What the Carolina Panthers need to see from Sam Darnold at OTAs
By Dean Jones
What the Carolina Panthers need to see from Sam Darnold
Sam Darnold has more upside in terms of age at just 23 years old. He only turns 24 next week (June 5).
But now is the time for him to stand up and be counted.
First and foremost, Darnold has to be confident.
There’s just no telling how much this has been knocked after a torrid three years at MetLife Stadium. But he should treat this as a clean slate and the big opportunity he’s been waiting for.
Building this during the offseason and any time Darnold sees in the preseason is going to be vital.
Forget the past and focus on the future.
Another thing that the Panthers need to see from their signal-caller is leadership. Darnold looked like a fish out of water in the pressure cooker of New York at times. Now the spotlight is off him a little bit he can re-focus his energy on getting those around him to believe he can take them where they want to go.
This can be done on and off the field.
But winning is what counts the most.
Carolina won’t be expecting anything major from Darnold at this stage. As long as he can familiarize himself with his new surroundings, build chemistry with receivers and other weapons in the passing game, and lead from the front, this will stand him in enormously good stead ahead of a pivotal training camp for the No. 3 overall selection in 2018.
Head coach Matt Rhule and general manager Scott Fitterer have every belief Darnold can be the starting-caliber quarterback the Panthers have been searching for. He’s been subpar at best and has plenty of work to do, so catching the eye at OTAs will be the first small step on a potential road to redemption in 2021.