Darnold's progressions and release

[hogjowlsjohnny]

LOL (at the bold)

The ball really does jump out of his hand.  That's been the most surprising thing in his play to me.  I didn't know he had an arm like that and his accuracy has been impressive.

That's what Kwesi and KOC saw and wondered if they could coach him up. Glad they took the chance.

[StickierBuns]

We havent really seen Sam, KOC or this offense have to claw their way back from 14 or 20 pts down.

To me, thats one of the next big tests.

Excellent, excellent point. Vikings are good at being front runners, can they come from behind?

[JimmyinSD]

Excellent, excellent point. Vikings are good at being front runners, can they come from behind?

exactly, when the opposong Dbs can focus on coverage and the front 4 can pin their ears back...then what. Guess we should just keep playing hard early and not have the let ups our team has been know for over the last decade.

[MAD GAINZ]

We havent really seen Sam, KOC or this offense have to claw their way back from 14 or 20 pts down.

To me, thats one of the next big tests.

With this defense, hopefully we never have to claw back from more than a 7-10 pt deficit.  But yes, your point remains how will we respond when the other team has the right game plan against our defense?  It could be the Packers game this week.  LaFleur is an excellent offensive game planner as well.  Look no further than how he's morphed his offense the past two weeks to keep Indy and Tennessee off balance.

[Waterboy]

We will pay him or perhaps franchise him if he kicks ass.

We will not pay him in almost any circumstance.  Perhaps we will if we win the big game.  Otherwise that money is earmarked or to some degree already spent for other upgrades.

[purplefaithful]

We will not pay him in almost any circumstance.  Perhaps we will if we win the big game.  Otherwise that money is earmarked or to some degree already spent for other upgrades.

I agree...And this will be something discussed all year. Drum beats will get louder if Darnold keeps playing out of his mind.

Unless something totally out of the blue happens, the die is cast personnel and cap wise for a rookie contract the next 4 years. But boy, it'll hurt to say goodbye to a QB who's in the pro-bowl potentially. 

My only question is will JJM really be ready??? I am not convinced yet that they can just hand him the keys starting in OTA's.

[JimmyinSD]

I agree...And this will be something discussed all year. Drum beats will get louder if Darnold keeps playing out of his mind.

Unless something totally out of the blue happens, the die is cast personnel and cap wise for a rookie contract the next 4 years. But boy, it'll hurt to say goodbye to a QB who's in the pro-bowl potentially. 

My only question is will JJM really be ready??? I am not convinced yet that they can just hand him the keys starting in OTA's.

If SD keeps this team ballin out, you cant let him walk in hopes that JJM comes back and is able to step right into a starting role. Imagine having a roster assembled that is ready to contend, you let your starting QB walk that got you close the previous year.. and then you start an unproven commodity and fail to make the playoffs, want to talk hot seat, IMO that would be tough to overcome, and does that really build on your success in terms of drawing free agents? "sure we were close this year, but we are going a different direction with the most important position on the team, but we feel really good about him" If anything you tag SD for 1 year, or get him onto a very friendly deal that you can trade him if JJM does beat him out, but you dont build off this years potential success by handing it to an unproven rookie.

[JR44]

The quick release and accuracy of that TD pass was Dan Marino like, who had the quickest release I have ever seen. I don't think that is something you can teach to perform at that level, it just seems like a natural ability that you would have to have. Nothing that Darnold has done has been a fluke, it has been based on legit talent.

There is no question he has the talent to succeed, the question is these occasional plays where he suddenly does something completely erratic that could potentially lead to a game changing mistake. When he makes those plays, I wonder if that is what has kept him from being an elite QB. I think we have to be smart and not put too much on him, keep the game plan somewhat conservative and really work at establishing the run game.

[comet52]

The quick release and accuracy of that TD pass was Dan Marino like, who had the quickest release I have ever seen. I don't think that is something you can teach to perform at that level, it just seems like a natural ability that you would have to have. Nothing that Darnold has done has been a fluke, it has been based on legit talent.

There is no question he has the talent to succeed, the question is these occasional plays where he suddenly does something completely erratic that could potentially lead to a game changing mistake. When he makes those plays, I wonder if that is what has kept him from being an elite QB. I think we have to be smart and not put too much on him, keep the game plan somewhat conservative and really work at establishing the run game.

You don't have to wonder. His propensity to make terrible throws, wtf plays and generally shit the bed has been well documented for 6 years. KOC seems to have gotten him to play with more confidence--the whole happy feet, wiggly trembling body thing that he constantly displayed is gone.

However, I still see some brain fart mistakes, a wtf play here and there, and some throws that are hold your breath I hope that doesn't turn into a pick. He's getting away with some things and I won't be surprised if he has a game where this stuff bites him (and thus us) in the ass.

That td throw to the TE was an example. He threw into triple coverage, which is usually an inc or an int. He tried to deal with it by firing it at 100 mph from short range. Fortunately the guy held on because most of those bounce off and/or up in the air for a red zone turnover. So he got away with it, but I hope KOC is, in addition to coaching out his insecurity in the pocket, working to coach out some of these really bad throws and whacky, toss the ball in a random direction under duress moments, because those are things that define bad qb's and obviously he is trying to shake that label and live up to his potential at long last.

[badgervike]

The reality is that even if Darnold takes us to the playoffs...he's not going to jump to a franchise level payday immediately. Other teams are going to be hesitant to assume that Darnold is a changed man and not dependent on a system and a strong set of position players including the best receiver in football. He'll likely command somewhere in between his current salary and franchise level salary both in terms of amount and timeframe. Will that involve the Vikings with JJM waiting in the wings?...I guess we'll find out.