Sam Darnold hasn’t seen anything like these Jaguars

When the Jets watch the film of the Jaguars defense this week, it must feel like putting on a horror flick.

“They’ve got talent at every level,” coach Todd Bowles said. “They’ve got All-Pro corners, they’ve got ball-hawking linebackers, they’ve got run stoppers and pass rushers and they have two levels of them. It’s not like it’s just the first unit, the second unit plays pretty well, too. They’re pretty well stocked over there.”

Uh, yeah, you could say that.

The Jaguars defense might be the best in football, and it is the next test on the docket for young Sam Darnold. The Jets’ rookie quarterback is coming off back-to-back losses and a game last week against the Browns in which he looked unsure of himself for the first time.

Now, he faces a Jaguars defense that has given up three touchdowns total in three games this season, the fewest in the NFL. The Jaguars have plenty of issues on offense and that should give the Jets hope for Sunday’s game. They lost an ugly 9-6 game to the Titans last week, unable to reach the end zone.

But the Jaguars defense should give every Jets fans the chills. This group could wreck Darnold’s week.

From Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue up front to Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouey in the back with Myles Jack and Telvin Smith in between, this defense can make the best quarterback look lost.
The 21-year-old Darnold insisted Wednesday he will not be focused on the Jaguars defense, but instead on what the Jets can do offensively.

“We’re just going to play our style of football,” Darnold said. “We’re going to take our shots when they’re there. It’s really the same answers I’d give any other week. It’s run the ball and set up the pass with the run. Just find completions when I can, takings shots when you can and dominating the line of scrimmage.”

“Taking shots” is interesting. Last week in Cleveland, there were Browns fans who took more shots at the bar after the game than the Jets took in it. Darnold attempted just two passes of more than 20 yards — the Jets were more conservative than a GOP convention.

“There were definitely some shots that could have been taken,” Darnold said. “During the course of a game, I’m just going to throw the ball where I feel like I should throw it. After the game, just look at the film and see, ‘Oh man, I could have gone there.’ But at the same time I’m really confident in every decision I make on the field. That’s just how I’m going to go about that.”

Three games into his career, Darnold is obviously still a work in progress. He said he already feels like he has learned a lot by playing three games in 11 days.

Sunday will be another learning experience against an opportunistic defense. If he turns it over Sunday, it could lead to points. Since the start of the 2017 season, the Jaguars lead the NFL with eight defensive TDs.

Bowles downplayed the challenge facing Darnold this week.

“They’re big every week,” he said. “I don’t think one’s bigger than the other. It’s the biggest one because it’s the one this week. Everyone’s going to have talented players.”

But this is a huge test for Darnold. Can he remain poised and let the game come to him or will he force things? Surely, he is thinking about the lack of deep passes last week. Will that cause him to float a few he shouldn’t? He also must realize he has targeted Quincy Enunwa 29 times, more than twice as many as his next target, Terrelle Pryor (14 targets). Will that cause him to try to force one to Jermaine Kearse or Robby Anderson?

Another week, another hurdle to clear for Darnold in his rookie season. This one will be tougher than most.