Sam Darnold Thinks the Jets Offense is Close to Clicking

They may be at or near the bottom of nearly every offensive statistic in the league, but New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold thinks that this team is close to breaking through and looking like something resembling an NFL offense.

The Jets offense is bad. Bottom of the NFL in total offense, worst in passing offense and second lowest scoring offense is a recipe for a 1-7 season. Adding to the frustration level is the fact in that in the past two weeks, the Jets scored on their opening drive in losses at the Jacksonville Jaguars and then this past Sunday in a loss at the Miami Dolphins.

But Darnold isn’t intimidated by their ineptitude. Instead, he sees an offense that he thinks is a play here, a block there, an inch there – all away from turning a corner and becoming more effective as a unit.

That the Jets are starting the game and moving the ball well is likely due to the fact that they have scripted their opening drive, giving Darnold and the entire offense a sense of understanding and comfort with the plays. After that opening drive is when the wheels come off.

“I think with us just staying in a rhythm and not hurting ourselves, whether it's penalties or negative plays, because we're going on-the-ball most of the game. There were only a few times when we huddled when it was penalties, timeouts, anything like that,” Darnold said on Monday.

“For most of the game we were no huddle. I think it's just about rhythm, if we can stay in a rhythm and keep having positive plays, on first down, even if we gained two, if we're in second-and-eight, that's great, that's fine. Get to third-and-manageable, get three or four the next play and get to third-and-manageable, like I said. From that aspect, when we're not hurting ourselves, we're always in rhythm and we always find a way.

“I feel like our offense, we just need to keep playing consistent and the last two weeks we've had really good drives to start out the game and then we just can't seem to keep that going. I think some of it is us not executing and the other part is killing ourselves whether it's penalties or negative plays, like I said.”

The Jets went up 7-0 this past Sunday after an 11-play, 75-yard drive that had an ideal mix of running the ball and Darnold making crisp, quick decisions in the pocket before the league’s worst offensive line could allow much of a pass rush.

The issues are deep and varied for this Jets offense.

Over the last three games, all Jets losses, Darnold has eight interceptions and has been sacked 12 times. Those numbers are a backdrop for just how poor the Jets offense as has been from top to bottom, failing not only at the quarterback position but in terms of protection as well as making plays, ball security and receivers failing to get open down the field.