New York Jets Sam Darnold is the best quarterback in the AFC East

Coaching

Buffalo is coached by Sean McDermott, who is one of the top up-and-coming head coaches in football. He’s developed a stout defense and worked a game plan to the offense’s strengths.

New York Jets head coach Adam Gase could not be further from that. He was the worst head coach in the NFL last year. Darnold found himself in situations where it appeared as if Gase was actively trying to sabotage his quarterback’s career. Darnold is no seven-step drop passer. He’s a gunslinger who is better when he’s moving out of the pocket. That’s why he was so unique in college and as a pro prospect.

Gase has tried to keep him in the pocket seemingly at all costs, and it’s mind-boggling. The fact that Darnold’s numbers are still better than Allen’s speaks volumes about the type of player that the New York Jets QB is.

Gase is also known as an “offensive guru” by many. Why is unknown, because he consistently produces terrible offenses every year. He has worked in six organizations in 17 years and has only been four winning seasons to show for his work.

Without Peyton Manning, it’s much worse. Gase has had one winning season out of 14, sans Manning. In five seasons as a play-caller, his offenses had rankings of 21st, 24th, 25th, 31st, and 32nd.

Not only did Darnold have to deal with Gase and his puppet offensive coordinator/ quarterback coach Dowell Loggains in 2019, but he also had to run for his life as his pocket collapsed more often than it did to his colleague. Darnold was one the most pressured quarterback in the entire NFL, facing the heat on 41.6 percent of dropbacks. Despite that, he passed for 10 touchdowns under pressure.