N.Y. Jets: Sam Darnold Feeling Green in the Gills

From the desk of: WALK MICHAELS REVENGE

WEEK ONE YIELDS MORE BAD NEWS

Week one is proving more problematic than original estimates.

Receiver Quincy Enunwa's situation is a serious matter.  Quincy's season is tentatively over after sustaining a second neck injury.  He is targeted three times with one reception on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.  Suddenly the rest of his career is potentially in question.  The Jets 2014 fifth round draft pick plays 12 games in his rookie season.  As a sophomore in 2016 he appears in all 16 games amassing 857 yards receiving.  However Enunwa misses all of 2017 due to bulging discs in his neck.  He returns in 2018 to post 38 receptions and 449 yards through eleven games of limited play.

Enunwa's condition quite obviously leaves the Jets precariously thin at receiver entering week two, and beyond.  That means it's time new general manager Joe Douglas start earning his keep.

Compounding Jets problems is quarterback Sam Darnold reportedly contracting mononulceosis.  They can expect to lose Sam's services not only this week, but potentially for several more weeks to come.  Recovery from what is more commonly known as the "kissing disease" is known to extend several weeks.  I guess a sophomore is as a sophomore does, problem is this isn't high school or college, dude. But while I speak in jest, this is indeed a concerning ailment.  As luck would have it, the Jets will benefit from a very timely, albeit oddly scheduled week four bye.

The Trevor Siemian Era Begins, Now!

As they say: one player's mono is another man's opportunity.  After 26 games as a member of the Denver Broncos, Trevor Siemian will make his first ever start as quarterback of the New York Jets.  He is being handed the reins of a team under pressure to win first its first game of the season under a new head coach (and his personally appointed general manager), while minus the services of a primary receiver, and having to overcome last week's poor performance by the offensive line whom yielded four sacks and nine QB hits.

No red shirt can save him now!

Good luck with that.

N.Y. Jets: Vikings Add to Sam Darnold's Growing Pains

From the desk of:  WALT MICHAELS REVENGE

Week Seven

VIKINGS   37

JETS         17

FINAL

New York Jets: If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best.

So how is Sam Darnold faring against the best?

So far Jacksonville and Minnesota respectively have put him through his toughest challenges.  Against a reputable Jaguars defense during Week Four, Darnold completes 17/34 (50%) for 167 yards, with one touchdown, and no INTs.  The Jets most recent loss against Minnesota proves to be Darnold's worst performance, to date.  He completes 17/42 (40%) for 206-yards, with one touchdown and three interceptions.  The Jets lose both games by a combined 69-29 score.  For his part, Darnold is a combined 34/76 (44%) for 373 yards, two touchdowns, and three INTs.

In fairness to Darnold, his favorite receiver Quincy Enunwa - whom leads the team in targets - did not play against Minnesota, and will remain out in the weeks to come with an injured ankle.  Terrelle Pryor already out with an injury gets cut, while several dropped passes by receivers who did play further compound the matter.  Hell, Robby Anderson even throws a football in the direction of an official which earns him an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Otherwise, three Viking sacks punctuate an overall bad day.

In his five other starts (against the Lions, Dolphins, Browns, Broncos, and Colts), Sam Darnold is 99/145 (68%) for 1,179 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven INTs.  The Jets go 3-2 in those games, outscoring their opponents by a 147-108 margin.

There's no denying the Jets selected a fine quarterback.  And at the present time, he could really use some help at receiver.  However, the team to a large extent is in rebuild mode, are they not?  That begs the question: to what extent does Mike Maccagnan seek out a receiver to help bail out his franchise quarterback?

Caution: if the Jets have a plan, I suggest they stick with it.

In the meantime, Darnold should give Phil Simms a call for advice on how to throw spirals in  blustery Northeast weather conditions.