery in a versatile role and it should get even more interesting when Gase starts to showcase Bell.
Bell has gotten plenty of work in training camp lining up a various positions including at wideout. It’s a weapon Darnold is looking forward to exploiting.
“With him being able to catch the football and run routes, it definitely makes it hard on a defense,” Darnold said. “If a cornerback takes Bell then one of our receivers probably has a good matchup inside. If a linebacker tries to guard Bell, he’s going to have a hard time guarding him. It definitely adds an extra element to our offense.”
Gase has mentioned several times how much “fun” it has been calling plays for this offense. You get the feeling he’s just getting started. He was speaking generally when he outlined the Jets’ plans for adapting their offensive and defensive schemes to their personnel.
“Right now in the preseason, we’re going to challenge our guys,” he said. “We’re going to play a lot of man. We’re going to do a lot things where it’s hard and one-on-one. You have to see where you’re at with those guys.”
Gase and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams are known for their creativity, which is evolving as they learn the skill sets of their players. The receivers are an example. Robby Anderson is the burner; Quincy Enunwa offers a physical presence while Crowder is fearless over the middle.
“That’s tough to defend when you have three different body types and player styles to guard,” Crowder said. “I think we complement each other pretty well.”
Gase praised how Darnold controlled the “tempo” of the offense against the Giants. Getting the play called, getting to the line of scrimmage and getting ready to run a play can put constant pressure on a defense.
“If we can control the tempo we stay on the attack and the defense has to react to us instead of us reacting to what the defense is doing,” Darnold said. “If we just stay on the attack and continue in that good tempo, the defense has to react to us and that makes it hard on them.”
It’s all in the details.
The Jets got one piece of their starting secondary back on Sunday.
Safety Marcus Maye was activated off of the physically unable to perform list and practiced for the first time in training camp. Maye was not cleared to do everything, but he participated in positional drills and seven-onsevens.
“It felt great,” Maye said. “It’s been a long process but just getting out there running around, getting the feel of things, being out there with the guys it definitely feels good to be back.”
Maye is returning from shoulder surgery that ended his year last season. Jets coach Adam Gase said last week there was a nerve issue that delayed Maye’s return.
“I’m just glad he can’t bother me about it anymore,” Gase said. “He’s been begging me to get out there. We were trying to be smart with putting him out there. We didn’t want to be wrong. If we were a little cautious, that was fine. We were all in agreement that we wanted to make sure that he was in a good spot to where he can really start hitting and make sure his strength was up. That was the key to everything.”
Maye has had a string of injuries since the end of 2017, his rookie season. He had ankle, thumb and shoulder injuries last season.
“It’s frustrating but it comes with the game,” Maye said. “There’s nothing that I can do out there just playing football. You just have to deal with it. You take it on the chin and keep going.” ➤ Gase praised rookie WR Greg Dortch for his play in Thursday’s preseason opener against the Giants. Dortch had a long punt return and scored a touchdown late in the game. “Seeing Dortch on the punt return, that was good for all of us,” Gase said. “Just kind of seeing where are options are for Brant [ Boyer, special teams coordinator] in that area. He did some things at wide receiver. We need to get some things cleaned up with him but I think he’s doing a good job of trying to do what he’s coached. It’s a little different than what he’s done in the past.”
➤ RG Brian Winters suffered a shoulder injury in the Giants game on an extra point and is “week-to-week,” according to Gase. … The Jets held out DL
Leonard Williams (hip) again. “We’re going to be slow with that,” Gase said. … LB Avery
Williams (foot) did not practice. …C Ryan Kalil had pads on for the first time since signing with the Jets on Aug. 3. He did individual drills, but not team. ➤ The Packers claimed CB Derrick Jones off waivers from the Jets. The 2017 sixth-round pick was waived by Gang Green on Saturday.