New York Jets tight end Neal Sterling suffered a concussion during yesterday’s game against the Chicago Bears. The concussion is the second one suffered by Sterling in the 2018 season Youth Lac Edwards Jersey , and is likely to keep Sterling out of the lineup for multiple weeks. Two concussions in relatively short succession is a very concerning development. Given that we have already reached the halfway point in the season, and given the NFL’s recent emphasis on safety with regard to head injuries, and given Sterling has seemingly been surpassed as the Jets primary tight end by Chris Herndon, it would not be entirely surprising if Sterling were to eventually be placed on the injured reserve list.If this injury ends Sterling’s season it would be a major setback for a player who had in training camp finally earned a starting job in the league for the first time in his career. Of far more importance, however, is Neal Sterling’s long term health. While playing in the NFL is a dream job for many, it comes with the inevitable risk of serious, debilitating and sometimes permanent injury. Head injuries are particularly pernicious, sometimes resulting in permanent brain damage. There comes a time when it may be the best thing to walk away from the game you love in favor of leading a long and healthy life. Only Sterling, in consultation with his doctors, knows if that time is approaching for the Jets tight end. Whatever the future may hold for Sterling, we all join in wishing Neal a full recovery and good health for years to come. I wanted to take a quick look at a pair of plays from Sam Darnold that were misrepresented in the box score - one positive http://www.jetsfootballauthentics.com/nathan-shepherd-jersey-authentic , one negative.This first clip is Darnold’s third interception of the game. Spencer Long delivers an awful snap that is wide right. Darnold is impressively able to snag it one-handed, not only saving a potential turnover or defensive touchdown, but allowing the play to continue as planned. He then launches an accurate throw to the slanting Charone Peake for what should be a first down. Instead, it bounces off of Peake’s chest and into the hands of Trae Waynes. Darnold gets credited with an interception and his box score takes a gargantuan hit because of it. Whereas in reality, Darnold put out a very positive effort on this snap, saving a turnover and perfectly executing his role in attempting to convert a first down. Two mishaps by his teammates help make him look bad in the history books.At the same time quarterbacks can make great plays that are misrepresented as awful ones on the statsheet, they can also make huge mistakes that are glossed over as harmless incomplete passes. This next play is the opposite of the first one we went over. On that play, Darnold saved a turnover and created yardage he shouldn’t have been able to - and got credited with a turnover as a result.On this play, Darnold put the ball at major risk of being intercepted, and left a lot of yards on the field that he should have easily picked up. He is lightly penalized with an incomplete pass.It’s 2nd & 7, the Jets have the ball early in the third quarter down 3 at their own 38. Here’s a look at how this play is going to transpire. The Jets overload with three tight ends on the right side. All three are going to run vertical routes. Robby Anderson will run a dig towards the middle, Crowell Youth Bilal Powell Jersey , highlighted in yellow, will run to the flat. The Vikings play two deep safeties with a linebacker covering the middle of the field, while the rest of their defenders take the 3 tight ends and Anderson in man coverage.Nobody can account for Crowell. With the Vikings playing man across the board and the will linebacker playing zone in the middle of the field, Crowell is going to have all the free grass in the world in front of him out in the flat. However, Darnold fails to recognize it.Pre-snap, this could easily be a zone look. Mike Zimmer’s Vikings defense is known for its ability to mix and match exotic coverages. The work needs to be done post-snap. Once Darnold sees all three tight ends being carried up the field and no defenders staying home underneath, he should know that he has Crowell in the flat. With all three tight ends covered and a safety lurking over top on that side of the field, the Vikings have the man advantage on a deep attempt. Darnold makes a blatant error choosing an unfavorable option over his most favorable one, and is very lucky he is not picked off.It’s all part of the growing process as a rookie. Sometimes, you just have to let the Alex Smith inside of you take over. Identifying where your mismatches and advantages are on the field is extremely important, and it’s something that a 21-year old rookie probably is not going to excel at off the bat. More reps on tape like the one above will certainly help him learn through experience how he can improve his decision-making and post-snap thought process to maximize each play.
