Sam Darnold - Proven Against Adversity

[Saca312]

The shipwreck of injuries that came due to the onslaught of the injury bug was not kind at all to the Panthers. Losing Christian McCaffrey while only up by one point at the half was a soulcrusher that almost killed off all hope.

Nevertheless, Sam Darnold stayed firm.

Coming into this game, the Panthers were lucky to face two depleted teams - one bottom of the league's barrel, and the other riddled with their own covid and injury woes. Carolina took them by storm as they should.

However, the question remained: could the Panthers comeback when faced with adversity of their own, and more importantly is Sam Darnold right for the job?

Well, this crippled ship took sail once more the next half and Sam Darnold was more than impressive.

With the Texans manhandling our soft o-line, Darnold stood firm and poised. Throwing for 300+ yards and accounting for two touchdowns, he did not let the wreckage around him bring him down. Rather, he took charge and was effective in the most perilous of conditions, from the stormy rains of tight coverage and big time throws, to facing off against the crashing waves of that defensive front.

He looked like a true leader and franchise QB. Despite the odds pointing against the Panthers, he did not falter and took up the challenge. He managed the offense efficiently and made big plays to will the Panthers to a win.

This game right here is proof that Sam Darnold may be the greatest QB the Panthers have had since 2018, and answered whether they could handle adversity. He took charge and was effective.

For the price of a second round pick, this captain of this cripped team is well worth it. Hoping to see further improvement and more the same in weeks to follow, when the waves get more rough against much tougher teams and more tests are to be overcome.

Give it up for Darnold; he has shown he has what it takes. 

Edited September 24 by Saca312

[Shocker]

He has been really good but he has to protect the ball better.  Eventually he is going to lose some of these fumbles.  Gotta fix that

But for this week, yeah, Darnold is the man

Edited September 24 by Shocker

[Fox007]

I heard Mark Sanchez talk about holding onto the ball with both hands instead of one and I did notice Sam in the pocket still has one hand on the ball. He does have to stop that shyte there. Sanchez was talking about himself btw not Darnold but something I was looking for this game.

[Saca312]

2 minutes ago, Fox007 said:

I heard Mark Sanchez talk about holding onto the ball with both hands instead of one and I did notice Sam in the pocket still has one hand on the ball. He does have to stop that shyte there. Sanchez was talking about himself btw not Darnold but something I was looking for this game.

Very true. Hoping this long week brings about a ton of lessons and training with ball security for Sam Darnold. 

He's shown he can be tough as seen with his evasion of Cam Jordan's near sack against him last week, but he needs to grip on the ball better with both hands.

[Fox007]

Just now, Saca312 said:

Very true. Hoping this long week brings about a ton of lessons and training with ball security for Sam Darnold. 

He's shown he can be tough as seen with his evasion of Cam Jordan's near sack against him last week, but he needs to grip on the ball better with both hands.

Yea and that isn't even a big issue if the OL was a dung heap. He gets the ball out pretty fast and if he had some actual time I think we'd get the ball deep more often.

Still though you know your OL is dookie so gotta play like it

[Oldmanrivera]

I feel damn good about a qb drafted 1st overall. Knowing they couldn't do anything with their picks potential 

 

We are sitting pretty.

[SBBlue]

Sam 23/34 68% cmp% 304 yards,   Longest 30 yards.  95.7 Passer Rating

[TheMostInterestingMan]

Kid has wheels too. Three rushing TDs now and he has a 25-30 yard run called back off hold but he can move when he has the room.

[outlaw4]

Not going to crown him just yet. Still a long season and yes, those fumbles are a concern (same problem Delhomme had when he played).

That said, what Darnold did in the second half is going to get him more respect, not just from the fans and media but more importantly, opposing defenses. Obviously, we shouldn't put everything on him but tonight, we all but had to and without CMC, he delivered. 

[Oldmanrivera]

I am pleased.

Sam is looking like a first rnd pick on a team that's is self conscious 

[Saca312]

6 hours ago, outlaw4 said:

That said, what Darnold did in the second half is going to get him more respect, not just from the fans and media but more importantly, opposing defenses. Obviously, we shouldn't put everything on him but tonight, we all but had to and without CMC, he delivered. 

This. 

Whether it continues remains to be seen. But he has proven to handle the pressure under adversity, and I hope it continues.

[Tbe]

7 hours ago, Oldmanrivera said:

I am pleased.

Sam is looking like a first rnd pick on a team that's is self conscious 

This. He looks like a good first round pick.

I wanted Fields, but I can’t imagine he would be playing as well as Sam is right now.

[*FreeFua*]

7 hours ago, TheMostInterestingMan said:

Kid has wheels too. Three rushing TDs now and he has a 25-30 yard run called back off hold but he can move when he has the room.

His athleticism is extremely overlooked.

Some of these throws he makes on these roll outs while moving are insane. The one to Erickson travelled 25 yards in the air from where Darnold actually threw the ball. 

[Jon Snow]

I that he will do.  We could be so much worse off right now it ain't even funny.

He's slow winning over the doubters like myself but some will never accept him not matter what.  That's fine, we need fools to laugh at.

In short, he is definitely not the worst qb in the league.  

Do you smell that?  It's the smell of crow cooking.  Be ready haters.