How can Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold make his former team pay during their Week 1 clash against the New York Jets?
This is the moment Sam Darnold has been waiting for. The Carolina Panthers quarterback gets an immediate chance to put one over on his former employer in Week 1, which could set the tone for the entire campaign following his trade from the New York Jets.
There was a sense of inevitability surrounding Darnold‘s move away from MetLife Stadium this offseason. A new regime came in with a fresh set of ideas and considering they were picking at No. 2 overall, the chances of them taking a potential franchise signal-caller were high long before the former USC star arrived in Carolina.
All hope is not lost with Darnold. Although that will change if the player cannot make the most out of the significant opportunity awaiting him.
Going up against the team that gave up on him is the best place to start. Here are five ways that Darnold can make the Jets pay this Sunday.
Way No. 1
Sam Darnold must remain composed
This is going to be a big occasion for Sam Darnold. He’ll be under the spotlight more than most, so remaining composed is absolutely key in the pursuit of getting his season off on the right foot.
Darnold needs to take everything in his stride and focus on his own game. Not what’s going on around him within what’s sure to be a pressure cooker atmosphere at Bank of America Stadium.
If he can do this, then the Panthers have the better talent to achieve success. But failure to do so will cause some real complications against a team that will know exactly how to get under Darnold’s skin.
Sam Darnold must take charge
The notion of Sam Darnold ever becoming a vocal, charismatic leader that the Carolina Panthers once had with Cam Newton is just never going to happen. However, that does not detract from his cerebral approach to leading fitting in very well with this current group of players.
Darnold is imposing himself in his own way. Commanding the huddle and getting things done both at practice and during his time on the field in preseason games.
This was a good start. But nothing more than not.
Taking this into reps that matter more is the next step for Darnold. So if the signal-caller transitions this into Week 1 against the New York Jets, it going to provide tremendous assistance to his cause.
Anything tentative will be immediately sniffed out by the likes of Quinnen Williams, who went against Darnold every day in practice and knows exactly what characteristics he displays when confidence is low.
It’s also worth remembering that the Jets will see this as a great chance to gain an opening day victory versus a quarterback they know can get flustered under pressure and make decisions that potentially cost his team in a big way.
Darnold has to seize this opportunity. Communicating well, being in charge of every situation, and leading from the front is the right way to go.
Sam Darnold needs to trust his playmakers
As far as situations go, this is arguably the best one Sam Darnold could have arrived in during the offseason. Perhaps not from an offensive line standpoint, but the Carolina Panthers are absolutely loaded with skill position players who can make a significant difference all over the field.
This is something Darnold has never had before. If he fluffs his lines in a different environment, the quarterback won’t ever be trusted to start prominently again.
Darnold needs to recognize that there is no need to play hero ball all the time. A lack of quality on the New York Jets meant he was constantly forcing the issue, which the player doesn’t need to do in Carolina.
There is nothing wrong with trusting the likes of Christian McCaffrey, D.J. Moore, and second-round pick Terrace Marshall Jr., to get the job done, Of course, Robby Anderson also has some extra motivation in Week 1 against a team that criminally underused the wideout over a four-year period.
The protection has to hold up their end of the bargain. Otherwise, it’s going to be a long afternoon and season for Darnold at the worst possible time.
Fortunately for the signal-caller, a supremely talented offense that’s been further bolstered by a consistent tight end catching presence in Dan Arnold should be enough for things to progress in a pretty substantial way if everything goes according to plan.
Sam Darnold needs to make his chances count
One of the primary reasons why Teddy Bridgewater was shipped to the Denver Broncos was his failure to make red-zone opportunities count. Not all on the quarterback, obviously, but the same cannot happen to Sam Darnold if he truly wants to make a good go of things with the Carolina Panthers.
It might have only been against the second-string defense of the Pittsburgh Steelers in their preseason finale, but Darnold did look quite good inside the 20-yard line. Touchdowns on a screen to Terrace Marshall Jr. and a laser to Robby Anderson left many reasons to be encouraged, but sterner tests are undoubtedly on the horizon.
Not settling for field goals is the ultimate objective for Carolina’s offense in 2021. Time and time again this came back to haunt them in key moments last time around, so the task will fall on Joe Brady to put his playmakers – Darnold included – in the best possible position to succeed.
The New York Jets don’t have much quality on their defense, especially since Carl Lawson is already out for the season following an exceptional training camp.
Darnold knows what some of them are about. But exploiting this with scores early and often is the best way to make his former employers pay with an opening day loss.
Sam Darnold must recognize pressure and react correctly
Considering the questions surrounding the Carolina Panthers offensive line heading into the season, it’s highly likely Sam Darnold will be under duress often.
The starting unit didn’t exactly leave cause for optimism against an under-strength defensive front of the Pittsburgh Steelers in preseason Week 3. So it remains to be seen whether everything can come together in the face of prominent opposition.
Darnold’s inability to recognize pressure was there for all to see at MetLife Stadium. More importantly, the quarterback did not react accordingly when it came his way.
This played a leading role in Darnold’s eventual demise in New York. Quarterback coach Sean Ryan has been working tirelessly on improving the player’s footwork this offseason – something that will hopefully come with more elusiveness inside the pocket before making the right decisions.
One expected the Jets to bring some big-time heat Darnold’s way in Week 1. Not only because of the suspect protection in front of him but their own experiences of what could emerge.
Getting the football out quickly is absolutely paramount. Carolina will rely heavily on Christian McCaffrey and the running game, but Darnold needs to make the correct reads consistently whether pressure arrives or not.