For Jets wide receiver Jamison Crowder, chemistry is key.
After leaving Washington and signing with New York in free agency, Crowder has spent his offseason getting to know his new teammates and learning Adam Gase’s offensive scheme.
Not only is Crowder adjusting to new surroundings, but he is also getting used to catching passes from Sam Darnold. For the third time in as many years, Crowder is working with a new quarterback. In 2017, Crowder was on the receiving end of passes from Kirk Cousins. When Cousins left the Redskins in free agency, Crowder spent 2018 working with Alex Smith and the handful of signal callers that followed after Smith’s season-ending leg injury.
Now, Crowder is focused on developing a strong bond with Darnold. With New York’s offense primed to take the next step in 2019, his relationship with the second year signal caller will be a crucial aspect of the Jets’ success on that side of the ball.
“At the end of the day, a lot of times it’s just going out there — even though for me it’s a new system and for him [Sam Darnold] it’s a new system — and playing football,” Crowder said. “We play ball, college and pro, whatever it may be we play a lot of ball. So just going out there and playing and trying to get that chemistry and kind of getting a feel for what he likes and telling him what I like, I think that’s the thing as far as building chemistry. But still, once you get the play and stuff down and go out there, it’s still just playing football at the end of the day.”
Early on, Crowder has been impressed with what he sees out of Darnold. Throughout offseason workouts, the USC product has opened Crowder’s eyes with his accuracy as the two work to develop a solid rapport.
“I think that he’s very good. He’s still a young quarterback trying to learn in this league, which I’m trying to learn as well,” Crowder said. “He has a lot of potential. He can really throw the football with accuracy. I think at this point right now, I’m just trying to get that chemistry and that bond between me and him. I think he’s really good.”
It’s encouraging that Darnold and his newest weapon have gotten off on the right foot. With Crowder in the slot, Robby Anderson and Quincy Enunwa out wide, Chris Herndon at tight end and Le’Veon Bell in the backfield, New York’s offense has the potential to be a dynamic one if everything comes together.
In order for that to happen, the group’s chemistry will have to be firing on all cylinders. So far, so good in that regard for Crowder and Darnold.
