Why JJ will be an upgrade to Darnold

[comet52]

People who are bothered by how long Darnold held the ball are in for a rude awakening. Not because of a deficit JJM has but because that's what the offense is.  Comparing Michigan's offense to what KOC runs is about as apples to hand grenades as you get. 

KOC has repeatedly made his feelings known when people have complained about MN QB's holding the ball too long. He's also pointed this out when interviewed and asked what makes his offense unique and or so effective. It's because his offense runs on long developing routes well above NFL average. 

He has said he's fine taking sacks if that means they can hit on x number of bigger plays. Basically a risk reward thing that he feels is worth it to make his offense run.

The offense has longer developing plays but Darnold failing to process in real time has been a problem since he became a quarterback. To say that the team runs an offense designed to hold the ball and take sacks is ludicrous.

Next year you will see a QB who can process what's in front of him and check it down or toss it away when necessary. It won't be Darnold and his -12 yard sacks along with the perpetual baloney excuses for him.

[StickierBuns]

The offense has longer developing plays but Darnold failing to process in real time has been a problem since he became a quarterback.  To say that the team runs an offense designed to hold the ball and take sacks is ludicrous. 

Next year you will see a QB who can process what's in front of him and check it down or toss it away when necessary.  It won't be Darnold and his -12 yard sacks along with the perpetual baloney excuses for him.

[Waterboy]

I haven't read the other comments to this one so I would have my very own take. I don't think McCarthy puts up quite the overall numbers of Darnold for a few reasons.

1. The Vikes will run the ball more.
2. They will be a little more cautious with the ball overall.
3. The defense will be a step closer to lock down meaning we will be able to play the more cautious style.
4. McCarthy will have some initial growing pains.

I do think that McCarthy approaches Darnold's numbers, but a little shy. He puts more rushing yards up overall and by year end avoids the sack much more effectively and improvises against strong rushes better than Darnold, making him a much better QB against the best defenses. Bottom line, we'll be happy by playoff time that we moved on from Darnold.

[bigbone62]

While that is true, the QB also has a responsibility to check it down or throw with anticipation.  Darnold wasn't consistent at that.  The other thing, JJ has some serious wheels so if there is pressure and the longer routes aren't open, he's a legitimate threat to break the pocket and pick up yards with his legs.  He's the perfect type of QB for KOC's offense.

Absolutely correct, the problem is guys on those check downs need to be open. Go back and rewatch the last game. Focus on outlet guys on plays that breakdown.  Focus on the line getting blown up. An embarrassing number of plays where if Sam had thrown to the outlet when you'd expect to use that option he'd have thrown at the back of a guys head. 

I'm a big JJM fan, perfectly happy to have Sam move on and start the JJM era. I just no many of the same people piling on Sam for holding the ball are gonna do the same this season. And every season until KOC decides to change his offense. That said hopefully with the improved line holding the ball as long as KOC wants will result in fewer sacks.

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The offense has longer developing plays but Darnold failing to process in real time has been a problem since he became a quarterback.  To say that the team runs an offense designed to hold the ball and take sacks is ludicrous. 

Next year you will see a QB who can process what's in front of him and check it down or toss it away when necessary.  It won't be Darnold and his -12 yard sacks along with the perpetual baloney excuses for him.

Lol talk to the head coach. His words, literally "high risk high reward" not mine. What does the reigning coach of the year know anyways?

[StickierBuns]

Ouch...Uncle Sammy being compared to 'tavern ham'. From NFL.com:

"The fact remains: Darnold is a downgrade.

I appreciate that the Seahawks didn't massively overpay for Darnold. The assumption heading into free agency was that someone would plop down $40 million-plus per year for the top QB on the market. It's become the going rate. That belief is what worried me about inking Darnold. For once, restraint won out, and the market didn't overpay for a quarterback with one good season of play. Darnold getting a Baker Mayfield-type deal makes far more sense. There needs to be a middle class in QB contracts.

Even with the favorable contract and the projected fit in Kubiak's offense, I still don't like Darnold in Seattle as the centerpiece of a transition. Replacing Smith with Darnold is like substituting prosciutto with tavern ham.

Darnold is going from the cushiest of offenses with a sublime play-caller in Kevin O’Connell, a catch machine in Justin Jefferson, good secondary weapons in Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson, and solid if unspectacular blocking. The interior blocking wasn't good in Minnesota, but it was head and shoulders better than what Smith dealt with in Seattle.

Now, Darnold is stepping into a situation with one ascending receiver in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who is a primary slot, an aging Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Jake Bobo as his top targets. The offensive line massively underperformed last season, and the interior is one of the worst in the league.

If the plan was to save some money at QB to fortify the line, you can't get outbid for Will Fries. You must win those negotiations. We've seen Darnold when pressure is in his face constantly. He's spooked -- and I'm not just talking about seeing ghosts. If he unraveled in an offense perfectly set up for him, how will he perform in a much less-than situation?

Perhaps John Schneider has some tricks up his sleeve. Maybe he can have a turn-back-the-clock draft like those early 2010s when he was plucking producers at every turn. He needs to, or the makes-sense-on-paper plan to trade an aging QB for a younger, cheaper one will age like sour milk."

[purplefaithful]

Middle Class in QB Contracts....

I like that take.

I dont know what other offers Sam had to consider? On paper this marriage with Seattle looks fraught with peril. 

Yikes

[JustInTime]

Ouch...Uncle Sammy being compared to 'tavern ham'. From NFL.com:

"The fact remains: Darnold is a downgrade.

I appreciate that the Seahawks didn't massively overpay for Darnold. The assumption heading into free agency was that someone would plop down $40 million-plus per year for the top QB on the market. It's become the going rate. That belief is what worried me about inking Darnold. For once, restraint won out, and the market didn't overpay for a quarterback with one good season of play. Darnold getting a Baker Mayfield-type deal makes far more sense. There needs to be a middle class in QB contracts.

Even with the favorable contract and the projected fit in Kubiak's offense, I still don't like Darnold in Seattle as the centerpiece of a transition. Replacing Smith with Darnold is like substituting prosciutto with tavern ham.

Darnold is going from the cushiest of offenses with a sublime play-caller in Kevin O’Connell, a catch machine in Justin Jefferson, good secondary weapons in Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson, and solid if unspectacular blocking. The interior blocking wasn't good in Minnesota, but it was head and shoulders better than what Smith dealt with in Seattle.

Now, Darnold is stepping into a situation with one ascending receiver in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who is a primary slot, an aging Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Jake Bobo as his top targets. The offensive line massively underperformed last season, and the interior is one of the worst in the league.

If the plan was to save some money at QB to fortify the line, you can't get outbid for Will Fries. You must win those negotiations. We've seen Darnold when pressure is in his face constantly. He's spooked -- and I'm not just talking about seeing ghosts. If he unraveled in an offense perfectly set up for him, how will he perform in a much less-than situation?

Perhaps John Schneider has some tricks up his sleeve. Maybe he can have a turn-back-the-clock draft like those early 2010s when he was plucking producers at every turn. He needs to, or the makes-sense-on-paper plan to trade an aging QB for a younger, cheaper one will age like sour milk."

Ghosts.

It’s going to be the antithesis of 2024.

Brutal crash back to earth.

[comet52]

Lol talk to the head coach. His words, literally "high risk high reward" not mine. What does the reigning coach of the year know anyways?

He knows enough to ditch Sam Darnold when fans who don't understand how qb play works think he should still be here.

We'll find out when the season is actually in play if JJM takes routine sacks for big losses and holds the ball like it's his first-born child ala Uncle Sammy. See you then!

---

Ouch...Uncle Sammy being compared to 'tavern ham'. From NFL.com:

"The fact remains: Darnold is a downgrade.

I appreciate that the Seahawks didn't massively overpay for Darnold. The assumption heading into free agency was that someone would plop down $40 million-plus per year for the top QB on the market. It's become the going rate. That belief is what worried me about inking Darnold. For once, restraint won out, and the market didn't overpay for a quarterback with one good season of play. Darnold getting a Baker Mayfield-type deal makes far more sense. There needs to be a middle class in QB contracts.

Even with the favorable contract and the projected fit in Kubiak's offense, I still don't like Darnold in Seattle as the centerpiece of a transition. Replacing Smith with Darnold is like substituting prosciutto with tavern ham.

Darnold is going from the cushiest of offenses with a sublime play-caller in Kevin O’Connell, a catch machine in Justin Jefferson, good secondary weapons in Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson, and solid if unspectacular blocking. The interior blocking wasn't good in Minnesota, but it was head and shoulders better than what Smith dealt with in Seattle.

Now, Darnold is stepping into a situation with one ascending receiver in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who is a primary slot, an aging Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Jake Bobo as his top targets. The offensive line massively underperformed last season, and the interior is one of the worst in the league.

If the plan was to save some money at QB to fortify the line, you can't get outbid for Will Fries. You must win those negotiations. We've seen Darnold when pressure is in his face constantly. He's spooked -- and I'm not just talking about seeing ghosts. If he unraveled in an offense perfectly set up for him, how will he perform in a much less-than situation?

Perhaps John Schneider has some tricks up his sleeve. Maybe he can have a turn-back-the-clock draft like those early 2010s when he was plucking producers at every turn. He needs to, or the makes-sense-on-paper plan to trade an aging QB for a younger, cheaper one will age like sour milk."

They just didn't want to pay Geno big bucks. Neither would I. Uncle Sammy is gone to Seattle. Long live Uncle Sammy.