Sam Darnold Unshaken During Down Year but Has Nothing to Prove Against the Giants
Sam Darnold is confident that the New York Jets and his dour second season in the NFL can bounce back. It is this confidence that leads the quarterback to quietly rest in his abilities.
This also means he has nothing to prove, especially when going up against one of the teams that passed him in the draft two years ago.
This has been a difficult sophomore season in the NFL for Darnold. Not only are the Jets 1-7, but Darnold has been through a bit of a slump. He was sidelined for several games earlier in the season after a diagnosis of mono and outside of the Jets surprising win over the Dallas Cowboys, he’s never really built on the promise of his rookie year.
On Sunday, the Jets host the New York Giants in a rivalry game that carries an interesting under-current. The Giants picked running back Saquon Barkley with the second pick of the draft, taking the Penn State star over Darnold.
Of course the Jets took Darnold with the next pick. Darnold said he has nothing to prove against a Giants team that ignored their need at quarterback and went with Barkley.
“That is not how I am wired. I am just going to go out there and try to play ball, try to play good football, watch tape and go out there and just try to execute,” Darnold said.
“Like I said, we need a win, so anyway we can get it, I am just going to go out there and just try to do that.”
Darnold called Barkley “an electric player” as the running back stepped in right away to cement himself as one of the best running backs in the league last year. The Giants made the right pick in taking Barkley and the Jets benefitted by selecting a quarterback that looks like he will be the foundation of their franchise.
So many of the issues for the Jets offense have nothing to do with Darnold. The line has conceded the most quarterback hits in the league this year and the running game is the worst in the league. That support hasn’t helped Darnold grow as a franchise quarterback.
His development is clearly stunted this year if not regressed given all these issues, including his battle with mono earlier in the year. But while everything that surrounds this team is currently frustrating, Darnold said he is still confident that the Jets offense can turn things around.
A belief in himself and a confidence that this offense can bounce back hasn’t wavered one bit.
“I mean it can't,” Darnold said. “For me I am confident in my game and how I prepare so with that being said, it is not going to waver.”
