New York Jets Coach Adam Gase Must Find Some New Stuff In His Play Sheet To Help Sam Darnold

Third-year quarterback New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold will return to the lineup today against visiting Buffalo after missing two games because of a sprained AC joint in his right (throwing) shoulder.

One easy narrative for the understandably frustrated New York Jets’ fan base has been to lay the blame for Darnold’s inconsistent performances on beleaguered head coach Adam Gase for not maximizing Darnold’s strengths through his game plans and play-calling.  

Like many narratives, it is somewhat flawed. But there is some truth to it, and it was on display last Sunday in the second straight game that Darnold sat out. 

Although Gase has become infamous among his critics for his gameday habit of often having his head buried in his play sheets, seemingly unwilling to engage in dialogue with others on the sideline, he doesn’t seem to have much variety on those sheets. A case in point: 

Early in the 24-0 loss to Miami, ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky tweeted this: 

Note the timestamp of 4:18 p.m. 

Late in the first quarter, the Jets apparently converted a third-and-2 with a 15-yard pass to Brett Perriman. But the play was wiped out by an offensive pass interference penalty on tight end Ryan Griffin on, you guessed it, a pick play off a three-man formation on the left side. A botched snap because of a miscommunication between backup quarterback Joe Flacco and center Connor McGovern resulted in a 6-yard loss after the 10-yard penalty, and the Jets were forced to punt. 

Only two more plays were snapped in the first quarter, which ended at approximately 4:41 p.m., long after Orlovsky’s tweet. If TV analysts know what’s coming, it’s safe to say opposing defensive coordinators also know it.

The worst thing about that particular call is the risk/reward aspect. The potential 10-yard penalty is very damaging when in field-goal range, as it was in this case.

Gase also has a habit of calling “go” routes, aka deep routes, against maximum blitzes. The problem with that is obvious in that the quarterback, in this case, Flacco, is throwing off his back foot and hoping the ball will get there. This happened at least twice against the Dolphins and resulted in incompletions. 

Gase has steadfastly refused to relinquish play-calling duties. But it’s clear he needs to improve at it. Now. 

Youth must be served. Speaking of which, Gase didn’t exactly make good on his plan to showcase fourth-round pick La’Mical Perine now that former All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell had been banished by the Jets (briefly) to the unemployment line before signing with Kansas City. 

(Perhaps not coincidentally, the Jets visit the Chiefs next Sunday.) 

Frank Gore, the 37-year-old veteran whom Gase brought in to be a locker-room presence, again got the most touches against the Dolphins. He had 11 rushing attempts and four receptions on four targets. Perine had seven carries and two receptions on three targets. 

Perine dropped the one non-catch, and Gase (sort of) explained after the game, “I was just kind of watching those guys, the body language. I know after Perine dropped that one ball, I was just trying to make sure he was good confidence-wise. I didn’t want him to go in the wrong direction.”

Well, Perine needs to learn to play through his mistakes, like any young player. And that’s what Gase should have let him do. 

Perhaps even more egregious was the fact that Ty Johnson, claimed off waivers from Detroit earlier this month, ripped off runs of 8 and 34 yards on consecutive plays. He then sat for the rest of that series, including second-and-2 and third-and-1 situations, and had only one more carry the rest of the day. 

There’s something to be said for riding the hot hand. Johnson finally had provided a spark for New York’s moribund offense, yet he rotted on the bench most of the rest of the night. It’s difficult to explain.  

Douglas working the phones. One enduring image from the CBS
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broadcast of that Jets-Dolphins game was general manager Joe Douglas briefly shielding his eyes as if he couldn’t bear to watch. But Douglas has his eyes wide-open in terms of potential opportunities, as the Election Day NFL trade deadline approaches. 

After the game, it was announced that the Jets had dealt veteran nose tackle and inspirational leader Steve McLendon and a seventh-round draft pick in 2023 to Tampa Bay for a sixth-round pick in 2022. He also made a similar trade with San Francisco, which received outside linebacker Jordan Willis and a seventh-round pick next year in exchange for a sixth-rounder in 2022. Willis had been inactive the past three games.  

What this means is that Douglas obviously is not sitting on his hands, and that, as linebacker Avery Williamson said after Bell was cut, “no one is safe.” Expect more moves by Nov. 3 if Douglas can make them happen.