4 reasons Sam Darnold should not start again for the Panthers in 2021
By Dean Jones
Sam Darnold’s production and confidence
It was an alarming regression for Sam Darnold after the euphoria of an unbeaten three-game stint to start the 2021 campaign. Losing his security blanket in Christian McCaffrey exposed the quarterback and saw the USC product turn into the player we’ve seen plenty of throughout his career so far.
Although Darnold wasn’t helped by a dismal offensive line, his inability to go through progressions quickly and constant rash decisions ended up costing the Carolina Panthers in a big way and a place on the reserve/injured list saved those in power from demoting him from the starting lineup.
There’s just no telling where Darnold’s confidence is right now. If it’s anywhere near the level of his production from Week 3 onwards, then putting him back as the starter is going to do more harm than good.
If the Panthers keep Darnold around beyond this season – which is a possibility considering no team is going to take on his salary willingly – then they cannot afford any further knocks to the player’s confidence. Even if there is relatively little pressure on Carolina over the next four games against tough opposition.
It’s a tricky situation that the Panthers brought on themselves. Putting Darnold back in at this juncture reeks of desperation and something that shouldn’t be considered not only from a production standpoint but also when one considers the player’s mental state.