3 encouraging signs from Sam Darnold’s Week 1 performance
By Dean Jones
Sam Darnold made good choices under pressure
One doesn’t have to look far to examine where things went wrong for Sam Darnold on the New York Jets. Bad decisions while constantly under duress proved to be his eventual downfall.
Something rookie quarterback Zach Wilson also got a taste of on his full NFL debut in Week 1.
This has to get better with the Carolina Panthers if Darnold wants to turn his career around. Thankfully, he got himself off to a good start against his former employers.
As Matt Rhule stated on Monday during his media availability, Darnold was under pressure far too much. However, the signal-caller remained composed and demonstrated a fearless approach to staying in the pocket and distributing the football effectively when opposing pass-rushers were flying in his face.
This came with the odd hit here and there. But all par for the course when playing in front of this sort of protection.
Darnold can take plenty of confidence from this. Something that he was relatively devoid of during a torrid three years at MetLife Stadium.
Things will get better as the games go on. The first couple of weeks are always hit and miss until players across the league truly find their feet.
If Darnold can build on this and continue to make the correct reads under pressure, it’s going to do his chances the world of good.