SAM: I NEED TO LOCK IN
Upon further review, Sam Darnold believes he needs to make clearer decisions to avoid a repeat of the worst performance of his young career.
“At the end of the day, it’s about hitting the open guy once I understand what side of the field I’m working,” Darnold said Monday, after watching the film of the Jets’ 37-17 loss to the Vikings. “I just got to lock in a little bit better on what side of the field I need to be on…. and worry about hitting the open guy and being confident. Whether I throw it to the right guy or whether I make the wrong read, I just got to throw every ball with confidence. I think that’s my next step.”
Darnold finished with seasonlows in completion percentage (40.5) and passer rating (34.4), but he reiterated that he learned plenty from his missteps.
Darnold’s three interceptions are misleading. Although he was clearly fooled on his first pick thrown into double coverage, the other two were on his receivers.
The third one that went through Charone Peake’s hands was obviously on the pass catcher.
The second pick initially appeared to be a poor throw. However, a closer look reveals that wideout Andre Roberts was a bit slow getting out of his break at the top of the route.
That threw off the timing with Darnold, whose pass sailed in front of Roberts before it was picked off. Roberts needed to be faster on his cut.
Darnold dismissed the notion after the game that he wasn’t on the same page with Roberts, but it’s understandable that they wouldn’t be in sync given Roberts’ lack of involvement through the first six weeks.
Terrelle Pryor, who was cut after suffering a groin tear, got most of his catches from Darnold on a similar route.