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<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\nThis one is a bit hard to break down, because you can\u2019t see the full route from Enunwa here.\u00a0 The set up is pretty simple, and the Giants actually play this rather proficently.\u00a0 When Neal Sterling goes in motion, the offense is looking at two options here from the defense.\u00a0 Either the defensive end switches from rushing to covering the tight end, or the linebacker (as was the case) switches and takes the coverage duty.\u00a0 If the defensive end takes over, then this is essentially a wheel route from the tight end, and Darnold would lead him as the pass option.\u00a0 If the linebacker switches, then the route by Enunwa is supposed to serve as the pick route so the defender is slowed, and Sterling should see a bit of daylight.\u00a0 Unfortunately, the timing is off and there is no pick aspect happening with the route, so it becomes all on Enunwa.\u00a0 Notice Darnold holding well in the pocket with his hop steps, but what is impressive about this throw is the placement.\u00a0 It\u2019s somewhat hard to decipher from this angle, but Darnold lets this ball go as a linebacker is crossing the target zone for Enunwa.\u00a0 When Darnold releases the ball, the linebacker is directly in the path, but he\u2019s expecting the defender to clear the zone.\u00a0 It\u2019s a great show of anticipation, on a defender that isn\u2019t the primary defender on the receiver.\u00a0 Darnold sees (I assume) the defender, and waits until he clears and then hits Enunwa perfectly for a first down.\u00a0 This is an example of Darnold showing excellent anticipation, although this would look a lot better from the end zone angle.<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Week-3-Darnold-2.gif\")
<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\nThis would fall under a great read with a decent throw, but miscommunication between Darnold and Robby Anderson.\u00a0 The read on this is easily discernible, first read being Enunwa in the slot.\u00a0 You can see Darnold make the read, as he sees the linebacker break inside to Enunwa, which meant he has to go towards his second read.\u00a0 The most impressive aspect of this play is, once again, the anticipation.\u00a0 Darnold starts his throwing motion, exactly at the same time as Anderson starting his break.\u00a0 This wasn\u2019t one of those \u201clet\u2019s see him break first, before throwing\u201d moments from the QB, but rather exceptional anticipation.\u00a0 It\u2019s hard to see from this angle, but after Anderson makes his break, the receiver starts to slide towards the sideline, instead of a straight comeback route.\u00a0 It looks like Darnold expected a straight comeback route, which is why the throw seems to trail inside.\u00a0 A great read by Darnold here and he once again shows a notable ability to read defenses.<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Week-3-Darnold-3.gif\")
<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\nPrior to watching this clip, I want you to go back to Play 2 from last week\u2019s article<\/a>, because it\u2019s the same exact pre-snap read.\u00a0 Notice how Darnold notices the coverage at the line of scrimmage and makes the last-minute change.\u00a0 The main thing to notice here is the audible to Tre McBride as well.\u00a0 Last week, the slot receiver (I believe it was Kearse) wasn’t given an audible out of his route, which meant his defender stepped up to make the tackle.\u00a0 On this play, McBride gets the audible, and you can see him go into blocking mode quickly, to ensure his defender can\u2019t make the tackle.\u00a0 The read is simple pre-snap for Darnold, as he sees two defenders on his two receivers.\u00a0 Neal Sterling is the in-line tight end, but the possible defender (linebacker) is a good 2-3 yards inside of Sterling.\u00a0 Darnold recognizes the advantage, and audibles into a very similar play from last week, only this time it works out to perfection.\u00a0 I have to say, this might be the best play to watch for the entire pre-season, because it shows great read at the line of scrimmage, a progression from last week\u2019s game, and good ball placement.<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Week-3-Darnold-4.gif\")
<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\nThere isn\u2019t much to decipher here, I\u2019m just putting it here to showcase Eric Tomlinson absolutely getting destroyed and erases any chance of this play developing.\u00a0 This play is designed to go deep from the get-go, but Darnold needs protection from the offensive line.\u00a0 However, the defender runs over Tomlinson and the play is destroyed.<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Week-3-Darnold-5.gif\")
<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\nDarnold shows off his mobility on this play, and how he can save a play with his legs.\u00a0 It\u2019s also worth noting that he shows an ability to slide, which took special instructions from the Yankees for Mark Sanchez.\u00a0 While it\u2019s hard to see here, this shows good restraint from Darnold for possible passing options.\u00a0 Tre McBride gets past his initial defender, but there is a safety waiting for the Giants, so the QB refrains from making the pass.\u00a0 It\u2019s a great run and Darnold\u2019s mobility adds a great aspect to his game.<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Week-3-Darnold-6.gif\")
<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\nThis is a good play to indicate eye discipline and not giving away his intentions.\u00a0\u00a0 Look at the left side of the formation, prior to the snap, because there are no Jets players running from that side.\u00a0 The Giants have two defenders in the area, and therefore the slot receiver is going to run into triple coverage.\u00a0 However, Darnold looks at the slot receiver at the top of his drop back, before moving onto Robby Anderson.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 The middle linebacker.\u00a0 The read here is actually Robby Anderson and then Bilal Powell.\u00a0 The slot receiver is running into triple coverage by design, and therefore isn\u2019t a viable target.\u00a0 Darnold is setting up his second read, by keeping his eye on the slot receiver, because the middle linebacker has to freeze in the middle.\u00a0 The first read is Robby Anderson, and Darnold makes the right read as the receiver is open.\u00a0 The throw is also good in that he makes the throw over a linebacker, and drops it into the arms of Anderson.\u00a0 However, the most impressive aspect of this is the eye disciple with the linebacker.\u00a0 The second read is Powell out of the backfield, but by keeping the linebacker in the middle, it allows for Powell to get an angle to the outside, if he is the target.\u00a0 Notice how the linebacker is following the QBs eye, which allows Powell to get a yard outside.\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t translate on this play, but that is exceptional ability to control the defense to work out secondary reads.\u00a0 Powell becomes the target if the linebacker that has the ball go over his head drops back into the zone, so then the middle linebacker would become the primary defender on Powell.\u00a0 If it’s a one on one match-up for Powell, that eye discipline would have been of tremendous value.\u00a0 I’m thoroughly impressed.<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Week-3-Darnold-7.gif\")
<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\nThis throw is an example of indecision by Darnold, and probably his worst overall play up until this point in this game.\u00a0 As you can see, the read is a quick out to Isaiah Crowell but Darnold hesitates on the throw.\u00a0 The quick out is open to Crowell, but it\u2019s not a large yardage play, and Darnold looks towards Chris Herndon for a moment.\u00a0 Unfortunately, Crowell turns his head downfield at this point so he\u2019s no longer an option for Darnold, who had returned to the running back as an option.\u00a0 Once Crowell turns his head, it\u2019s a broken play and the QB tries to make a play but Herndon can\u2019t haul in the pass.\u00a0 This is one of those cases where Darnold has to take the easy pass here, backed up towards his own goal line.<\/p>\n
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<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\nThis is a pass that Clive Walford must come down with, especially considering that he\u2019s fighting for a roster spot.\u00a0 The play most likely doesn\u2019t result in a first down, but Walford lets the pass hit his hands and hit the floor.<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Week-3-Darnold-9.gif\")
<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\nEssentially free yards, and good recognition by Darnold.\u00a0 The Giants are in single high safety look against a 4 wide receiver look, so Darnold sends Crowell to the outside as the 5th<\/sup> receiver.\u00a0 The linebacker on Crowell plays well behind the line of scrimmage because he doesn\u2019t have safety help over the top.\u00a0 If Crowell is well covered, then move onto deeper routes down the field.\u00a0 In this case, Crowell is open, therefore Darnold makes the throw and the running back does the rest to get the first down.\u00a0 This isn\u2019t a complicated read, and I felt it was good that Darnold made the easy read here, after missing Crowell for easy yards earlier in the game.<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Week-3-Darnold-10.gif\")
<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\nThis is a great throw from Sam Darnold, and an even better recognition as the play breaks down. \u00a0If we look at the defense, we can see two safeties on the field, as Enunwa goes in motion.\u00a0 Prior to the snap, Darnold sees three receivers to the left side of the formation, with a deep safety, and a linebacker covering Enunwa.\u00a0 As the ball is snapped, the safety to the side falls back, protecting against a deep seam route from the slot receiver.\u00a0\u00a0 Darnold recognizes that Enunwa gets behind the defender, with no safety help over the top because Tre McBride is running the clear out route.\u00a0 This is a great throw from Darnold as he floats it over the linebacker and into the waiting hands of Enunwa.\u00a0 The level of recognition from Darnold is impressive, as he reads the defense at the line, and then sees the play develop into a positive opportunity.\u00a0 It\u2019s also positive to see the arch on throw as a direct fastball because the linebacker would then get a hand on the play.<\/p>\n