SI.com: Major concerns in Minnesota over Darnold

[mblack]

We have seen the good Sam and now the bad Sam.  His days as a full time starter has taken a big hit going into free agency next season.  He has made some good money in his career after being the third pick so maybe his best option is to take a similar $10 million dollar deal to return next season to back up JJ, especially since we don't know how well JJ is going to play.  Sam could lead a team if needed for a short stretch if the starter goes out but full time starter, not sure.  He certainly would be a better option on the bench instead of Mullens or Rypien.

This is what I am hoping for. So I guess the way he is playing right now makes this a possibility right? 

[MaroonBells]

Goff has 201 TDs and 91 INTs in his career, has led his team to a Superbowl. Sam Darnold has 80 TD passes and 66 INTs. Who you picking to stay aggressive with here, lol? Your constant excuse for Darnold when he throws pics are 'turnovers happen'....yeah, especially when your name is Sam Darnold. He leads the league in turnovers currently. KOC isn't going to stay aggressive with him, as he didn't in the 4th quarter....and Sammy came damn close to a 4th INT yesterday. 

This team most certainly won't be a 'player' in the playoffs with Sam Darnold, IMO.

Yes, turnovers do happen. Bad games happen. Bad stretches of games happen. The year the Rams won the Super Bowl, they went 0-fer-November with Stafford throwing several picks. He threw 3 against us that year. And so, yes, Darnold is going to turn the ball over, whether he’s checking down or throwing deep. Especially Darnold. It's who he is. He's a poor-man's Cousins. He's a rich man's Mullens. 4-pick Nick lived up to his namesake against the Lions last year. But that game does not go down to the wire without Mullens pushing the ball downfield. 

Lke I said, I think this is a critical moment in the season for KOC and Sam. Even after yesterday, Darnold is 3rd in the NFL in passes completed over 20 yards. And the worst thing we could do right now is wet our pants and play scared, turning this 7-2 deep-ball team into a check-down offense. Given our weapons, I think we’d regret that decision. We have to find a balance.

[StickierBuns]

Yes, turnovers do happen. Bad games happen. Bad stretches of games happen. The year the Rams won the Super Bowl, they went 0-fer-November with Stafford throwing several picks. He threw 3 against us that year. And so, yes, Darnold is going to turn the ball over, whether he’s checking down or throwing deep. Especially Darnold. It's who he is. He's a poor-man's Cousins. He's a rich man's Mullens. 4-pick Nick lived up to his namesake against the Lions last year. But that game does not go down to the wire without Mullens pushing the ball downfield. 

Lke I said, I think this is a critical moment in the season for KOC and Sam. Even after yesterday, Darnold is 3rd in the NFL in passes completed over 20 yards. And the worst thing we could do right now is wet our pants and play scared, turning this 7-2 deep-ball team into a check-down offense. Given our weapons, I think we’d regret that decision. We have to find a balance.

The answer to Darnold's turnover issue isn't to just plow through, be aggressive and keep gun-slinging.....because he'll just throw more INTs. Jacksonville turned the ball over 3 times in the 4th quarter and that allowed Minnesota to win. As much as red zone INTs hurt, at least the opposing team has to go a long way to score, so that helped because Jacksonville really couldn't move the ball. You bring up examples like Goff and Stafford: both going to Superbowls, one winning. Sam Darnold isn't in their league, so yeah teams will hang in there with those guys. 

I've rooted for Sam and I'm rooting for Sam....and this season has been WAY better than I ever would have imagined at this point. He's got games in front of him to prove something. I just don't see it happening.

[JimmyinSD]

I hear this in my head during the game yesterday...


KAM: Ready Mullins and Rypien off cats 3 and 4

KOC: We cant play any back up QBs sir, both catapults are broken

KAM: How Long

KOC: 10 games

KAM: Bullshit 10 games? this thing'll over in 2 games!

[Still Hurtn]

Speculation. Based upon commments made about Brock Purdy teaching Darnold to be a student of the game. Then watching Darnold make 2-3 boneheaded plays per game I would say Darnold has phyiscal tools but lacks in the mental department.

[MaroonBells]

The answer to Darnold's turnover issue isn't to just plow through, be aggressive and keep gun-slinging.....because he'll just throw more INTs. Jacksonville turned the ball over 3 times in the 4th quarter and that allowed Minnesota to win. As much as red zone INTs hurt, at least the opposing team has to go a long way to score, so that helped because Jacksonville really couldn't move the ball. You bring up examples like Goff and Stafford: both going to Superbowls, one winning. Sam Darnold isn't in their league, so yeah teams will hang in there with those guys. 

I've rooted for Sam and I'm rooting for Sam....and this season has been WAY better than I ever would have imagined at this point. He's got games in front of him to prove something. I just don't see it happening.

I think there’s a difference between off-target passes and what happened yesterday. I don't think any of those interceptions yesterday were particularly bad throws. I watched the Giants game and Daniel Jones had Malik Nabers open by 10 yards and threw a ball that bounced 10 feet in front of him. I haven't seen Darnold throw too many of those. Darnold's picks yesterday were largely 50/50 balls. The first was a deflection that hit Jefferson in the hands. The second the replay showed was not actually caught by the defender, but still probably shouldn’t have been thrown. The 3rd was a 50/50 ball....that I hope he continues to throw with confidence.  

I do agree, however, with those who've said that he's focusing too much on Jefferson.

[StickierBuns]

Minor detail:
Goff was drafted in 2016
Darnold was drafted in 2018.
So Goff has at least a 34 potential game head start.

Anyway better question I have from yesterday is what’s worse:
3 INTs and no TDS or 5INTs and 2TDs.

---

Goff: 15/30 for 230 yards
Darnold: 24/38 for 241 yards

Crazy how similar their passing stats are

Its the ratio, that's how you compare: For every 2.0 TDs Goff throws, he throws 0.9 INTs. For every 0.8 TDs Darnold throws he throws 0.65 INTs. Huge difference.

[JimmyinSD]

Its the ratio, that's how you compare: For every 2.0 TDs Goff throws, he throws 0.9 INTs. For every 0.8 TDs Darnold throws he throws 0.65 INTs. Huge difference.

wouldnt you have to take into account the systems,  the supporting weapons,  etc when trying to compare the 2?  I mean Goff had the Rams D and then the Lions rebuilt D,  not to mention some decent weapons,  Darnold has played for the Jets, and the Panthers ( can really count his stint in San Fran because he didnt really play there.  I think trying to compare players like QBs is really an exercise in futility,  its like trying to say a WR that played with Brady is better than a WR that played with Trey Lance based on their production.  Now a DE or CB that really gets to play man vs man, that might work, but of course system and supporting casts still play a contributing role.

[StickierBuns]

wouldnt you have to take into account the systems,  the supporting weapons,  etc when trying to compare the 2?  I mean Goff had the Rams D and then the Lions rebuilt D,  not to mention some decent weapons,  Darnold has played for the Jets, and the Panthers ( can really count his stint in San Fran because he didnt really play there.  I think trying to compare players like QBs is really an exercise in futility,  its like trying to say a WR that played with Brady is better than a WR that played with Trey Lance based on their production.  Now a DE or CB that really gets to play man vs man, that might work, but of course system and supporting casts still play a contributing role.

Then you'd have to do with this with every QB ever to play. It means you can't compare anyone in the NFL at any position through that prism without doing a deep dive into systems, supporting weapons, etc. How would that work? Fans seem to love stats unless they go against a personal preconceived notion. Production and success (or lack thereof) over a period of time is how everyone is measured. You can say 'the team is 7-2 and Sam is good because of that' or you can say 'Sam Darnold has the most turnovers in the NFL and that's a problem'. Turnovers are bad, some are worse than others. TDs put 6 points on the board, but some are much easier than others. Do we critique and compare those as well? No, generally we don't other than maybe anecdotally.

[supafreak84]

I think we all knew going into the year that Darnold was going to Darnold at some point and it's happened the last couple games. The good thing is we've found a way to win in spite of it and are 7-2. I concur with the above comparison that he's a poor man's Cousins, and a rich man's Mullens. I do think Sam gives us the best chance to win for this season and he and KOC are going to have to work through the recent struggles and figure it out. We only go as far this year as Darnold's play takes us. I'm extremely excited that the Vikings won't be going into next season trying to come up with an alternate answer at quarterback and that's already in place.