New York Jets: 3 Players to watch vs. Jaguars in Week 4

CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 20: Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Cleveland Browns carries the ball in front of the defense of Leonard Williams #92 of the New York Jets during the second quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 20, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

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CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 20: Trevon Coley #93 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates in front of Sam Darnold #14 of the New York Jets after an interception by Terrance Mitchell #39 (not pictured) during the fourth quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 20, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

1. Sam Darnold

All offseason long we were told that Sam Darnold has a quick bounce back. He has a short memory and he doesn’t make the same mistake twice. He doesn’t allow himself to get too high or too low. Two of those things weren’t evident in Cleveland. Darnold had a bad game in Miami. Then he followed it up with a terrible game in Cleveland.

Darnold is a rookie. So, you expect a lot of mistakes, but the way his teammates and coaches lauded him in the offseason, you’d think he wouldn’t be making the same repeat mistakes that showed up on the tape against Cleveland.

More than once, he dumped the ball off quickly when there might have been a better option. A few times with a pocket that was clean, there was an open receiver deep, but Darnold settled for the short option. In a game that was close, because of Baker Mayfield lighting things up, those missed opportunities become glaring as they could’ve put the game out of reach or kept Cleveland at bay.

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Darnold can’t miss those opportunities against Jacksonville, if the Jets have any hope in this game. He needs to learn quickly from those mistakes, and if his line gives him time, to not settle for the dump offs. Take shots when they’re there. Trust in his ability, and the Jets will win more often than not.

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