POLL: Do You Trust Sam?

[Ozzy]

Except the sample size is now going on 2 seasons and he is at 30 turnovers and counting. Even if you want to blame the Vikes O line last year it's hard to argue because he had 16 Turnovers over the entire season last year. He is at 14 this year with a massively improved line in front of him and he has 7 games left to toss more to the opposing teams.

And IF the concern is our o line somehow failing him (and they didn't) the chances of them getting better over the rest of the year losing starters the way they are are slim.

Meh baker mayfield had almost as many, Allen has stretches of doing the same thing etc. he makes a ton of big plays and leads the NFL in this as well. I’ll trade some mistakes for a ton of successes. Some of the turnovers aren’t on him either.

Does he need to get better in this regard? Sure but he was also leading an offense that can’t run to the tune of 30 pts per game, either leads or is near the top in almost every single important metric and has played really well.

So you can be worried but I’m not. I don’t think he has another 4 int game and he will do what he does most weeks which was leading the league in QBR or near it. He’s been really damn good and better than we’ve had at the most critical position in years. He’s fine.

 

[DeSeahawk]

Does he make me nervous? Yeah a little. But not Geno nervous, so I will go with it being a fluke and see how next week goes.

 

[NoGain]

You just know big moments and big games when they arrive, when you can feel a game's outcome is dramatically hanging in the balance, when you're playing a division rival for supremacy like this past Sunday, when you're playing a good opponent when something's really at stake in the outcome, playoff spot/positioning, and, of course, when it's do or die in the playoffs.

Such moments will arrive soon enough again for Sam. We'll see how he responds.

 

[FrodosFinger]

Sam had a stinker yesterday but still threw for damn near 300 yards but more importantly nothing really changes in the standings. There’s 7 games left and we’re in position to win all of the remaining games and still grab the one seed if Philly trips up. There’s only 3 elite teams in the NFC and Daniel Jeremiah kind of alluded to it earlier today which is Philly, Seattle and LA in that order. I don’t give a crap about yesterday although a win would’ve been nice

 

[NoGain]

Just as an aside...Sam's not alone in this big moment/big game thing. Dak Prescott is viewed as a QB who consistently underperforms in the playoffs. Hell, even MVP Lamar Jackson is seen as a guy who can't get his team to the SB even when he's surrounded with talent.

 

[Wartooth]

You know Sam heard the noise all week long leading up to the game that he'd melt under pressure from the Rams defense.
I can't help think that it played a part in how he was trying to force those throws that led to the picks.
He was over thinking everything and it effected his game.
The fact that the players and the coaches have all voiced their support is huge!
I honestly think he'll learn from this and hopefully we won't see another game like this.
And, when they make the playoffs... Anything can happen!
Go Hawks!

 

[Dallashawksfan]

He choked at the end last year

He is choking now on the toughest game this year

It’s up to him to show he is not a choker

Until then, I assume he can’t

 

[TeamoftheCentury]

This is predictably the national narrative today for obvious reasons. Sam crumbles in big time games. Agree?

Nope. (Bleep) the National narrative. Tune it out Sam and listen to your coaches and teammates.

 

[snick187]

Someone said to me, that he's the James harden of the nfl.

 

[Rat]

He's incredibly resilient, I honestly believe he CAN figure it out. I think it's fair to not 100% trust that he will until he does though.

 

[Sperrydogg]

No. He's got me reevaluating everything. That spastic ass jump pass interception makes my stomach hurt.

Just brain starts firing in all directions times running out shit shit shit oh damn I just jump passed didn’t I?

 

[GemCity]

Just brain starts firing in all directions times running out shit shit shit oh damn I just jump passed didn’t I?

Tbh, the double coverage INT I was like ‘meh…it happens..he needs to settle in’.

The jump pass? Yah…started thinking about the narrative on Sam. That was crazy. Like, they’ve got to be in your head big time if your so worried about a tipped ball that you jump pass.

I do think he can get past it with the help of our staff and team. But, that was pretty damn ugly.

 

[nwHawk]

Sam is still younger and developing. Learning how to handle stressful situations and learning to win consistently is a skill that sometimes takes time.

I expect the offense to slow down in the next few weeks. Clean things up and start putting an emphasis on pushing the running backs. This team can score. This team can control the ball, as long as they don’t get greedy. Sam will be fine, let him play within his strengths.

 

[Maelstrom787]

Sam is still younger and developing. Learning how to handle stressful situations and learning to win consistently is a skill that sometimes takes time.

I expect the offense to slow down in the next few weeks. Clean things up and start putting an emphasis on pushing the running backs. This team can score. This team can control the ball, as long as they don’t get greedy. Sam will be fine, let him play within his strengths.

The run-run-pass is a big part of letting Darnold play to his potential. I hope people come around to that viewpoint.

 

[CouchLogic]

Dude has played A playoff game for a different team, lol. Why give up on the dude before he's even taken the field as a Seahawk in a playoff game...

 

[Fresno Hawk]

The Hawks are playing with house money. Everyone had been calling for this, and everyone has given up on him. Especially the Genooo riders. That's why Sam is here playing in Seattle. Minnesota gave up after one season. For me Sam is still shaking off bad coaching from previous employers. And this offense is new to the Hawks players. I for one did not expect the offense to be as good as they are in year one. This past game to me was not only growing pains for Sam but the entire offense. The potential is there with him, it won't happen in 1 season. Now if he starts a downward spiral that will be different. Our coaching staff is very good. I doubt they will put him a position to fail like this again. The coaching staff now knows his limits.

 

[Sperrydogg]

Do I trust Sam? Hell yes. I think he would love to play that rams game again. And he will get two more shots at them this year. Sam has it in him and this team is not made to live and die off Sam, obviously when you look at this last game. I will ride with Sam against the rams tomorrow or any day LETS GO. I trust this defense. I trust this line. I trust these coaches and I believe Sam can make enough plays to win. All he has to do is not make mistakes. It’s like when you are in school and all you gotta do is turn your homework in and you’ll prolly get an A, all Sam’s gots to do is play the game and have fun cause this team is built to win in all phases. Do I want a real QBOTF? Of course, will we ever get one? Who knows, but I’m ok with Sam having the keys to this car. He didn’t finish the last race but he can win any given Sunday

 

[Sperrydogg]

It's not just big games, it's pivotal moments when a calm head is required to make a good decision, his brain checks out and does the WTF dance. He (figuritively) walks himself into bad decisions.

Not one of the passes he tossed for INTs needed to be thrown when they were. He just chose to throw them. The first on, he had room to the left to roll out. The second one he had a clean pocket and could have thrown to someone other than the triple covered guy. The third one he stood flat footed in the pocket like a statue and rather than scramble got blasted throwing again to a (first read) wr that was obviously covered. 4th one - he could have just taken the sack or scrambled for a short gain. Why throw?

That's why 'coaching' him out of this is tricky. These plays weren't tough situations to diagnose. His brain just shut down. There were outs for him to avoid what he did and he chose the dead end.

Mental blocks is right. That's psychiatric help, not coaching.

No sacks. 3 hits in 44 passes. Most teams would pay a starters salary to have that stat line for their QB every game.

Why you gotta scare everyone with facts and shit. We’re stuck with Sam we need good vibes only. We need the real Geno to give the hawks a pep talk or maybe us… we’re all panicking and I don’t blame ya cause winning in the great northwest has been few and far between. Sam definitely is a spaz in the hot seat but so was geno and so many had his back. Sam has more leadership and desire and more to prove. He gets another swing at the damn rams maybe two and when a real pro gets those extra swings good things can happen. I’m going to close my eyes and jump in cause we got no other option

 

[MoldyPurpleMayo]

I haven't read all the posts here so forgive me if I'm repeating what someone else has said.

I trust Darnold until it comes time to face the rams...the rams feel like Darnold's kryptonite no matter how well he plays in other games. He really needs to get over the ghosts he feels when he faces the rams and play with a laser focus the way he's played the rest of the season. I don't feel that Darnold just had an "off game", this feels more than that. I'm riding with him regardless, it's just frustrating to lose another game against a division rival that was so achievable to win.

 

[TwistedHusky]

If you have a weak armed QB, you throw quicker routes and rely heavily on PA to get longer throws to receivers that are schemed more open. You dont throw too many, if any long passes. You adjust your approach to your strengths and weaknesses.

So if instead you have a weak willed or mentally fragile QB, you throw quicker developing plays so the defense cant get pressure in time. Or you throw out of shotgun where needed. You adjust to what you got.

Wishing or hoping for better wont change things. Darnold is what he is. We just have to make it work knowing that.