The one, the only Rex Ryan believes, if ready, Sam Darnold should be starting for the New York Jets come Week 1.
If it was up to Rex Ryan, he wouldn’t allow those nagging Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith examples to influence his decision.
As per Rich Cimini of ESPN New York, the former bombastic New York Jets head man believes young Sam Darnold should start Week 1 (provided he’s ready).
“If the kid is ready, play him,” the former New York Jets coach said Tuesday. “Why would you stunt his growth?”
“I have a feeling the rookie will start, in my opinion, from Day 1,” Ryan said. “I would be shocked if he doesn’t start.”
“All three are decent quarterbacks, but [Josh] McCown has been a journeyman his whole life. What are you going to get there? I mean, forget it. That’s out. I mean, it’s [Teddy] Bridgewater or the rookie. If he has a good preseason, why not start the rookie?”
Rex also brought quarterback mechanics into the equation, citing his slow delivery as the one trait he doesn’t like.
“The only thing I didn’t like about him in college was his mechanics,” he said. “I think he’s a slow-deliver guy and that scares me in this league. A lot of guys will say, ‘Yeah, but we can coach that out.’ Bulls—.”
It’s true. Darnold does possess a funky, longer delivery than the usual stud QB prospect. Interestingly enough, his arm motion and delivery closely resembles that of Indianapolis Colts gunslinger Andrew Luck.
Battling veterans Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater this August, nothing will come easy for Darnold. Should he win the job, he will have truly earned it.
