The New England Patriots are currently blowing out the New York Jets on Monday Night Football (Update: the Pats won 33-0). Second-year quarterback Sam Darnold — the third overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft — has had a particularly brutal game.
Well, ESPN had Darnold mic’d up for the game, and caught him admitting that he’s “seeing ghosts” after his second interception thrown on the night.
That’s not something you want happening with a quarterback, but at least he’s honest and aware of the problem.
However, things didn’t get any better for Darnold in the second half, as interceptions No. 3 and 4 show:
And as this incompletion to make it an 8-for-24 night shows:
Now, Bill Belichick’s gameplanning and the Patriots’ defense certainly have a lot to do with Darnold’s struggles on the night.
17 INT’s. 1 TD pass allowed. Your 2019 #patriots defense.
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) October 22, 2019
Most quarterbacks — and especially inexperienced ones — are in for a rough time against New England.
But how awful Darnold looked in this game is worrisome, especially with the turnover issues he’s had in the past. This was a concern many evaluators had of Darnold coming out of USC, where he had 22 interceptions and 21 fumbles in 27 college starts.
[ESPN]