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This is from Pro Football 101, but it’s worth repeating.
If a rookie quarterback is going to have success, he needs to be on a team with a strong running game and good defense.
Case-in-point, the 2016 Dallas Cowboys with Dak Prescott, who as a rookie, threw 23 touchdowns to just four interceptions with a 104.9 QB rating, and completing 67.8 completion percentage.
That year, the Cowboys had one of the best offensive lines in NFL history, and Zeke Elliott ran for 1631 yards, 15 touchdowns and a 5.1 average per carry.
This allowed Prescott sell play-action fakes and bootlegs, which makes the QB position a lot simpler. These plays, when you have a great running game, create a lot of wide open receivers and easy one-read throws, which is a ideal for a rookie QB, because it doesn’t require a lot of reading of defenses.
You also need a good defense to keep the scores down because it’s unrealistic to expect rookie quarterbacks to light up the scoreboard and win shootouts, especially against veteran quarterbacks.
I keep hearing from people who say that Sam Darnold isn’t getting a lot of help from his running game and defense. If you feel this way, then why start him? You might say for experience, and that is fine, but don’t expect to compile a lot of wins.
Rookie QB + pedestrian running game + bad defense = rough season.
As usual, I feel obligated to say I think Darnold is a terrific prospect, so what I just wrote isn’t in any way me questioning the pick or his potential.
I’m just talking about what is going on now.
But clearly the narrative the Jets want every to buy into is they are developing a rookie QB AND also trying to win.
However, it’s almost impossible to do both when the rookie QB doesn’t have a good running game or stout defense . . .
Jets offensive line coach Rick Dennison has a great reputation in the NFL.
“He is probably the best in the NFL – he’s a great teacher,” Troy Aikman said about Rick Dennison during the Jets-Browns broadcast.
Dennison has a lot of work to do. The Jets’ offensive line is really struggling now with stunts and twists.
Against the Cleveland Browns, Myles Garrett started off at his end spot, but when the play started, he twisted into the middle and sacked Sam Darnold. Jets center Spencer Long was busy double-teaming somebody else. The same thing happened against the Jacksonville Jaguars with Malik Jackson doing the same thing, and Long once again was involved doubling somebody else.
Dennison better get this fixed this week with Von Miller, Bradley Chubb and Shane Ray coming to town. You know darn well they’re going to run a bunch of stunts and twists . . .
With Josh Martin being put on IR with a concussion, and his career likely over, this will give Jerry Attaochu more of a chance to play. For some reason he didn’t play much up until now. He’s the Jets most talented edge-rusher.
After Martin left the game in Jacksonville, Attaochu was very active showing a good motor and athletic ability.
He is the all-time sack leader in Georgia Tech history and runs 4.6.
This guy can help the Jets.
Often with Coach Bowles, it takes an injury to make a line-up change. He’s very loyal to his starters, and takes a lot for a change to happen.
So now we will see more of a Attaochu, and I think you will be impressed.
October 4, 2018
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