Start Spreading the News: Time to Move on from Sam Darnold

Author: Trevor Schwartz

Editor: Fran Attie

“With the 3rd overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the New York Jets select Sam Darnold quarterback, USC.” Jets fans had a sigh of relief. Finally, they have their franchise quarterback… or so they thought.

Fast forward to now, it’s Darnold’s 3rd season and all those feelings are gone: the New York Jets are the league’s worst football team with an 0-9 record, the first time in franchise history they have started 0-9, and are currently the frontrunners to draft Trevor Lawrence, top QB out of Clemson. If the Jets do not win a game this year and go 0-16, they will have the 1st overall pick and would be a laughing stock if they ended passing up on Trevor Lawrence. I know some Jets fans still believe in Darnold, but Jet nation, the time has come, you simply cannot pass up an A+ potential QB prospect.

Though Darnold has shown signs of greatness, overall he has been digressing since his rookie year. Back in 2018, the 6’3 quarterback had flashes of promise: he threw for 2,865 yards, 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions with a QBR of 45.5 in 13 total games. Then in the 2019 season he threw for 3,024 yards, 19 touchdowns and 13 interceptions with a QBR of 43.5, down from his rookie season in 13 games. This year he has played in 6 of the 9 games and has thrown for 1,045 yards, 3 touchdowns and 6 interceptions with his lowest QBR yet: 39.5, which sits at 29th in the NFL, just ahead of Drew Lock and Dwayne Haskins. Darnold’s numbers are going down, and at a bad rate. This isn’t what the New York Jets expected when they drafted him; they were hoping for years and years of success.

I can understand the argument that they haven’t put a good roster around him, but a good QB should help a team win, no matter the roster. To make matters worse, Darnold also hasn’t proven he can stay healthy. In 2018 and 2019 he missed 3 games each, and this year, he has already missed 3 games due to a shoulder injury and may very well miss more. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the Jets could possibly get a 2nd round pick and a 5th round pick for Darnold. If I am Joe Douglas, Jets GM, I take that trade and add on to the surplus of picks this team already has.

Here is the plan Jets fans: you trade Sam Darnold, draft Lawrence and use your picks to help build a better team around your next franchise QB. New York will always love you, Sammy, but it is time to say goodbye, and say hello to Trevor Lawrence.

SPORTS ARE OUR UNIVERSE

The Black and Gold are Back

Author: Matthew Iberger

Editor: Fran Attié

For the second time in franchise history, the Pittsburgh Steelers are 7-0. Not to get ahead of myself, but the last time they started off 6-0, they won the Super Bowl. As a Steelers fan, I am completely ecstatic after last season’s disappointment. And while we’re not even halfway through the season, there is clearly a lot to be happy about. So let's take a look at how the team is doing, and how I think they are looking going forward.

Through the first seven weeks, the Steelers defense has been suffocating. Some even say it’s the best defense in the NFL at this point. After watching them get carved up by a Blake Bortles-led Jaguars team a couple of years ago, it is nice to finally see a defense that can hold its own. The smothering pass rush, which is blitzing at the highest rate in the league this season, has been a nightmare for opposing offenses, and it shows in all the passing statistical categories that the Steelers lead in. Playoff games often come down to the team that is able to get to the opposing quarterback, and the rate the Steelers are doing that right now, bodes well for their success in the back half of the season.

As for the offense, it has certainly been a breath of fresh air after the living through the Mason Rudolph/Devlin Hodges monstrosity that was last year’s. The air raid offense of the past is gone, replaced by a quick throwing, short passing attack. Big Ben is throwing shorter significantly more than previous years, and it’s actually working—coming off elbow surgery, these shorter passes seem perfectly tailored both for the 38 year-old quarterback and the offense. Ben is also getting hit a lot less than previous seasons, which is always a positive for your quarterback. The only thing concerning me though, is how the offense sputtered in the second half of the Titans game. After going up 24-7 in the 2nd quarter, Pittsburgh only scored 3 points the rest of the game and had to rely on a Titans field goal miss to win in regular time. Hopefully it was just a one off incident, because you need to keep your foot on the gas when playing against high powered offenses like the Chiefs’, Ravens’, or the Titans’ when they meet again. Still, being 7-0 is impressive in itself, so I really shouldn’t complain about how the team got here.

All in all, this season could not have been off to a better start, and I predict that a 14-2 record, or even 13-3 (in case any trap games happen), is a completely attainable goal for this Steelers team. Right now though, all I know for certain is that, after a down year, the Black and Gold are back, and the league better be ready for them.

SPORTS ARE OUR UNIVERSE