‘Good food’ key to Jets’ Darnold staying in shape
Sam Darnold’s key to coming into training camp in shape is easy: avoid the double-double.
“I’m making sure I’m not eating whatever I want to eat. I’m not having In-N-Out every single day and making sure I’m eating good food,” Darnold said Wednesday. “Putting the right things in my body that’s a huge part of it. I’m working out four or five days a week. I don’t have to worry about how much work I put in. It’s really about what I’m putting in my body.”
The 23-year-old said he concentrated this offseason on a few things in his workouts.
“It’s making sure I’m doing everything I can to make my lower body as strong as possible and making sure my upper body stays loose, I guess for lack of a better term,” Darnold said. “Making sure I’m still staying strong. I want to make sure my arm is ready to go. Keep my arm in shape and keep my core right.”
Darnold won’t have to worry about In-N-Out in New Jersey. When he returns to California, he can pay a visit. He gave his go-to order: “Number 1, grilled onions, Neopolitan shake. Easy.”
➤ Coaches and teammates say they see a difference in Darnold in Year 3 in the NFL and Year 2 in Adam Gase’s offense.
“Sam is a lot more comfortable,” running back Le’Veon Bell said. “You can tell just by the way he’s talking to guys. It’s more of a sternness to him. … He knows he can hold guys more accountable because he’s not going to mess up. Even with coach Gase, he may call something and Sam’s correcting him now. Sam’s getting to that point where he’s really starting to understand the offense. It’s going to be fun. I’m excited.”
Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains said Darnold’s grasp on the offense is clear.
“The biggest thing I see with him is command. He can speak with more confidence,” Loggains said. “Last year he learned it. We need to see command from him now to be an extension of the coaching staff.”
➤ The Jets ramped up practice on Wednesday, per the NFL’s guidelines. They were able to do some on-field work with helmets on. It is similar to the Phase 2 practices they have in the spring. They will do more of that on Thursday and then shift into an OTA type practice on Friday where they can do a little more on the field. They can put the pads on Monday.