ESPN gonna ESPN regarding Darnold

[keasley45]

The only way for Sam to shake the narrative that he will turn into a pumpkin is for him to beat the Rams and then beat the Lions in the playoffs. Otherwise there will be skeptics who will keep pointing to those games last season.

I think opponents aside, when folks see the 9ers loss as a result of the ball coming out of his hands (though not entirely his fault), then the Tampa loss coming after a bad decision, and last week the awkward strip-sack and fumble for a Houston TD (bad decision), followed by an INT (bad decision)- 2 plays that brought Houston back into the game... It's hard to just say 'yeah, last year's melt-down was an anomaly'. As solid as this year has been, there have been a few 'wtf' moments that have led to losses and close calls at his hand. It's not entirely fair, because if he isn't executing the offense the way he is, it's not like our running game has been good enough to carry us. He and Jax have been the offense.

I hope to the football gods that he is just getting better every week and by seasons end, with 2 years of outstanding play under his belt and more experience in those 'oh sh!+' moments, he will be ready to push us over the hump.

 

[FrodosFinger]

The offseason national media narrative was obviously that Darnold was a product of Kevin O'Connell's genius. I've been looking in on Viking YouTubers and message boards since summer because I wondered what THEY thought of their QB situation. Predictably, the on-the-ground fan narrative has been very different from the national media's version. Just like it's always been here so this is probably a league-wide phenomena. They've been complaining about Kevin O'Connell's play calling since I started following. The comments in this YouTube video are a product of last night's disaster, but they package up the sentiment.



Some examples:

"1. The Vikings messed up taking KOC over Harbaugh 2. Statistically KOC is the worst offensive play caller in the NFL and tonight we all saw why. This team won’t compete for anything until he gives up play calling and worries about game management and being the HC. Promote Wes to whatever and hire Mike McDaniel to call plays."

"You know what, Phil, it's not ARod, who is the narcissist, it's KOC. Fire him, he is terrible. And let KAM go with him. What a train wreck we are."

"KOC is a fraud"

"KOC is FRAUD. Regarding KOC's treatment of WENTZ: KOC should be arrested for accessory to the crime of ASSAULT!"


Maybe O'Connell was the latest beneficiary of McVay/Stafford and then Darnold and not the other way around.

Darnold was actually good with the Panthers before he went to SF and Minnesota. Everyone equates Sam’s history to his time with the Jets and that’s possible the worst managed and coached franchise in football. The Jets are a perennial dumpster fire

 

[glenwo2]

The offseason national media narrative was obviously that Darnold was a product of Kevin O'Connell's genius. I've been looking in on Viking YouTubers and message boards since summer because I wondered what THEY thought of their QB situation. Predictably, the on-the-ground fan narrative has been very different from the national media's version. Just like it's always been here so this is probably a league-wide phenomena. They've been complaining about Kevin O'Connell's play calling since I started following. The comments in this YouTube video are a product of last night's disaster, but they package up the sentiment.



Some examples:

"1. The Vikings messed up taking KOC over Harbaugh 2. Statistically KOC is the worst offensive play caller in the NFL and tonight we all saw why. This team won’t compete for anything until he gives up play calling and worries about game management and being the HC. Promote Wes to whatever and hire Mike McDaniel to call plays."

"You know what, Phil, it's not ARod, who is the narcissist, it's KOC. Fire him, he is terrible. And let KAM go with him. What a train wreck we are."

"KOC is a fraud"

"KOC is FRAUD. Regarding KOC's treatment of WENTZ: KOC should be arrested for accessory to the crime of ASSAULT!"


Maybe O'Connell was the latest beneficiary of McVay/Stafford and then Darnold and not the other way around.

Translation : Darnold MADE Kevin 'O Connell, not the other way around.

I think last season was more a case of Sam being surrounded with actual good players (when being a Starting QB) than anything KOC did combined with his continued development as a QB.

People wondered if last season with Darnold was a fluke, then let me make this proclamation :

It WAS a Fluke.

For the Vikings and KOC, that is...for trying to sell the public that it was all about them and not about Sam improving as a QB.

 

[glenwo2]

I think opponents aside, when folks see the 9ers loss as a result of the ball coming out of his hands (though not entirely his fault), then the Tampa loss coming after a bad decision, and last week the awkward strip-sack and fumble for a Houston TD (bad decision), followed by an INT (bad decision)- 2 plays that brought Houston back into the game... It's hard to just say 'yeah, last year's melt-down was an anomaly'. As solid as this year has been, there have been a few 'wtf' moments that have led to losses and close calls at his hand. It's not entirely fair, because if he isn't executing the offense the way he is, it's not like our running game has been good enough to carry us. He and Jax have been the offense.

I hope to the football gods that he is just getting better every week and by seasons end, with 2 years of outstanding play under his belt and more experience in those 'oh sh!+' moments, he will be ready to push us over the hump.

I would love to get Rashid Shaheed at the Deadline to at least give Sam someone else to throw to aside from JSN.

What do you think?

 

[keasley45]

I would love to get Rashid Shaheed at the Deadline to at least give Sam someone else to throw to aside from JSN.

What do you think?

I'm not sure if it's a personnel thing or a scheme thing to be honest and I have not spent a ton of time this year watching film . I am hopeful it's just a matter of Jax being so good that he is just always open and less that the other guys arent getting separation. Kupp has been making plays of late and Horton is solid.

But I don't know if the coaching staff would be crazy about the situation Shaheed would create. Taking Kupp out of games as a 2 seems like a waste of $ and his ability (he is still good) and while Shaheed is fast, I don't know that he is as savvy a route runner and technician as Kupp. Sitting Horton takes valuable development time away from him and from everything I have read, the staff loves him. Behind him, everyone else gets pushed down a peg unless we trade a Bobo or Horton as part of the deal (don't think they would swap Coop). But he does fit the bill as a burner type like MVS was brought here to be.

I would rather see them bring in a interior o lineman to be honest.

 

[FrodosFinger]

I'm not sure if it's a personnel thing or a scheme thing to be honest and I have not spent a ton of time this year watching film . I am hopeful it's just a matter of Jax being so good that he is just always open and less that the other guys arent getting separation. Kupp has been making plays of late and Horton is solid.

But I don't know if the coaching staff would be crazy about the situation Shaheed would create. Taking Kupp out of games as a 2 seems like a waste of $ and his ability (he is still good) and while Shaheed is fast, I don't know that he is as savvy a route runner and technician as Kupp. Sitting Horton takes valuable development time away from him and from everything I have read, the staff loves him. Behind him, everyone else gets pushed down a peg unless we trade a Bobo or Horton as part of the deal (don't think they would swap Coop). But he does fit the bill as a burner type like MVS was brought here to be.

I would rather see them bring in an interior o lineman to be honest.

I agree. Kupp is irreplaceable and a huge reason JSN has a ton of success and took a huge leap in production. He’s a damn good blocker and legal pick setter as well as clutch. The only two times he messed up this year one he dropped a pass against SF week 1 he normally catches 99 out of 100 times he would’ve taken it to the house. Two is the interception he threw and it was a real bad overthrow but he isn’t a quarterback so we don’t have to worry about his passer rating.

 

[Ostatehawk]

I think the upcoming mantra from other teams will be "All they have is JSN - so just stop him and you stop the Seahawks"

1 - Stopping JSN seems to be problematic.
2 - If you do devote enough resources to actually lock JSN up - Cooper Kupp and crew will absolutely steal your lunch money.

 

[AROS]

Stephen A is such a turd, He just said a QB is as good as his O-line can make him talking about Stroud, and then blames Sam for getting sacked 9 times vs the Rams?... talking out bothsides of your mouth there buddy, what a clown..

SAS is one of my least favorite TV personalities. Just everything about him is the opposite of what I look for in a cool human being. I NEVER listen to a damn word that dude spills out his hole.

 

[Streamhawk]

The only way for Sam to shake the narrative that he will turn into a pumpkin is for him to beat the Rams and then beat the Lions in the playoffs. Otherwise there will be skeptics who will keep pointing to those games last season.

He has a chance to beat the Rams twice this year. Let’s hope our O Line starts to improve after the bye. I know the pass blocking has been legit, but we really need to get the running game going to complement his elite passing skills.

 

[Streamhawk]

I would love to get Rashid Shaheed at the Deadline to at least give Sam someone else to throw to aside from JSN.

What do you think?

Olave would be my preference since we could at least have two stud OSU guys. JSN being obviously the better one.

 

[Ostatehawk]

Olave would be my preference since we could at least have two stud OSU guys. JSN being obviously the better one.

I am an Olave fan - he is a talent and would look much better with a decent team around him.