KID’S ALL RIGHT
Nobody needs to panic, rookie QB Darnold is making good progress for the Jets
The rookie quarterback from Southern California looked lost in his first four games, misfiring all over the field, prompting frustrated fans to wonder: Did we get the right guy?
After all, his stats were downright ghastly (1 TD, 6 INTs, 43.5 completion rate). He flirted with the dreaded Blutarsky (0.0 passer rating) in his third start before finishing with a 4.0 rating that day. His offense generated a grand total of 41 points in 16 quarters.
Somehow, Troy Aikman turned out okay.
How about that other kid signal caller with jittery feet bent on giftwrapping the football to the opposition in his first four games?
How could such a highly touted guy have three times as many turnovers (12) as touchdowns (3) in his first four games? Those passer ratings surely must have been misprints: 58.6, 51.1, 39.3 and 63.2. He had completed just 55.5 percent of his passes, scored only 40 points and lost all four games despite having a future Hall of Fame running back by his side.
Peyton Manning miraculously lived to tell about it.
History provides perspective when it's easy to forget that it's pretty freakin' hard to be a difference-making NFL quarterback. Time is an ally even though too many people crave instant gratification.
Exhale and know this: The education of Sam Darnold is going well despite the Jets' 1-3 start entering Sunday's game against the Broncos.
Learning on the job is challenging. It's a Herculean task striking a balance between developing this talented young player and winning. Some failure, frankly, is inescapable.
“It's an exciting time for Sam,” offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates said. “He's getting a good welcome into the NFL going against some good defenses. He's learning from each experience and he is going to continue to grow.”
Darnold's numbers (4 TDs, 5 INTs, 57.5 completion rate and 72.6 passer rating) belie his progress. Sometimes the bottom line in the here and now in this bottom-line business isn't what matters most.
The Jets are Darnold's team. He's their green-and-white sun. The organization will orbit around him for at least the next decade. The most pivotal part of the 2018 season will be to cultivate his talent. Sure, wins matter. They always do. Jobs and futures are at stake. The organization is filled with competitive people. Nobody should be content with this three-game losing streak. And nobody is.
But a 21-year-old rookie quarterback comes with explicit instructions: Buckle up before you board the rollercoaster.
“He's progressing, but much like all of us, we still have a lot of room for improvement,” left tackle Kelvin Beachum said. “What I love about him is his resilience, his ability to bounce back, his ability to have resolve play in and play out, whether it's a good play or bad play.”
Darnold is moving in the right direction, which means that the Jets are moving in the right direction. The organization will ultimately prosper if/when he ultimately gets it.
There have been mistakes, breakdowns and blunders from a variety of culprits that must be fixed. But the most important piece to this puzzle is trending in the right direction.
Don't be overly concerned about Darnold's statistical about-face since the season-opening win in Detroit. His 53.8 completion rate and 63.8 passer rating in the pass three weeks will distract you from the strides that he's made that will serve him well moving forward.
Darnold's exposure to three effective – yet very different – styles of defense will make him a better player. He took important steps last week against Jacksonville's starstudded defense, playing with a clarity and comfort that eluded him in the previous game in Cleveland.
“He continues to get better,” Bates said. “I know we're not getting the results -- the wins that we want at the end of the day -- but each individual has to keep growing . ... I thought the game slowed down for him compared to (Cleveland), as far as being able to see things. He played faster as far as his progressions. So, it was a step forward in a lot of things for Sam. We still have to capitalize on some big plays.”
Darnold wasn't pleased with a pair of misfires against the Jaguars that could have given his team a chance to climb back into the game. His overthrow on a third-and-1 to Bilal Powell, who beat a linebacker, was annoying to him. His fourthquarter overthrow on a deep ball to Robby Anderson, who toasted allworld cornerback Jalen Ramsey, was frustrating too.
There were promising moments despite those incompletions. Darnold's confidence to push the ball downfield was critical after he focused on the intermediate and short areas for the first few games. His ability to see Quincy Enunwa on a secondary read on 4th-and 1
impressed teammates even though it fell for an incompletion.
“I feel like I'm just on the edge,” Darnold said of a break-through. “I've just got to continue to find completions, hit my guys deep when they are there. It will come. It's just a timing thing. It's going to click one of these games. I know it is.”
Darnold's continuing education will include trusting the big guys paid to protect him. There were some moments last week when Darnold's respect for the Jacksonville's formidable front perhaps prompted him to prematurely escape a clean pocket. It's understandable given his ability to make plays outside the pocket – and the Jaguars talent along the defensive line – but he'll have to trust that the scheme has him covered.
Easier said than done, of course, especially when Darnold will be staring across at Broncos perpetual menace Von Miller, who already has four sacks and a pair of forced fumbles, on Sunday.
“He definitely changes your game-plan,” Bates said of Miller. “You definitely have to require some thinking about where he is on the field in every situation. They move him all over the place.”
Miller can make life miserable for the Jets Sunday, but Darnold must make sure not to see ghosts. Bates remains encouraged that his pupil has the ability to put together a “complete game.” Everyone believes that better results are on the horizon.
“Tom Brady is still getting better,” Darnold said. “Josh McCown is still getting better every day. You never stop growing as a player. So that's just kind of the mentality I have. Just learn and continue to try to perfect your craft throughout my whole career… not just my rookie season.”
The Jets are on the right path with this guy.