SAM WILL STICK

No matter who coach is, Darnold shows he’s got what it takes to be star in NFL

quarterback with less than a full season’s worth of experience.

A 22-year-old Sam Darnold isn’t a 37-year-old Peyton Manning.

Manning had 15 years of experience and four MVPs by the time Gase entered the picture. That’s much different than where Darnold is in his development.

It was incumbent on Gase to adjust his playbook to what made the most sense for Darnold at this early stage of learning. Instead, he coached Darnold like he was coaching Manning.

“That was zero issue for me,” Gase said about being amenable to adjustments. “It makes it easier. Because now you’re not guessing. You’re not wondering what he likes and what he doesn’t like… That makes life easier if you’re the play caller.”

Gase should have had a clearer line of communication with his young quarterback. It shouldn’t have taken a guy with 17 career starts to make the first move. That speaks to a larger issue for another time.

Regardless, the conversation could be the catalyst for a much more productive second half of the season.

“It was just him coming in and saying what he liked, how he saw how he wanted to play and what fit him best,” Gase said after his team won a second consecutive game for the first time. “And that’s what you want. You want your quarterback to be able to do that. I think sometimes when you’re a younger player, you’re trying to feel everything out and see how everything works and operates. You’re learning. I think it was probably the right time.”

“He knew what he was getting really good at,” Gase continued. “He knew what was causing him to play slower. So, he was able to exactly tell me what he was looking for and how I could help him. And that’s the direction that we went.”

Darnold maintained that the chat was a reflection of the growing trust and confidence between player and coach. That relationship is obviously important, but I’m a firm believer that Darnold will turn into a star no matter which guy is on the sideline.

Look no further than his rookie campaign. Darnold was flourishing under play-caller Jeremy Bates by season’s end.

He looks a lot like that player again, with six touchdowns and only two turnovers in the last three weeks. He’s also engineered a touchdown drive on his first possession for four straight weeks.

“It’s almost to the point where what we’re calling is really almost irrelevant,” Gase said. “It’s kind of guys doing the right thing. If something’s not quite right, then Sam’s making the right decisions. He’s finding ways to get outside the pocket, making plays. Guys are doing a good job in the scramble drill stuff. They’re doing a better job as far as understanding how each other play.”

Darnold is going to make a lot of people look smart for a very long time.