FLORHAM PARK
Brent Qvale Jerseys 2019 , N.J. (AP) — Josh McCown has seen many rookies step into the white-hot spotlight of the NFL and struggle.The veteran New York Jets quarterback has also watched some youngsters thrive in the pressure, so he could be considered a bit of an expert on the topic.That’s why it says a lot when McCown raves about Sam Darnold, the No. 3 overall pick who’s considered the future of the franchise.“I don’t want to put any undue expectations on him, but I’ve been very impressed with him, I’ll be honest with you,” the 39-year-old McCown said after practice Saturday.“Of any kind of rookie player I’ve been around, he’s been impressive how he’s handled information from the classroom and then to take it to the (practice) field and then take it to the game, he’s done just an excellent job of that.”Darnold is competing with McCown and Bridgewater for the starting job, and the Jets are giving their prized rookie every opportunity to be under center when New York opens the regular season at Detroit on Sept. 10.Darnold got the bulk of the snaps during practice Saturday, but split time with the first-team offense, mostly with McCown. Coach Todd Bowles hasn’t announced who’ll start against the Giants on Friday night, when the starters are expected to play into the second half.The 21-year-old former USC star had a terrific debut in the preseason opener against Atlanta and had an up-and-down performance in his first NFL start last Thursday at Washington. Darnold went 8 of 11 for 62 yards with an interception and was sacked twice against the Redskins.“After watching the tape, I thought I managed the game really well,” Darnold said. “I feel like there was one play down in the red zone where I could’ve maybe squeezed it into Jermaine (Kearse). It was the third down when I got sacked down there. So, just that play really sticks out to me.”Then, Darnold pointed out another play in which he was intercepted by Troy Apke on a pass intended for Kearse on fourth-and-1 from the Redskins 20 midway through the second quarter. The rookie said there wasn’t much else he could’ve done on the play other than to maybe try a corner route to Robby Anderson.“Other than that, I thought I played a pretty solid game,” he said.Darnold isn’t afraid to point out his miscues, which says a lot about his overall confidence in himself.“He’s been impressive,” McCown said. “It’s a credit to his character that he has put the time in and we’ve just got to keep going and keep growing
White Robby Anderson Jerseys , but so far (he’s) one of the most impressive guys as a rookie that I’ve been around. … Like when Anquan Boldin came on the scene, he just kind of exploded years ago. He’s got kind of that same ability to operate like he’s been here before.“It’s not too big for him. I think that’s the biggest thing.”McCown witnessed the hype surrounding JaMarcus Russell when he came to the Raiders as the No. 1 overall pick in 2007. The former LSU star was out of the league just three years later.McCown was with Cleveland in 2015, when Johnny Manziel was in his second NFL season. Manziel struggled so much on and off the field that he was out of the NFL after that year and is now playing in the CFL trying to resurrect his football career.“Some of the other rookies I’ve been around probably didn’t come in as prepared or as ready for this league, I think, as Sam,” McCown said. “When you talk about whether it’s JaMarcus Russell or Johnny Manziel or some of those guys, they came in and (with) Sam, he’s ready to go as far as it doesn’t seem too big for him right now.“He’s a mature kid. I think that’s the main thing, and I think that gives him a chance.”Others have noticed, too. During joint practices with the Redskins during the week, cornerback Josh Norman spoke glowingly of Darnold’s abilities.“It’s awesome,” Darnold said. “It’s cool to be able to, I guess, have his respect, but I think it’s just cool to have a guy like that to notice me doing well in practice. You don’t really expect a vet to really talk about a rookie like that.”But, in Darnold’s typical calm and cool approach, he didn’t make too much of the kudos.“He was really just saying that some rookies can’t throw the ball and I can throw it,” he said with a laugh. “He was definitely very nice after the game, too, and we shared some words. So it was cool to be able to talk to him a little bit after and kind of just pick his brain on what he’s looking for
Robby Anderson Jerseys 2019 , in terms of quarterbacks.There it is again: Darnold is always trying to learn, or at least glean a little extra info that can make him better.“I knew he was smart, and everybody learns differently,” Bowles said. “You don’t know until you get in and throw the playbook at him and see what they can comprehend and what they can’t. He’s done a great job of remembering everything and playing with poise and control. I’m happy with where he is.”2018 New York Jets Coverage Stats: Preseason Week 4 Welcome back to my 2018 Jets Coverage Stats series, where I go through each Jets game and assign responsibility in coverage! Pass coverage is one of the many phases of the game in which statistics are not readily available to aid in analysis. Of course, stats have never and will never tell the entire story. However, they always do a tremendous job of telling a huge part of it and are just another tool that can be used to help evaluate properly without bias or going simply off of obscured memory.With that, let’s dive into preseason Week 4, as the Jets took on the Eagles in the annual Scrub Bowl.Previous editions: Pre 1, Pre 2, Pre 3RULESThe coverage numbers include only legitimate targets into the general area of a receiver/defender; throws in which a defender in coverage was directly involved in the outcome. Throwaways and deflections at the line are excluded.The stats for each individual are that of the quarterback’s passing numbers when targeting the individual’s matchup. A player could have an interception to his coverage credit even if the interception itself was made by a teammate. For example, if Trumaine Johnson tips a pass targeted in his direction and Morris Claiborne comes up with the interception, I would credit Johnson in my charting.“Miscues” (M) are included in charting to attempt to knock defenders who benefited from an egregious error by the offense (drop, horrible throw). A defender can still register an interception or incompletion to his credit on a miscued play.I charted penalties in the offseason series reviewing 2017 but will not be charting penalties for preseason since the game is being called a bit differently right now to set the tone for some new rules. I will bring them back as a category for the regular season.Here are the individual numbers charted by the Jets against the Eagles this past week. A glossary is available at the bottom of the chart.Some notes from me:Parry Nickerson debuted. Statistically, a marvelous performance on the stat sheet. 5 targets, 1 catch, 1 first down, 7 yards.However, I think it was up and down for Nickerson. On the plus side, his speed is very apparent
White Steve McLendon Jerseys , as most notably flashed on this sack as a free blitzer:He also did a good job contesting one errant throw downfield. However, I think Nickerson was a bit slow to react on a couple of plays in zone coverage. In man, he allowed ample separation for a potential first down catch coming back to the quarterback on an extended play, but pressure forced the incompletion credit. Nickerson’s one “miscue” tag was on a blatant drop in which Nickerson bumped into his own teammate as he couldn’t get under a pick and allowed what should have been a 20+ yard pickup on an underneath route.He certainly flashed and should make the Week 1 roster, though. I’m excited to watch him develop.Derrick Jones returned and flashed in ways good and bad. He did allow two first downs, but both were very good catches that Jones contested - ant those two firsts were only for a combined 19 yards with no YAC.On the plus side, Jones took advantage of a terribly underthrown Joe Callahan downfield pass to make a very athletic interception. He also made a great tackle underneath on a running back for a 1-yard gain, and forced a couple of incompletions with tight coverage down the sideline. Quite the impressive preseason for him.Derrick Jones and Rashard Robinson combined for 20 targets this preseason, allowing only 9 completions, 3 first downs, and 64 yards (3.2 per target) while allowing no touchdowns, collecting one pick, and totaling 4 passes defended. Quite the promising preseason for these two young outside corners.The Jets allowed their first touchdown on defense in the closing minute of the preseason. Ironically, the man responsible was one of their best defensive players throughout the month of August, Neville Hewitt. Including the touchdown he allowed to Matt Jones in the flat, Hewitt allowed 3 first downs in this game, equal to his total in the first three games combined.Here is how the Jets stacked up individually throughout all four preseason games.Thoughts on how the Jets performed in coverage throughout the preseason? Any suggestions for the coverage series? Let me know!