New York Jets: Adam Gase wants Sam Darnold to ‘Play Like Peyton’

New York Jets HC Adam Gase wants to unlock the full potential of Sam Darnold. Here are all the details on how he plans on making that happen.

While some New York Jets fans questioned the hiring of Adam Gase as the head coach this past offseason, there was always one big positive on the resume of the failed Dolphins HC; the then record-breaking season as the offensive coordinator of Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos.

Gase himself hasn’t forgotten about that experience either, and it became the focal point of his first meeting with Sam Darnold back in April, as he brought one message to Sam on that day: Play like Peyton.

Sure, it’s a lot easier said than done to achieve such a feat, but according to a report from ESPN’s Rich Cimini, this is how Gase introduced himself to Darnold, and it’s worked absolute wonders for their relationship thus far.

Upon their first meeting back in April, the two sat down and watched film from that iconic season in Denver, and while some believe that Gase rode Manning’s coattails that year, he played a big role in the team’s success, and all the wisdom he gained will help him in molding Sam into the star we all know he can be.

“We might be different personalities, but we have that one commonality — and that’s football,” Darnold said via Rich Cimini of ESPN. “As long as we’re on the same team and we’re trying to win games, we’re going to get along. We’ll be solid. I think the whole NFL will notice that by midseason.”

Gase doesn’t expect record-breaking numbers from Darnold in 2019, but if he can follow the tempo that Manning set while using Gase’s offense from that year, it may be the key to unlocking the former USC stud’s unlimited potential.

The two have quickly bonded over this offseason, with everyone seemingly on the same page, working towards one goal, and with both men’s work ethic, desire for knowledge and success, this spells plenty of positivity for the New York Jets and their fans.

Ultimately, only time will tell if this combination can lead the Jets to success and help Darnold become the Messiah of the organization that some already see him as, but everything we’ve seen so far from Gase points to the team turning it around in 2019.