Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Seems like he’s been around forever, right?
We give up on QBs way too early as a community.
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QB Sam Darnold, SEA (7 Viewers)
- Thread starter Soulfly3
- Start date
We give up on QBs way too early as a community.
Danny Dimes is 27…just saying.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Please - nicknames are earned.Danny Dimes is 27…just saying.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
One could also suggest that for the 1st time this season the Vikings OL looked like the Jets OL when he was in NY.
Darnold wasn’t as bad as his OL play in this game.
urbanhack
Fight The Power!
I'm not so sure. He didn't make that many great throws even on the plays where had time.
jm192
Footballguy
I was thinking that last night too.
The Lions defense just swarmed him all night. He had a few good looks for Jefferson in the end zone and just didn't have time to get the ball off like he wanted.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
That’s certainly a narrative.
I thought the Lions should get the credit for swarming him all night. He had no time to do anything.
I didn’t see any of the “nervous and jittery” you’re describing. I saw a QB who constantly had defenders in his face.
You’re certainly entitled to your feelings. I’m going by what I saw of the DET defense, who deserves all the credit for dominating the Vikings OL.
urbanhack
Fight The Power!
As it was mentioned, their LBs and secondary dared the officials to call penalties in the secondary. They got away with some and called for a few.
zamboni
Footballguy
Agreed - seemed like last night was the first time he faced true defensive adversity all year, and against a defense that was totally decimated and giving up a lot of points over the past several games.
He can certainly right the ship next week against the Rams, but if they lose with him having another bad game, the detractors certainly will be out and the Darnold vs. McCarthy debate for 2025 will probably die down.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
The officiating was trash. The lions were holding / interfering on every route.
They were called basically none times for blatant holds.
Also the obvious intentional grounding in the EZ that should have been a safety should be mentioned. Huge game-changing swing.
Lions had some help winning that game.
Gjallarhorn
Footballguy
I know it sounds crazy, but if the Vikings lose in the first round it will be the Jones vs. McCarthy debate next preseason.
zamboni
Footballguy
Could be, although I think Jones may actually get a real shot somewhere else. There are several QB needy teams and only two viable rookie QBs (both of whom seem to be declining in value).
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
I believe the Vikings will go with JJM regardless.
zamboni
Footballguy
That would be my guess, but if they get to the Super Bowl, it might be hard to justify moving away from Darnold. Seems to be not unlike the Jimmy G/Lance issue from a few years back.
Gjallarhorn
Footballguy
I think it is most like the Joe Flacco situation in 2012-2013. I think the Ravens were fine letting him walk after the 2012-2013 season until he won the Super Bowl. Playoff wins change everything, especially in MN.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Except Lance was terrible and looked lost trying to run the offense.
Also IIRC they tried to give the job to Lance, and he broke his ankle because they wanted his job to be “fullback”, apparently. lol
Yes he was. Having watched him all year he made those throws all year with similar pressure. He was absolutely terrible in this game as the game seemed too big for him. It's why I think the best route would be to franchise him and see if he can repeat what he did this year while giving JJM another year (where he can actually get practice time in if he is healthy). This is the path I think the Vikes should go.
He missed on every throw. Even the completions were high or behind the WR's to the point they had to stumble (see the long completion to JJ). Darnold was terrible and looked like the game was too big for him.
He has been pressured all year and didn't make bad throws like he did last night. I don't think KOC helped much by not trying to run inside the five at least a couple times but Darnold flat out missed throws he had been making all year. To me, the moment looked too big for Darnold. Maybe his pinky (which was taped up) was part of the problem with accuracy but he missed a big seam route to Hock in the 1st half. He also missed Hock on the third down play on the first drive. He was wide open and he just missed him.
It's just one game but Darnold looked like the old Darnold and it wasn't bad O-line play forcing him into it. It was the biggest game of the season so far and what I saw doesn't instill a lot of confidence moving into the playoffs.
ComfortablyNumb
Footballguy
Why is nobody mentioning the splint or bandage on his right pinky finger? That would have to affect his passing accuracy, right? What is this injury, and when did it happen?
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
This is where you lose me. Mostly because I watched every snap, and it absolutely was bad OL play forcing him into it on 90% of the bad throws.
I watched every play of every game. He had similar pressure all year long. Maybe not sustained like last night but he was pressured all season long and he made the throws throughout the year under similar pressure. This is why I say it wasn't bad o-line play "forcing" him into it. He showed he can make those throws under pressure all year long. Last night he did not make them. Was it just a bad game? Maybe......I see it more as the pressure of the moment got to him and he couldn't handle it.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
There were a number of contributing factors:
• bad OL play forcing Darnold into bad throws
• a significant number of DET secondary/LB committing DPI/holding with zero flags thrown. Happened 2x in 3 RZ throws, for one glaring, impactful example.
• the combination of intense pressure with either good coverage or ignored penalty resulting in a lost down.
• a road game on a big stage under bright lights against a very good and up for the game DET team.
• divisional opponent with more familiarity against the Vikings than most.
IMO the NFL wanted DET to be the 1-seed. The officiating seems to substantiate this.
Note: I’m not absolving Darnold of all blame here. He missed high on a couple of open looks. He missed JJ in the corner of the end zone. Those were on him. In any game I expect a QB to not be perfect.
But in this game the majority of his bad throws seemed to be with Darnold getting pressured while the receivers were being held.
I know every receiver throws their arms up after every incompletion, but in that game they had a very good reason to.
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He missed on every throw. I cannot remember him making a good throw last night. Even his completions were high causing the WR to break stride or stumble off balance because they had to stretch for the catch. This didn't happen all year.
Yes he was pressured. He was pressured all year and made the throws. He did not last night. Was it a bad game or a big moment fail under pressure? Time will tell. Darnold has more history of not being up to the task then he does of getting the job done. I fall into the "he can't handle the moment" camp.
I was a doubter coming into the season and Darnold made me rethink that. He played outstanding all year. Made all the throws under a pass rush. Escaped when he had to. Made good decisions (most of the time) and limited untimely mistakes. The guy playing last night was not the same guy. Only think I can attribute that to is big game pressure on him to make throws and he did not do that.
We will see next week if he can correct that.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
He made a few very good throws under pressure.
The one where JJ fumbled was a dart into a tight window, for one.
The throw where the receiver was falling out of bounds on the catch was a perfect throw leading the receiver that should have been a TD, but it looked like the receiver lost track of the ball & had to recover to make the catch.
No offense, but I think you may be a bit overly critical because you’re a Vikings fan & lack some objectivity here.
Obviously, but I don’t see that as a fair evaluation considering his body of work this year.
That, and a ridiculous officiating crew calling a very 1-sided game. No QB will have success if receivers are being held/interfered with at will with no repercussions.
I’m reasonably certain he’ll be fine against the Rams. The Vikings might not win that game, but I don’t believe you’ll see a repeat of last night.
I’ll happily eat crow if I’m wrong.
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Read somewhere he was blitzed on 56% of his dropbacks. Possibly a season high. And his performance in this situation hasn't been this bad since...he was a Jet.
Detroit also played a ton of man. Dared him to make the throws. And he missed em.
Not a Lion's or MN fan.
He looked terrible last night. If MN loses next week, the Darnold getting a truckload of cash narrative is going off the rails.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Nah, he’s still getting paid. 1 bad game doesn’t dismiss the tremendous body of work he put up this season. That’s preposterous. Most NFL teams don’t think this way.
Well, I'd be hesitant...especially since Kevin O'Connell...the QB whisperer...will not be going with him (unless he is franchise tagged).
As a total aside, how in the hell is the DET D doing this with all these injuries?
I thought for sure this was the game it fell apart. Nope.
Dizzy
Footballguy
I think both could be true. Last night we saw Darnold face a LOT of pressure early, and quick pressure (after the snap). And that seemed to stay with him the rest of the game. I think this is why the Eagles switched onto a run heavy attack this season because Hurts has the same MO... get to him early and he's off the whole game.
Also, something that was pointed out on the telecast... are all of the MIN passing routes mid-to-long range? You think they would have switched up to quicker routes to keep Darnold from having to stand back there for 3-4 seconds.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
This was driving me nuts.
When the Vikes did go short with dumps to the RB or crossing routes, Darnold moved the ball with ease.
I fully expected MIN to make adjustments to a shorter passing game, but they never did.
The lack of gameplan adjustment by the Vikings was every bit as responsible for the loss as Darnold. They saw how badly the OL was getting beat - they never even shifted a TE in to help block - and they have a couple of blocking TE on the roster.
CC even called it out that DET was consistently rushing one more player than MIN had blocking.
Darnold had none chance.
Kiddnets
Footballguy
Thought they have not used Hock as well on those intermediate routes since his return - hes been more of a third option on longer routes.
zamboni
Footballguy
He’ll still get paid well given the lack of rookie and free agent QBs, but yeah probably cost himself some bucks
fred_1_15301
Footballguy
I think he’ll be signed as a bridge QB (as opposed to a franchise QB)
Donnybrook
Footballguy
Probably a good thing. I don't want him to be the Daniel Jones of some organization. Not sure he is cut out to be the saviour.
fruity pebbles
Footballguy
He probably went from a 4 or 5 year 200-250 million dollar contract to a one year prove it deal.
He may have been the worst QB in the NFL the last 2 weeks. Maybe they tag him and try to trade him, maybe someone is desperate enough to throw a conditional day 2 pick, but if I'm the Vikings, I'm not even sure I offer Darnold a deal.
JJ McCarthy is the unquestioned Vikings starter going into next season.
JJ McCarthy is the unquestioned Vikings starter going into next season.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
What’s crazy is Darnold wasn’t statistically terrible tonight. 25/40 245 1/1
If I told you those would be his numbers before the game, I don’t think you’d expect a 27-9 against score.
He’s gonna get way too much blame for this loss, when it was a total team effort. That OL was trash, WRs consistently struggled to get open, and the Vikes OC called an absolutely horrific game & made very few adjustments.
And LAR gets a hell of a lot of credit for being dominant on defense. They basically had a BYE in week 18, and they looked extremely rested & ready to roll.
Darnold had some bad throws. A couple of the sacks he should have thrown it away. But that OL was like a screen door. They couldn’t stop a stiff breeze. And dudes just plain blew assignments leaving unimpeded access to Darnold.
Feel for Vikes fans - it’s been a tough couple weeks. But remember: y’all expected to be starting a rookie QB this year & probably having an early draft pick. Instead you won 14 games & in unprecedented fashion had to play a road game as a 14-win wildcard.
It’s impossible to look at this season as anything but a success. Chin up - future looks bright.
If I told you those would be his numbers before the game, I don’t think you’d expect a 27-9 against score.
He’s gonna get way too much blame for this loss, when it was a total team effort. That OL was trash, WRs consistently struggled to get open, and the Vikes OC called an absolutely horrific game & made very few adjustments.
And LAR gets a hell of a lot of credit for being dominant on defense. They basically had a BYE in week 18, and they looked extremely rested & ready to roll.
Darnold had some bad throws. A couple of the sacks he should have thrown it away. But that OL was like a screen door. They couldn’t stop a stiff breeze. And dudes just plain blew assignments leaving unimpeded access to Darnold.
Feel for Vikes fans - it’s been a tough couple weeks. But remember: y’all expected to be starting a rookie QB this year & probably having an early draft pick. Instead you won 14 games & in unprecedented fashion had to play a road game as a 14-win wildcard.
It’s impossible to look at this season as anything but a success. Chin up - future looks bright.
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Deamon
Footballguy
Jets?
Neil Beaufort Zod
Footballguy
Wow, how much money did he cost himself over the last two games? He's played two "playoff" games, and didn't impress in either. Is he back to a "prove it" deal, or will a team still see him as a long-term answer?
-OZ-
Footballguy
Hopefully the titans took him off the top of the list but if he’s willing to take a prove it deal and the new GM can work on the OL, he might be worth signing.
His best option might be returning to the Vikings even clearly as a backup.
zamboni
Footballguy
Agreed. There are more teams in need of QB than are in position to get the top two rookies, and said rookies are increasingly viewed as not being top-tier prospects.
MAC_32
Footballguy
I stopped watching, but while the game was in doubt he had > 3 seconds with the ball on all of his sacks. Dude was seeing ghosts again. Campbell and Glenn messed with his mind last week, stage was too big for him.
