A stat that tells the story of Sam Darnold

Analysis: In Darnold’s big year, resist any urges to yelp, ‘Same old Sam!’

In Darnold’s two losses with the Vikings, he still completed 76.9% of his passes, averaged 9.6 yards per attempt, turned the ball over just once and posted a higher passer rating (117.4) than he has in his six victories (105.0).

In other words, the Vikings are doing exactly what coach Kevin O’Connell predicted they could do with Darnold as many of us (guilty as charged, your honor) rolled our eyes.

The Vikings have used their schemes and their playcalling and their plethora of offensive weaponry and their good-enough pass protection to transform the disappointing third overall pick of the Jets in 2018 into the kind of guy the Jets will be shopping for as Aaron Rodgers’ successor as early as 2025.

• Darnold is 6-2. He has never been better than 4-4 in the four previous seasons in which he has started at least eight games. If he beats Jacksonville (2-7) on Sunday, he will match his career high for victories (7-6 with the Jets in 2019). He started 3-5, 4-4 and 0-8 with the Jets and 4-4 with the Carolina Panthers in 2022.
• Darnold is completing 69.5% of his passes. His completion percentages through eight games previously: 55.2, 63.9, 59.3 and 60.8.
• Darnold’s passer rating is 107.8. His passer ratings through eight games previously: 74.5, 82.1, 67.3 and 76.8.
• Darnold is on pace to complete 329 of 474 passes for 4,038 yards and 36 touchdowns with a 107.8 passer rating. Darnold’s current career season highs: 273 completions, 61.9% accuracy, 3,024 yards, 19 touchdowns (two more than he has right now) and an 84.3 passer rating.

“Sam’s aggressive on those dagger throws, and he throws them about as well as anybody I ever been around,” O’Connell said. “Sometimes the defense can make you say no and check the ball down.”

That wasn’t O’Connell putting up a stop-it sign. “I’m going to stay aggressive with him,” O’Connell said. “My trust in Sam is something that I think is going to be a winning edge for our football team.”

Here are some numbers through eight games to back that up:
Completions of 20 or more yards: 33.
Balls thrown deep among those 33 completions: 25.
Completions of 20 or more yards to Jefferson: 15.
Balls thrown deep among those 15 completions to Jefferson: 14.

So, yeah, the Colts game was sloppy. Darnold threw his sixth and seventh interceptions. But he also had seven completions of 20 or more yards. Jefferson caught five of them on deep throws for a combined 128 yards.

Just food for thought the next time any of us (guilty as charged, your honor) get another urge to yelp, “Same old Sam!”

Source: Startribune

purplefaithful wrote:
Analysis: In Darnold’s big year, resist any urges to yelp, ‘Same old Sam!’

In Darnold’s two losses with the Vikings, he still completed 76.9% of his passes, averaged 9.6 yards per attempt, turned the ball over just once and posted a higher passer rating (117.4) than he has in his six victories (105.0).

In other words, the Vikings are doing exactly what coach Kevin O’Connell predicted they could do with Darnold as many of us (guilty as charged, your honor) rolled our eyes.

The Vikings have used their schemes and their playcalling and their plethora of offensive weaponry and their good-enough pass protection to transform the disappointing third overall pick of the Jets in 2018 into the kind of guy the Jets will be shopping for as Aaron Rodgers’ successor as early as 2025.

• Darnold is 6-2. He has never been better than 4-4 in the four previous seasons in which he has started at least eight games. If he beats Jacksonville (2-7) on Sunday, he will match his career high for victories (7-6 with the Jets in 2019). He started 3-5, 4-4 and 0-8 with the Jets and 4-4 with the Carolina Panthers in 2022.
• Darnold is completing 69.5% of his passes. His completion percentages through eight games previously: 55.2, 63.9, 59.3 and 60.8.
• Darnold’s passer rating is 107.8. His passer ratings through eight games previously: 74.5, 82.1, 67.3 and 76.8.
• Darnold is on pace to complete 329 of 474 passes for 4,038 yards and 36 touchdowns with a 107.8 passer rating. Darnold’s current career season highs: 273 completions, 61.9% accuracy, 3,024 yards, 19 touchdowns (two more than he has right now) and an 84.3 passer rating.

“Sam’s aggressive on those dagger throws, and he throws them about as well as anybody I ever been around,” O’Connell said. “Sometimes the defense can make you say no and check the ball down.”

That wasn’t O’Connell putting up a stop-it sign. “I’m going to stay aggressive with him,” O’Connell said. “My trust in Sam is something that I think is going to be a winning edge for our football team.”

Here are some numbers through eight games to back that up:
Completions of 20 or more yards: 33.
Balls thrown deep among those 33 completions: 25.
Completions of 20 or more yards to Jefferson: 15.
Balls thrown deep among those 15 completions to Jefferson: 14.

So, yeah, the Colts game was sloppy. Darnold threw his sixth and seventh interceptions. But he also had seven completions of 20 or more yards. Jefferson caught five of them on deep throws for a combined 128 yards.

Just food for thought the next time any of us (guilty as charged, your honor) get another urge to yelp, “Same old Sam!”

Source: Startribune

I think I predicted 3800 yards, 28 TDs and 14 INTs, which is pretty damn good--top half. He's on pace to blow that out of water with the toughest part of the schedule out of the way.  

Someone last week complained about the fact that Sam didn't check down enough. I said I thought it was because he wanted to stay aggressive and run the full offense and that this would serve him well later in the year. KOC's comment seems to support that. Darnold's deep ball numbers are ridiculous.

MaroonBells wrote:

I think I predicted 3800 yards, 28 TDs and 14 INTs, which is pretty damn good--top half. He's on pace to blow that out of water with the toughest part of the schedule out of the way.  

Someone last week complained about the fact that Sam didn't check down enough. I said I thought it was because he wanted to stay aggressive and run the full offense and that this would serve him well later in the year. KOC's comment seems to support that. Darnold's deep ball numbers are ridiculous.

At some point soon, I will run out of runway and wont be able to say there's plenty of season left, lets see how it goes. 

We're not there yet, but its getting a lot closer...

He's having a great year. Hopefully he feels good about it and it sets him up for a new contract somewhere. If the trajectory continues, I still think someone offers him something sniffing Mayfield $$$.

I just hope we dont have to take too far a step back starting a rook next season...There will be growing pains, you cant teach experience.

purplefaithful wrote:

Analysis: In Darnold’s big year, resist any urges to yelp, ‘Same old Sam!’

In Darnold’s two losses with the Vikings, he still completed 76.9% of his passes, averaged 9.6 yards per attempt, turned the ball over just once and posted a higher passer rating (117.4) than he has in his six victories (105.0).

In other words, the Vikings are doing exactly what coach Kevin O’Connell predicted they could do with Darnold as many of us (guilty as charged, your honor) rolled our eyes.

The Vikings have used their schemes and their playcalling and their plethora of offensive weaponry and their good-enough pass protection to transform the disappointing third overall pick of the Jets in 2018 into the kind of guy the Jets will be shopping for as Aaron Rodgers’ successor as early as 2025.

• Darnold is 6-2. He has never been better than 4-4 in the four previous seasons in which he has started at least eight games. If he beats Jacksonville (2-7) on Sunday, he will match his career high for victories (7-6 with the Jets in 2019). He started 3-5, 4-4 and 0-8 with the Jets and 4-4 with the Carolina Panthers in 2022.
• Darnold is completing 69.5% of his passes. His completion percentages through eight games previously: 55.2, 63.9, 59.3 and 60.8.
• Darnold’s passer rating is 107.8. His passer ratings through eight games previously: 74.5, 82.1, 67.3 and 76.8.
• Darnold is on pace to complete 329 of 474 passes for 4,038 yards and 36 touchdowns with a 107.8 passer rating. Darnold’s current career season highs: 273 completions, 61.9% accuracy, 3,024 yards, 19 touchdowns (two more than he has right now) and an 84.3 passer rating.

“Sam’s aggressive on those dagger throws, and he throws them about as well as anybody I ever been around,” O’Connell said. “Sometimes the defense can make you say no and check the ball down.”

That wasn’t O’Connell putting up a stop-it sign. “I’m going to stay aggressive with him,” O’Connell said. “My trust in Sam is something that I think is going to be a winning edge for our football team.”

Here are some numbers through eight games to back that up:
Completions of 20 or more yards: 33.
Balls thrown deep among those 33 completions: 25.
Completions of 20 or more yards to Jefferson: 15.
Balls thrown deep among those 15 completions to Jefferson: 14.

So, yeah, the Colts game was sloppy. Darnold threw his sixth and seventh interceptions. But he also had seven completions of 20 or more yards. Jefferson caught five of them on deep throws for a combined 128 yards.

Just food for thought the next time any of us (guilty as charged, your honor) get another urge to yelp, “Same old Sam!”

Source: Startribune

Sam needs to show here he can play well against teams they should beat (Jags, Titans), as does the defense. Getting Robinson to replace an injured Darrisaw might be the deal that saves the season. The NFC is very tough this year, they'll have to keep stacking Ws where they can. Week to week, its been a surprising fun season and should remain as so. Cam was also able to get his jersey number he had in Jacksonville (#74), I know these guys like that to some level.

purplefaithful wrote:

At some point soon, I will run out of runway and wont be able to say there's plenty of season left, lets see how it goes. 

We're not there yet, but its getting a lot closer...

He's having a great year. Hopefully he feels good about it and it sets him up for a new contract somewhere. If the trajectory continues, I still think someone offers him something sniffing Mayfield $$$.

I just hope we dont have to take too far a step back starting a rook next season...There will be growing pains, you cant teach experience.

I certainly don't want this to happen, but I wonder if Wes Phillips and Darnold might both wind up somewhere new, together, next year. I'd think any team giving Darnold big money will be highly interested in sniffing around our assistants, at least. And maybe Philips gets some HC looks. A lot left to play out.

pattersaur wrote:

I certainly don't want this to happen, but I wonder if Wes Phillips and Darnold might both wind up somewhere new, together, next year. I'd think any team giving Darnold big money will be highly interested in sniffing around our assistants, at least. And maybe Philips gets some HC looks. A lot left to play out.

I said the same thing a few weeks ago. Darnold is going to get paid...by someone. And I'd say that team would be wise to try to bring Phillips with him, so Darnold can stay in the same offense. The new team may not have our weapons, but knowing he'll be running the same offense, or a similar one, would be half the battle. And could help justify the big salary to ownership.