Former New York Jets coach Bill Parcells likes what he sees in new quarterback Sam Darnold.
Twenty years ago, Bill Parcells was leading the New York Jets to a 12-4 record. 1998 was the year that the Jets ran their way to an AFC Championship game matchup against the Broncos in which they were leading in the third quarter. Back then, Vinny Testaverde was the quarterback of a team ready to win immediately. So what do these current Jets have in common with the 1998 edition?
The head coach of the 1998 team is a fan of the quarterback on the current roster. Yes, coach Parcells likes what he sees in the young Mr. Sam Darnold. Brian Costello of the NY Post talked to coach Parcells, here is what he had to say about Sam:
"“I really think he’s interested in winning,” Parcells told The Post on Sunday. “I say this in a complimentary way, I don’t think he’s ready to be a star, if you know what I mean. Some of these guys come out of the draft and they’re ready to be a star. I think he’s ready to be a football player.”"
Now that may sound like a small comment, calling someone a football player. However, from coach, it’s huge. He reserves that type of praise for players like Lawrence Taylor and Curtis Martin. Young readers, go ahead and look for video on Taylor if you want to see a fantastic linebacker. He will make you re-think everything you know about playing defense in the NFL. I promise.
You may be wondering what Parcells had to do with Darnold? Well according to Costello, his agent arranged a meeting for both Darnold and Wyoming prospect Josh Allen. Listening to Darnold speak of the meeting, he apparently took copious notes and took a valuable lesson from the get together:
"“I think the main thing was just, ‘Get back in the huddle,’ ” Darnold said of what he took from the meeting. “That was his phrase that he kept saying. No matter what the score is on Sunday, no matter what happens on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday, just get back in the huddle that next week. There was a lot of things I took away from Coach Parcells. I have like two pages of notes.”"
It sounds basic but it actually is an important lesson. A great deal can happen to a young quarterback that could shake their confidence. They will see defensive concepts they have never seen before. They will turn the ball over. They will get sacked. They might cost the team a game, maybe multiple games. How do they respond?
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Young quarterbacks could fold up the tent and lose their confidence in the face of adversity. They can’t. They must establish themselves as the leader of the franchise and get back in the huddle. They must have short memories, and that is what coach was trying to get across to Darnold.
We know how great of a coach Bill was, even for a short time. He likes what he sees in Darnold. That is a good sign.