4 things Matt Corral must do to beat out Sam Darnold in 2022
By Dean Jones
Matt Corral must win the locker room
It’s hard for any rookie to come into an established NFL locker room and immediately assume leadership responsibilities. Let alone at the most important position on the field.
This is the task awaiting Matt Corral when he joins up with the Carolina Panthers in the coming weeks. Something that the signal-caller will be keen to accomplish at the earliest opportunity as he looks to take command under center at the expense of Sam Darnold.
Again, Darnold has been in Carolina for a year and knows his teammates well. However, Joe Person of The Athletic reported earlier this offseason that many within the locker room were not convinced in the USC product’s ability to take the Panthers where they want to go.
Despite all the off-the-field concerns surrounding Corral, it should not matter one bit. And one thing the player cannot be faulted for during his time at Ole Miss was his qualities to motivate and inspire others around him.
Providing Corral holds in whatever nerves there might be and picks up where he left off in college, there shouldn’t be a problem in this regard. He’ll no doubt have the support of other players, who might welcome a young, fresh approach after so much turmoil at the position since Matt Rhule took over as head coach.