Darnold takes blame for Jets losses, impatient for next chapter

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CHARLOTTE, North Carolina

Sam Darnold is ready to begin the next chapter of his NFL career, which means putting the past behind him.

After three unsuccessful seasons with the New York Jets in which the third pick in the 2018 draft dropped from 13 to 25 as a starter with 45 touchdown passes and 39 interceptions, Darnold has a chance to rebuild his career with the Panthers in Carolina.

It starts in earnest on Sunday when Darnold takes on his former team in the regular season opener.

I didn’t do my job to the best of my ability, Darnold said of his tenure with the Jets. That’s really all there is to it. … I wish we had won more matches.

There is a pervasive feeling from those at the Panthers front office that Darnold will win more games in Carolina with the right people around him.

He didn’t have a lot of proven talent with which to work at skill positions in New York City. His offensive line was suspect, allowing 98 sacks in his 48 starts. And former coach Adam Gase failed to get more production as the Jets finished last in the league on offense in 2020.

Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer isn’t worried about Darnold becoming another highly drafted quarterback like JaMarcus Russell, Ryan Leaf, Akili Smith or Robert Griffin III who doesn’t become a franchise QB.

Rather, he believes Darnold has the potential to turn things around in Carolina, like what Ryan Tannehill did with the Tennessee Titans.

That’s why he called Jets general manager Joe Douglas earlier this offseason and asked what it would take to get Darnold away.

The Jets, knowing they had the No.2 pick in the NFL Draft and a shot at BYU quarterback Zach Wilson, ultimately agreed to send Darnold to Carolina for three draft picks and start over in the quarterback.

I think it’s just the offense they’re in, the players around them, the coaching they get, Fitterer said when asked why some highly touted QBs have failed in the league. I think Sam will benefit from a reset. He has a great coaching staff around him with (quarterback coach) Sean Ryan and (offensive coordinator) Joe Brady. They’re just building the basics, they had to dump what he saw and build from there.

Things should be a little different for Darnold in Carolina.

The Panthers’ offensive line remains a major concern, but they have one of the league’s most versatile backers in Christian McCaffrey, two 1,000-yard receivers from last year in DJ Moore and Robby Anderson and a rookie. promising to Terrace Marshall Jr., who led the NFL in receiving yards during the preseason.

Darnold, for his part, was unwilling to compare the two teams.

When asked what the biggest difference between them is, he smiled and replied that it was a bit warmer in Carolina.

Panthers coach Matt Rhule went out of his way not to put too much on Darnold, giving him time to learn the offense and regain his confidence.

The Panthers have emphasized that they want Darnold to get back to basics, which includes little things like footwork, getting in and out of the squad quickly and working on his progressions.

Or, as Darnold says, just relax and play some football.

Rhule said Darnold has come a long way since arriving in Carolina and all he has to do is play.

I think he has to live through the ups and downs of the game and the ups and downs of the season, said Rhule. You are going to have good and bad games. … He has to trust himself and his teammates and go play. I think hell is playing well on Sunday.

On the surface, the season opener against the Jets would appear to be an opportunity for Darnold to root out some demons and prove to his critics in New York that he has been the victim of bad circumstances and that he can flourish with it. the good talent around him.

But if Darnold has underlying thoughts of revenge, he doesn’t share them publicly.

When a reporter insisted this couldn’t be just another game for him, Darnold quickly cut him off and said, But it is.

For Darnold, the season is more about fresh starts, not his past struggles.

It’s like I’ve been opening a new book since I got here, so the start of the season feels like it opens a new chapter, Darnold said.

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