Flashes of brilliance. Spurts of inconsistency. Steady progress.The first eight games of Sam Darnold's NFL career have been marked by the ups and downs typical of a rookie quarterback playing his way through a crash course of a life as a pro.Starting now New Orleans Saints Wil Lutz Jersey , though, the face of the New York Jets franchise wants more."I'm always looking to improve," Darnold said Wednesday. "I guess I'm happy with the way I've played. I feel like I've stayed poised, I've done my job every week, but at the same time, in that same breath, I think I can always do a better job protecting the football."Darnold is tied with Denver's Case Keenum and Tampa Bay's Jameis Winston for the most interceptions in the NFL with 10. A week after throwing three against Minnesota, the No. 3 overall pick had none in New York's loss at Chicago.That's progress, and something off which he can build."Ten picks, it's not ideal," Darnold said. "You obviously don't want turnovers, but I thought I've been doing a good job lately of taking care of the football. If I can just do that, I think I'll be all right."As far as the Jets are concerned, Darnold is better than just "all right." They like the way he has handled himself during both the highs 鈥?a two-game winning streak during which he threw five touchdown passes 鈥?and the lows 鈥?a three-game skid and the team's current two-game losing streak.From the time Darnold was declared the starter for the season ahead of veterans Josh McCown and the since-traded Teddy Bridgewater, it has been all about letting him learn and grow."Just being able to find consistency," Darnold said when asked what his biggest focus has been. "I think I've done a pretty good job of, first of all New Orleans Saints Michael Hoomanawanui Jersey , finding the open guys, but also I think I can do a better job of, once the open guy is not there if the first and second guy is not there, know exactly where my check-down is and go to him. If he's not there, go right to a scramble drill or look to find open room."If I feel the pocket closing down or everyone is closing in on me, just to be able to throw the ball away. Throw it at someone's feet and live to see another down. I think that's more of the growth that I see happening in the near future."Darnold is 21, but his approach is that of a more-seasoned player who has been through it all before. It has served him well, as has his refusal to repeat mistakes on the field."Just a natural progression each week," coach Todd Bowles said when asked what he's expecting over the next eight games. "Him getting out the huddle faster and making the audibles, understanding the game and the game slowing down for him, which he has done and will continue to do, and that's what we look for."Darnold has 11 touchdown tosses, having thrown at least one in each game except for the distressing loss at Cleveland in Week 3.There are other numbers, though, that look very much like they belong to a rookie. His 55.2 completion percentage 鈥?138 of 250 passing 鈥?is the second lowest in the league among quarterbacks who have thrown at least 130 passes. Darnold's 74.5 quarterback rating also ranks among the NFL's worst.The Jets rank 29th in overall offense, including 28th in the passing game. They're also 28th in the league while averaging 200.4 total yards per game, and their 314.1 yards per game is better than just three teams: Tennessee Cheap Michael Hoomanawanui Youth Jersey , Buffalo and Arizona. The last two also have been led by rookie QBs.The Jets' struggles aren't all on the rookie. Ankle injuries to Quincy Enunwa and Robby Anderson have left Darnold without his top two receivers, and there have been few options to step up in their place. Running back Bilal Powell, a versatile threat out of the backfield, is out for the rest of the season with a neck injury."Guys' first year in the NFL is usually a tough one," Darnold said. "I'm aware of that, but at the same time, we have certain standards here and expectations of winning. I don't really use that as an excuse."Darnold will get a chance to start turning things around on the field and in the standings Sunday at Miami, the first opponent he'll face for a second time. In Week 2, he had a season-best 334 yards passing, but also had two INTs in a 20-12 loss at home.He knows none of this is easy, and didn't expect it to be. Darnold just wants to be better."Sure it's tough," he said. "I mean, it's NFL football. It's tough defenses and they're doing some different things that I've never seen before, but at the same time, credit to the coaches, and Josh and Davis (Webb). We've been preparing really well throughout the week, every single week. We've just got to continue to do that Cheap Josh Hill Youth Jersey , continue to prepare really hard, and I think that'll just continue to help me throughout the year."NOTES: WRs Quincy Enunwa (sprained ankle) and Robby Anderson (ankle), TE Neal Sterling (concussion), NT Steve McLendon (ankle), CBs Trumaine Johnson (quadriceps) and Morris Claiborne (excused absence), and LBs Frankie Luvu (neck) and Kevin Pierre-Louis (foot) did not practice. ... C Spencer Long (knee/finger), S Marcus Maye (thumb), LT Kelvin Beachum (knee/ankle) and LB Jordan Jenkins (ankle) were limited. The roller-coaster rookie year."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections InterviewsNew Orleans Saints SatireWho Dat HistoryCanal Street Chronicles Tutorial2018 Saints: Year in ReviewSaints 2018 Year in Review: Tre’Quan SmithNew,6commentsThe roller-coaster rookie year.CST@DonKellumShareTweetShareShareSaints 2018 Year in Review: Tre’Quan SmithChuck Cook-USA TODAY SportsTre’Quan Smith’s first season in the NFL went as well as one would suspect of a rookie wide receiver, but then again, Saints fans have been spoiled with rookie receivers who came ready to play at an NFL level. Marques Colston, Brandin Cooks, and most recently the un-guardable Michael Thomas all excelled in their inaugural season putting up impressive numbers. However, most wide receivers don’t come out of the gate as hot as the names mentioned above, and instead have seasons that look similar to Smith’s:Approximate Value: 5Pro Football Focus Rank: 67th out of 117Overall Grade: 67.9Total Offensive Snaps: 567Starting off the season slow with only one reception through the first four games, he broke out in week 5 against the Washington Redskins, hauling in three receptions – two of them being touchdowns— for 111 yards. His first touchdown in the game will go down in NFL history forever New Orleans Saints Terron Armstead Jersey , as it was on the pass that put Drew Brees at number one all-time on the passing yards list.Through the next three weeks Smith would have a modest 5 receptions for 85 yards, but wouldn’t be targeted in the shellacking of the Cincinnati Bengals in week 10. He was saving up for his best performance of the year the following week.Against the depleted secondary of the Philadelphia Eagles, Smith reeled in ten passes on thirteen targets for a total of 157 yards. He was able to show the traits one looks for in an NFL receiver. His routes were ran crisply and on time, and he looked to be filling the role Ted Ginn Jr. had in the offense before he went down with an injury.But in the following weeks, the inconsistency returned. In the Saints’ second loss of the season against the Dallas Cowboys, Smith dropped a pass on a slant route that could have gone for a touchdown and possibly changed the outcome of the game. The next week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers he also dropped a pass that could have gone for a big gain, although this week the drop had less of an impact on the outcome. Missing only one game, Smith had a modest 28 receptions on 44 targets, 5 touchdown receptions, and 427 yards on the season. While he showed positive signs during the season, his inconsistency could make wide receiver a priority in the off-season for the Saints. Luckily, this year’s draft class is loaded with wide receiver talent that the team may choose to tap into.