QB Sam Darnold is a Viking

Originally posted by 9ers4eva:
Amazing season?

His big problem has been decision-making leading to INTs. He was turning over the ball at a rate of around a pick per game. Last season that halved. That's massive. His pass rating was 92.6. His yards per attempt jumped 20% or so over previous outings.

The only thing you can say is that it was only a short run of games, but we can get excited for what a QB does over 6 or so games, right? Right???

The NFL has been drafting a lot of QBs that have minimal experience at the college level in recent years. The NFL loves trends and that's the trend right now. Unfortunately, many of them are struggling to learn at The NFL level. This isn't like the NBA or MLB where they can send them down to the minors and let them learn. If thye put them on the practice squad they're exposed and another team can grab them.

Teams are rushing them into the starting position and some just can't handle it. Others eventually adjust and become at least capable. I think thus may be the case with Darnold. He didn't have a lot of experience at USC. The Jets rushed him in before he was ready. Maybe he's finally starting to get comfortable in the pocket. Everyone learns at a different speed.

Originally posted by CatchMaster80:
The NFL has been drafting a lot of QBs that have minimal experience at the college level in recent years. The NFL loves trends and that's the trend right now. Unfortunately, many of them are struggling to learn at The NFL level. This isn't like the NBA or MLB where they can send them down to the minors and let them learn. If thye put them on the practice squad they're exposed and another team can grab them.

Teams are rushing them into the starting position and some just can't handle it. Others eventually adjust and become at least capable. I think thus may be the case with Darnold. He didn't have a lot of experience at USC. The Jets rushed him in before he was ready. Maybe he's finally starting to get comfortable in the pocket. Everyone learns at a different speed.

Or he is what he is and we should expect similar play to what we've seen. While the scenario you cite has happened in the NFL, it's rare and unlikely to be the case with Darnold. Imo Darnold will be what he's always been, which is even more an indictment on Trey.

Originally posted by joeknows:

Originally posted by 9ers4eva:
Amazing season?

His big problem has been decision-making leading to INTs. He was turning over the ball at a rate of around a pick per game. Last season that halved. That's massive. His pass rating was 92.6. His yards per attempt jumped 20% or so over previous outings.

The only thing you can say is that it was only a short run of games, but we can get excited for what a QB does over 6 or so games, right? Right???

Playoff games don't count? What a weird world we live in when a QB plays the best slate of a half season worth of games as any rookie qb in NFL history, and his own fanbase needs to diminish his historic start because there's a guy they are rooting for.

Originally posted by WINiner:

Originally posted by CatchMaster80:
The NFL has been drafting a lot of QBs that have minimal experience at the college level in recent years. The NFL loves trends and that's the trend right now. Unfortunately, many of them are struggling to learn at The NFL level. This isn't like the NBA or MLB where they can send them down to the minors and let them learn. If thye put them on the practice squad they're exposed and another team can grab them.

Teams are rushing them into the starting position and some just can't handle it. Others eventually adjust and become at least capable. I think thus may be the case with Darnold. He didn't have a lot of experience at USC. The Jets rushed him in before he was ready. Maybe he's finally starting to get comfortable in the pocket. Everyone learns at a different speed.

Or he is what he is and we should expect similar play to what we've seen. While the scenario you cite has happened in the NFL, it's rare and unlikely to be the case with Darnold. Imo Darnold will be what he's always been, which is even more an indictment on Trey.

From what I hear, he's looked good in camp. The best of all the QBs. I know that's not game action but I'm willing to see how he does with a real team around him. I don't care who the QB is they still need weapons and blocking.

Originally posted by CatchMaster80:
The NFL has been drafting a lot of QBs that have minimal experience at the college level in recent years. The NFL loves trends and that's the trend right now. Unfortunately, many of them are struggling to learn at The NFL level. This isn't like the NBA or MLB where they can send them down to the minors and let them learn. If thye put them on the practice squad they're exposed and another team can grab them.

Teams are rushing them into the starting position and some just can't handle it. Others eventually adjust and become at least capable. I think thus may be the case with Darnold. He didn't have a lot of experience at USC. The Jets rushed him in before he was ready. Maybe he's finally starting to get comfortable in the pocket. Everyone learns at a different speed.

Good post.

Sam had a terrible disadvantage of having 2 of the worst coaches in the NFL at that time.

Adam Gase was atrocious and the Carolina coach was almast as bad.

I'm really hoping - IF we need him he'll have turned the corner on his past and tap into his talent.

Originally posted by LasVegasWally:
Good post.

Sam had a terrible disadvantage of having 2 of the worst coaches in the NFL at that time.

Adam Gase was atrocious and the Carolina coach was almast as bad.

I'm really hoping - IF we need him he'll have turned the corner on his past and tap into his talent.

Darnold has the ability, and seems to do it from time, to make some great plays. If he's playing, I just expect him to be a more dynamic Alex smith. He won't be special, won't be exciting, but hopefully can get the job done for a few games. Manage the game in a way where we can win.

i don't expect him to play at the level Brock can and should be, but darnold should be a much better version of himself than we've seen in the past. Alex smith had just as many turnovers as darnold has in his first five seasons, then harbaugh came in and Alex was a different player with way better support and system.

I've seen Darnold played a few times when he was with the Jets. He's capable of putting together some really good drives. Make you think the Jets can turn the corner with him. And then other times--- just ugly. I don't know that he ever became consistent enough. Because if he did he would have been a starter by now.

Originally posted by qnnhan7:
I've seen Darnold played a few times when he was with the Jets. He's capable of putting together some really good drives. Make you think the Jets can turn the corner with him. And then other times--- just ugly. I don't know that he ever became consistent enough. Because if he did he would have been a starter by now.

oh god that's gross. get this QB off our team!

Originally posted by Chance:
Playoff games don't count? What a weird world we live in when a QB plays the best slate of a half season worth of games as any rookie qb in NFL history, and his own fanbase needs to diminish his historic start because there's a guy they are rooting for.

You think I'm rooting for Sam Darnold over Brock Purdy? Not everything is adversarial. I really like Purdy as #1, and I'm saying I have a lot of optimism about Darnold at #2.

Originally posted by qnnhan7:
I've seen Darnold played a few times when he was with the Jets. He's capable of putting together some really good drives. Make you think the Jets can turn the corner with him. And then other times--- just ugly. I don't know that he ever became consistent enough. Because if he did he would have been a starter by now.

What you see Is what you get with Darnold. Sure, he'll have a good game here and there, but far too Inconsistent for him to be anything more than an average back-up

Originally posted by Sickaa:
What you see Is what you get with Darnold. Sure, he'll have a good game here and there, but far too Inconsistent for him to be anything more than an average back-up

I see a really amazing arm and the ability to move really well. Can he gain that consistency, in an org that is right side up, not upside down? I think so. He would do well for us.

Originally posted by 49erFaithful6:

Originally posted by Sickaa:
What you see Is what you get with Darnold. Sure, he'll have a good game here and there, but far too Inconsistent for him to be anything more than an average back-up

I see a really amazing arm and the ability to move really well. Can he gain that consistency, in an org that is right side up, not upside down? I think so. He would do well for us.

no loss as QB2....

I am sure fans on here would talk even madder smack about Steve Young back in the day...

The truth is, you can't uncover the next Steve Young, if you just write off any QB that did not take off from day 1.

Maybe Sam fails badly as he has in the past, maybe Sam averages out to a mostly average QB, or maybe Sam just needed a stable offense to leverage his natural ability to be a better then average QB.

Only one way to find out, and using QB2 to do that is as low risk as it gets.

Originally posted by joeknows:

Originally posted by 9ers4eva:
Amazing season?

His big problem has been decision-making leading to INTs. He was turning over the ball at a rate of around a pick per game. Last season that halved. That's massive. His pass rating was 92.6. His yards per attempt jumped 20% or so over previous outings.

The only thing you can say is that it was only a short run of games, but we can get excited for what a QB does over 6 or so games, right? Right???

He also fumbled 6 times last year too.

I'm going to say it... I also like Darnold at #2