How good was Darnold?

[MaroonBells]

Pretty damn. 4 minutes left in the 3rd quarter, Vikings down by 13, this is how he finishes. Even the incompletion to Jones in the end zone that resulted in a field goal could not have been thrown any better. 

[StickierBuns]

LMAO, on the TD pass to Mundt, Cam Robinson gives Sammy a swat on the ass as he runs by.

Sam had his moments in the first 2.5 quarters that weren't always great, but he stayed away from any big mistakes. 0 INTs in the last 3 games. Then he peeled back his jersey to show the Big S and won the game. The Cardinals put heat on him and he stands tall every snap, manuevers in the pocket to throw. He holds the ball too long sometimes, but that won't change....it also brings some big pass completions. Its the one thing KOC won't be able to teach out of him.

https://twitter.com/gmfb/status/1863584359728754742

[Zanary]

I think our offense was simply outsmarted by their defense much of the game, especially in the first half. AJ's ball control issues obviously didn't help, but they were getting through on too many blitzes and managed to keep our top WRs stymied until the 2nd half.

Sam was good, obviously he steps up in pressure situations...but I'd love to start seeing 4 quarters of "New/Good Sam" instead of these crunch time dramas.

[purplefaithful]

You can tell Sam is getting much more comfortable in the system. He's come along ways vs Wk1

Next 5 weeks are where he'll really be able to get other teams excited about giving him his next contract.

One of the feels good stories of the season.

[pattersaur]

I think our offense was simply outsmarted by their defense much of the game, especially in the first half. AJ's ball control issues obviously didn't help, but they were getting through on too many blitzes and managed to keep our top WRs stymied until the 2nd half.

Sam was good, obviously he steps up in pressure situations...but I'd love to start seeing 4 quarters of "New/Good Sam" instead of these crunch time dramas.

Yeah it felt like every third down, which was usually third and long, Darnold got sacked. Herculean by him to just hold onto the ball on a few of them. ARI Defense was giving him fits and our OL seemed to be having communication and/or talent breakdowns left and right. Arizona pretty much steamrolled us in the first half. But what a comeback! I could barely breathe towards the end but man. That was a lotta fun. I'll be rewatching the 4Q this week for sure.

[medaille]

Gut feeling is that we got outschemed on both sides of the ball and just came in with the wrong gameplan. I just don’t think we had a good answer for the heavier packages Arizona used to run down our throat.

Glad we found a rhythm on offense at the end, and did just enough on defense to keep the score as low as it was until our offense could figure its stuff out.

[MAD GAINZ]

There was one blitz that was clearly Brandel's fault for not picking it up. But there were plenty of instances of Darnold not identifying where there were extra rushers coming from and getting the ball out quick. One example, the Cardinals had two extra guys on the right side of the line and you can count out they have one more guy than you can block. Addison was in motion to the right, you gotta know that the ball needs to get thrown there quick but instead he looked left to JJ and got demolished from the right.

I don't think he reads defenses well and holds the ball too long at times. We're gonna have to live with it because it's not changing. He still has a tendency to bypass his checkdowns which can lead to some big plays downfield or a big scramble if he can avoid the rush but the offense would function better if we can stay in better down and distances more often.

Despite not playing that well in the first half, he played really well when it mattered and KOC did a nice job of getting the offense in a rhythm those last couple possessions.

[comet52]

He spent too much time in the pocket shuffling around trying to decide where to throw and taking sacks, which put us in a big hole. Then when he was forced to play fast and deliver we were able to make the comeback. It basically takes getting him out of pea-brain mode and into action mode to make him a good qb.

[Greylock]

What can you say about Sam, for the first 3 quarters he was the bad Sam then in the 4th, all of a sudden the good Sam shows up. That one throw to Jefferson on the final drive was a laser between two defenders right into the arms of JJ. He is sort of giving us the season Keenum had except this time there is no horseshoe up his ass because Sam is living up to the status that made him the 3rd pick in the draft.

When he first signed I think many gave just a big yawn and wasn't expecting much, but this has been a big enjoyable ride this season and hope it continues. Next up Kirko and the dirty birds. Guard the line to gain because rarely will Kirk try a throw past the sticks on 3rd down.

[Bullazin]

Everybody keeps saying no, but unless he implodes I’m offering him 2-3 year contract