QuickFix: Saucy Nuggets from the Jets' loss to the Patriots
We're going to continue today's analysis with some things you might not have noticed from yesterday's loss to the Patriots:
What in the Sam Hell was that?
As soon as Sam Darnold found himself tied to Adam Gase, he was always destined to be linked to Peyton Manning. Gase is trying to get Darnold to play like Manning, who he had success with at the tail end of his career in Denver.
Last night, in the 16th game of his career, Darnold had his worst start so far, but maybe there's reason to believe he can overcome this. After all, in the 16th start of his career, Manning was putting the finishing touches on a 3-13 rookie season. So he had struggles early on in his career and still became great.
However, the bad news is that Manning was never this bad. In fact, for any quarterback to post a statline like the one Darnold posted last night and still ultimately become great is basically unprecedented.
Darnold completed a woeful 11 of 32 passes for just 86 yards and with four interceptions.
For an NFL quarterback to throw so many passes and complete so few is something that has happened 65 times in history, including seven times by hall of famers. So it can happen.
But...breaking down those 65 games a little more carefully makes for alarmingly stark reading.
For a quarterback to throw at least 32 passes and complete 11 or less is something that has only happened six other times this millennium. Furthermore, Darnold had a lower average for yards per completion than all six and was the only one to throw more than three interceptions.
Of the hall of famers that did this, the only one since the NFL-AFL merger was Jim Kelly in 1992. And it's not like Kelly had a game like that when he was young and bounced back later in his career to become good. This happened later on in his career, when he was 32.
In fact, only two quarterbacks since the merger have posted this kind of statline when they were less than 24. One was Heath Shuler and the other was Drew Bledsoe - who, fittingly, when he did it at age 23 against the Jets and his team still won. In fact, Bledsoe did this three times and went 2-1 in those games. This isn't really the kind of elite company Darnold wants to be linked to.
The kind of company he is going to be linked to for this performance is Mark Sanchez who went 11 for 35 for 119 yards with one interception in a memorably terrible game against the Ravens. Many still point to that game as having had a long-lasting effect on Sanchez's ability to trust his protection and make anticipatory throws.
If the goal is to get Darnold to play like Peyton Manning and he instead plays like Mark Sanchez, something has gone horribly wrong.
Last week, we were hoping that the Bills game where Darnold missed a number of downfield opportunities was an aberration and that we'd seen the true Darnold against Dallas. Right now, you have to worry that last week was the aberration and the teams ahead on the Jets schedule will now have some film on how to bother him.
Yikes.
Edging their bets
In their search for a reliable edge rush option, perhaps the Jets have discovered one from an unexpected source: Quinnen Williams.
Nice arm-over move here by Williams, who beats the veteran Marcus Cannon for a pressure, although the Pats still got a first down on the play due to a penalty. This wasn't the only time Williams lined up outside either.
Of course, this is highly unlikely to become his primary role and would probably be a huge mistake if it did, but Williams is starting to showcase some versatility and making different kinds of positive contributions, that's a good sign for his future.
Williams was also credited with two run stuffs, including one for a loss and batted down a pass.
Trevon Wesco catches a pass!
In yesterday's game, Trevon Wesco caught a pass. Here is a clip of Trevon Wesco catching that pass.
Way to catch that pass, Trevon Wesco!
Much more analysis to come later today and over the next few days. Please let us know who you'd like to see us feature in more detail in 3-on-D and 3-on-O.