Jets failing Darnold by not giving him enough help, making excuses
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — He is being dissected in every imaginable way, every throw, every pass, every decision to the nth degree. He is measured and humble inside the crucible of playing quarterback in the NFL. He wows and disappoints.
But know this: Sam Darnold can be a true difference-maker in this cut-throat line of work. He just needs more help.
The Jets have failed their 23-year-old signal-caller so far, shopping on the clearance rack and hoping for miracles. It’s a poor way to foster growth during this critical stage of Darnold’s development.
While teams like the Bills, Cardinals, Ravens and Browns (yes, the Browns) have prioritized supplying playmakers for their young quarterbacks, the Jets are plodding along, bringing in subpar pieces and operating with financial restrictions, while publicly claiming to aid the most important player for this wayward franchise.
It’s bordering on football malpractice, asking a developing quarterback to change in a phone booth to mask roster deficiencies that could have easily been avoided in the past year. Empty promises about taking care of Darnold are just that: white noise.
The Jets repeatedly passed on opportunities in the past year to supply Darnold with high-quality protection and playmakers. Gang Green’s brain trust should thank the football Gods that Mekhi Becton somehow fell to them in the draft. Otherwise, the picture might be messier.
Darnold is the ultimate company man, who will support every teammate, coach and executive regardless of reality. He’s a genuinely good person, who wants to see the good in everyone. So, his response in the run-up to Sunday’s game against the 49ers about the prevailing sentiment that he doesn’t have enough weapons was predictable.
“That’s not true at all,” said Darnold, who’s 11-16 as a starter. “We got really good playmakers.”
He obviously doesn’t. Look at who’ll be in the huddle this week with Jamison Crowder, Le’Veon Bell and Denzel Mims each shelved with hamstring injuries.
Darnold’s supporting cast this week: Breshad Perriman, Chris Hogan, Braxton Berrios, Frank Gore, Chris Herndon and Ryan Griffin.
The Jets are asking Darnold to be a comic book hero rather than actually providing real assistance. They let a wide receiver with a growing rapport with Darnold leave in free agency over a few million bucks. Robby Anderson had six catches for 115 yards and a touchdown in his first game with his new team. The Jets settled on the cheaper option that had three catches for 17 yards last week.
The Jets went on the cheap to re-configure their offensive line, too. How did the general manager’s offseason pet project do in Week 1?
Consider the facts: Darnold was pressured on a leaguehigh 42.1% of his drop-backs last season. He was pressured a league-high 44.7% among QBs who played on Sunday against the Bills behind the new offensive line.
The Jets CEO called Darnold a “sterling” quarterback this week. The head coach admitted that he needs to find a better way to get his pupil in a better flow early after the offensive disappointment in the season opener.
It’s more of the same talk that we’ve heard for a year and a half. We have to do this. We’re going to do that. We have a plan.
“If you’re not trying to win a Super Bowl every year,” the general manager said, “You shouldn’t be in this business.”