Jets' Bates: 'We're throwing everything' at Sam Darnold
The New York Jets apparently aren't taking it easy on rookie quarterback Sam Darnold.
Offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates said Wednesday the team is giving Darnold a full test this offseason. It could be an opportunity for Darnold to prove he's worthy of starting in 2018.
"Are we giving him bits and pieces of the offense or are we throwing everything at him? We're throwing everything at him," Bates said, according to Manish Mehta of the Daily News. "If he can handle it, if he can prove that he's the starter, then that will take place when the time comes."
The No. 3 pick has impressed his OC with how quickly he's picked up whatever has been asked of him.
"People don't understand that getting a snap from under center and the huddle experience of calling these long paragraph kind of plays," Bates said. "It's not easy. I've been around some rookies that took a whole year to be able to get in a huddle and have confidence and calls those plays. Ever since rookie minicamp, he hasn’t flinched. Everything we've thrown at him, he’s been able to handle. So, we’re excited."
Darnold will head into July's training camp battling with veterans Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater for the starting job.