For Jets quarterback Sam Darnold to take the next step in his career, he can’t do it alone. The team needs to give him a solid running game, reliable receivers, and an improved offensive line.
Darnold is entering his third NFL season. For young NFL starting quarterbacks, the third season is the money season. Are they making the same mistakes as when they were rookies? Is the team moving in the right direction with them as the team leader? Can they be trusted with more responsibility?
The Jets are looking to have those questions answered this season, but, as I mentioned earlier, they’ll need to help their young quarterback along the way.
In their week one matchup with the Buffalo Bills, the Jets showed they still have issues which can derail Darnold’s progression.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen led three consecutive first-half touchdown drives to help lead his team to a 27-17 home win over the Jets.
Here are three takeaways I took from an inconsistent Jets performance:
The Jets offensive line still needs work
Yes, it’s only the first game of the season. And, yes, there was no preseason for teams to work out the kinks and build chemistry. But it’s either go hard or go home. The revamped offensive line for the Jets will take some time to find their stride.
Rookie offensive tackle Mekhi Becton has potential to be great. He’s also going to encounter his share of growing pains this season. The Bills threw a fierce pass rush at the Jets with Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison. That’s a heck of a first test for Becton.
Sam Darnold was sacked three times, on two of them I saw Becton was beat by his man.
Overall, the line was inconsistent. The unit started off poorly and struggled to open lanes for the running backs. Darnold was unable to settle down and was repeatedly flushed out of the pocket. This is a revamped line that general manager Joe Douglas strategically assembled in the offseason. The primary goal is to take care of Darnold and to help improve the run game. Both areas remain in need of improvement.
The run game was non-existent
This was a familiar sighting from last season. Le’Veon Bell came into camp 24 pounds lighter after intense offseason training. Let me be the first to tell you that if the Jets’ offensive line doesn’t do better at run-blocking, it won’t matter how light Bell looks out there.
The Jets ran for 52 yards on 15 carries, that type of performance is unacceptable. Bell didn’t play much in the second half after injuring his hamstring. Frank Gore was brought in to help balance out the workload, but the veteran only carried the ball six times for 24 yards.
Head coach Adam Gase needs more from his running game. The running game needs more from the offensive line. And Sam Darnold needs more from all of them.
Lack of playmakers will hurt the Jets this season
When Buffalo needed to make a play, Josh Allen or Stefon Diggs stepped up. When they needed to move the chains, Cole Beasley made a key catch. The Jets just don’t have that right now and this game was a clear indication of it.
Darnold was picked off by Bills linebacker Matt Milano on a weak pass which clearly was a forced throw. It was Darnold trying to make a play on his own. Poor decision, but, no one else had stepped up either at that point.
Darnold did hit Jamison Crowder on a 69-yard touchdown catch and run. Crowder was Darnold’s playmaker last season, but the Jets need more from their offense.
Tight end Chris Herndon had a big fumble in the second half which helped shift momentum back to Buffalo.
There were too many times in this game where Darnold needed one of his skilled receivers or backs to make a play and nothing happened. This will only lead to more of Darnold forcing passes into coverage, taking sacks and regressing as a starting quarterback.
