Baker Mayfield vs. Sam Darnold, Day 7:

[raleigh-panther]

Baker Mayfield vs. Sam Darnold, Day 7: Tracking Panthers quarterbacks at training camp

BY ELLIS WILLIAMS

[email protected]

1 hour ago

Panthers coach Matt Rhule has been following a structured plan for his quarterbacks. 

Each week starts with Sam Darnold working with the first team while Baker Mayfield takes the twos. The next day, Rhule flips the quarterbacks. Then Darnold and Mayfield share first-team reps as the week ends. 

On Wednesday, Mayfield and Sam Darnold shared first-team responsibilities during a scrimmage-centric practice. Each squandered their multiple scoring opportunities on Day 7 of Panthers camp.

Neither quarterback accomplished much. Mayfield threw the day’s only touchdown, a short goal-line fade to Terrace Marshall during a red-zone session. The rest of practice featured a lot of short passes, running attempts, field-goal tries and punts. Credit the Panthers defense for winning the practice. 

Let’s dive deeper into their performances. 

Baker Mayfield

Stats (unofficial): 9 for 14, TD

The Panthers spent most of their practice working scrimmage situations. Mayfield earned two drives, both starting on the 25-yard line, where the offense needed to convert first downs to continue. His second drive was a two-minute drill. 

The two-minute series ended with a made Zane Gonzalez field goal from about 40 yards. Mayfield completed three passes on a five-play drive that ended after a short completion to running back Chuba Hubbard forced him to use his only time out before Gonzalez’s kick

Mayfield’s first completion went for about 20 yards to DJ Moore. Moore probably would’ve been knocked out by safety Xavier Woods in a real game as Mayfield threw Moore into traffic on a deep in route, but the catch counted. Next, Mayfield connected with Rashard Higgins via a 15-yard out, which stopped the clock. 

Mayfield quarterbacked with a sense of urgency and nearly kept his momentum going on the next play. He threw a high-and-away ball to slot receiver C.J. Saunders, who took too long at the line of scrimmage and was not where Mayfield wanted him to be when he threw it. Mayfield and Saunders talked briefly after the play. 

With only 15 seconds left, Mayfield completed a check down to Hubbard but wasted too much time trying to set up a spike and instead called a time out with three seconds left. 

Mayfield’s first series was uneventful. It lasted only five plays and ended with an incomplete pass intended for Shi Smith.

Mayfield threw the team’s only touchdown of practice during an early full-team, red-zone session.

Best throw: Mayfield’s touchdown pass to Marshall was textbook. He recognized a favorable matchup at the line of scrimmage and took it. Marshall made a clean release, stacked his defender and tracked Mayfield’s high ball. He completed an over-the-shoulder grab, knocked over the right-back pylon with both feet and celebrated with a griddy after the touchdown was confirmed. 

Notable mistake: Mayfield had a clean practice and did not throw an interception for the first time in two days. 

Sam Darnold

Stats (unofficial): 7 for 12

Darnold had a practice any Panthers quarterback could have had. He did nothing wrong. He did not toss an interception or fumble the ball for the first time this week, but none of his throws threatened the defense. 

His final drive lasted seven plays, but he only threw three passes. There were a few plays where Darnold exhibited he’s a more natural runner than Mayfield. Darnold is starting to take off with more decisiveness. He picked up two first downs doing so.

But when the offense needed a first down, Darnold went 1 for 3 on gotta-have-it throws. 

Best throw: Darnold helped the offense draw a pass interference during his first team session. The vertical shot was intended for Smith. Cornerback Chris Westry was in coverage and was flagged. By pushing the ball downfield and giving his target a chance, Darnold prolonged a drive that eventually ended with no points. 

Notable mistake: Like Mayfield, Darnold had a clean but melancholy day. 

Who won the day?

Neither quarterback won the day. Both protected the ball well but neither made enough plays to challenge the Panthers’ defense. 

Total wins this preseason

Baker Mayfield 3

Sam Darnold 2

P.J. Walker/Matt Corral 1

 

 

[Jackie Lee]

More of the same, Mayfield trying to make plays to win and Darnold playing it safe with check downs and short runs. Maybe if Higgins was getting #3 reps instead of Saunders things would look differently. I know they're fluffing the guy up but a 5'10" 190lb guy running a 4.7 isn't going to scare an NFL defense in a real game. One of those Rhuleisms

[CPcavedweller]

55 minutes ago, Jackie Lee said:

More of the same, Mayfield trying to make plays to win and Darnold playing it safe with check downs and short runs. Maybe if Higgins was getting #3 reps instead of Saunders things would look differently. I know they're fluffing the guy up but a 5'10" 190lb guy running a 4.7 isn't going to scare an NFL defense in a real game. One of those Rhuleisms

Hunter Renfrow?

[Jon Snow]

Doesn't instill a lot of confidence in the quality of qb play this season.  Hope the rookie can elevate the level of play soon as it's looking like his competition is nothing to write home about.  We may need him sooner than we thought. 

[Jackie Lee]

14 minutes ago, CPcavedweller said:

Hunter Renfrow?

Renfrow gets YAC, Saunders from what i've seen goes out of bounds or plays tag football

[pantherj]

I've thought for some time that we'll be taking a QB #1 in the 2023 draft. We jettison Sam and Baker, and go into 2023 with a competition between Corral and our 1st round pick.

I HOPE Baker can get it done, but he failed in Cleveland and had a great team around him.

[Wolfcop]

He did not fail 2 years ago. He was hurt last year and had inconsistent help from his OL and playmakers. I will reserve judgement. 

[Luciu5]

So the backups won the day by default?

[CPcavedweller]

51 minutes ago, pantherj said:

I've thought for some time that we'll be taking a QB #1 in the 2023 draft. We jettison Sam and Baker, and go into 2023 with a competition between Corral and our 1st round pick.

I HOPE Baker can get it done, but he failed in Cleveland and had a great team around him.

It's Grayson McCall or bust for me. But if Baker starts and the Panthers go 11-6 and make it to the Divisional while putting up Top 12 numbers in important categories, are tou really going to jettison him? No.

The scenarios Baker is cut loose with Sam are if the Panthers miss the playoffs completely and Baker sucks, or the Panthers make the playoffs in spite of his play.

Otherwise we likely keep him if he shows himself to be the leader and performer the Panthers have been missing. It may also be a Jimmy G scenario where we hold onto gim for two or three seasons and then cut bait. 

[TheSpecialJuan]

So both of them suck cok, great 

[Jon Snow]

9 hours ago, TheSpecialJuan said:

So both of them suck cok, great 

I'm not sure about their sexual orientation but they both do suck at football. 

[mrcompletely11]

9 hours ago, CPcavedweller said:

It's Grayson McCall or bust for me. But if Baker starts and the Panthers go 11-6 and make it to the Divisional while putting up Top 12 numbers in important categories, are tou really going to jettison him? No.

The scenarios Baker is cut loose with Sam are if the Panthers miss the playoffs completely and Baker sucks, or the Panthers make the playoffs in spite of his play.

Otherwise we likely keep him if he shows himself to be the leader and performer the Panthers have been missing. It may also be a Jimmy G scenario where we hold onto gim for two or three seasons and then cut bait. 

I am going to the app state game.  Cannot wait to see how mccall does this season.   From what I read they are going to being pushing the ball downfield a lot more this season

[Waldo]

Same as yesterday. Get rid of Sam and see what Corral can do with those snaps.

Competitions should and can be a positive but the QB and LT compitioins under Rhule look more like CYA based in a poor understanding of how it all works just to get to the finish line that Rhule wanted all along. It is all so poorly done under that dud.

[CPcavedweller]

1 hour ago, mrcompletely11 said:

I am going to the app state game.  Cannot wait to see how mccall does this season.   From what I read they are going to being pushing the ball downfield a lot more this season

They have to replace a lot. Productivity may dip while he actually gets better but fans are poor judges of performance in football, especially college. Heigheigh and Likely also graduated along with most of the offensive line and running backs who have starting experience. 

This will be the test of how good Chadwell is, in my opinion, more so than Grayson.