5 major observations from Sam Darnold’s second preseason game
By Dean Jones
Sam Darnold had the jitters under pressure
One doesn’t have to deliver far into the film where Sam Darnold is concerned to see how much he was under pressure constantly in New York.
The “seeing ghosts” comment was a microcosm of just how poor the protection became in front of him for the most part. Something that has to change in the coming months on the Carolina Panthers if he wants to reignite his career.
Things looked pretty solid overall in the first quarter. However, there were some cracks that began to show during the second that caused concern against Pittsburgh’s second and third string.
Darnold looked jittery when the pressure came his way at times.
It’s clear that the quarterback remembers just what happened with the Jets and getting him more at ease in the pocket simply has to happen to avoid the same problems when competitive action arrives.
The questions surrounding Carolina’s offensive line aren’t a secret. Outside of Taylor Moton, this unit is a group of veteran starters with big points to prove, so things need to improve and quickly from a protection standpoint and where Darnold’s maneuverability is concerned.
If this had been the Steelers’ first-team, they’d have had a field day generating pressure. So there is much work to be done in the two weeks before Week 1 against the New York Jets.