Film Study: Underrated Darnold throws

Sam Darnold put on a show, not just on the big explosive plays

© Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

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By Matthew Coller

A few years ago, I interviewed Gus Frerotte about a game he played against the San Francisco 49ers in 2003 because it was the top game played by a Vikings quarterback in terms of passer rating (with at least 20 pass attempts). Gus put up a 157.2 rating that day with 16-for-21 passing for 267 yards and four touchdowns. On Sunday against the Falcons, Darnold topped that number with a 157.9 rating on 22-for-28 passing for 347 yards and five touchdowns.

The only other QBs to top 150 ratings in a single game for the Vikings are Teddy Bridgewater, Fran Tarkenton, Daunte Culpepper and Warren Moon. Randall Cunningham came close against the Packers in ‘98 at 145.8.

A lot of that success was driven by deep throws but let’s take a look at some of the less obvious big-time plays by the Vikings quarterback.

Underrated Darnold throws

We start midway through the second quarter with the game tied at 7-7. The Vikings drive got off to a rough start with a sack pushing them back to third-and-13. The Falcons played a deep zone to combat the Vikings running three receivers past the sticks and two underneath routes. Darnold slid himself into an open space in the pocket and threw a line drive between defenders to Justin Jefferson cutting in toward the middle of the field. When Darnold goes to throw the ball, there is an underneath linebacker, corner, safety and another linebacker in the middle of the field all in the area, yet he throws it to the space where only his receiver could catch it.

Notice that when he started winding up, Jefferson hadn’t even gotten behind the linebacker. The anticipation on Darnold’s throws seems to have come to life in recent weeks as he has grown more confident with the “rhythm and timing” of the offense.

On the same drive, Darnold finishes it off with a fireball into the end zone to Jefferson. This play is the combination of play design and execution coming together.

Jefferson goes in motion and cornerback AJ Terrell comes with him, meaning that it’s likely to be man-to-man coverage. Jordan Addison runs across the middle of the field, occupying his man-to-man defensive back and TJ Hockenson goes into the flat, leaving Jefferson one-on-one with space. You already know what that means: Game over. Darnold reads it, throws it on time and places the football perfectly up and away from where Terrell could potentially make a play on it.

Also take note at the end, Darnold took a shot right before letting this pass loose..

Our next throw is on third-and-5 at mid-field on the opening drive of the second half. Darnold’s accuracy and ability to lead his receivers over the middle of the field is on display here. He completes an 18-yard throw to Hockenson in which he begins his windup when the zone linebacker is sitting right in the spot Hockenson is running into. He whizzes it right by the linebacker’s head to his TE, who is running away from his man-to-man defender.

Arm talent wouldn’t mean much if Darnold didn’t understand how to lead his receivers to space where they are going to be open.

Anyway, let’s look at a deep ball.

The Vikings defense was gassed and gave up a quick strike, meaning that Darnold had to put together a quality drive to get them back ahead in the game and he decided to let loose a deep shot to Addison. On this 42-yard gain, he reads the deep safety (who is playing so far back he’s out of the screen) leaning over toward Jefferson’s side, so he elects to push it to Addison one-on-one. When Darnold brings his arm back to throw, Addison hasn’t yet reached the 45-yard line and he catches the ball at the 15-yard line.

Darnold also did it with the rush baring down on him to the point where he’s being touched by a D-linemen as he’s releasing it. He can’t even fully step into the throw and yet it travels 50 yards in the air.

One thing that keeps coming up every week is: How many QBs are capable of making that throw? There can’t be many who could be facing a collapsing pocket and hit a full speed receiver at the opposite side numbers like that. Just astonishing strength.

Next Darnold delivery is a play that looks routine but has some high level timing and arm strength requirements in its own right. After hitting the 42-yarder, Darnold closed out the drive with a touchdown pass to Addison in which Jefferson goes in short motion to cause some confusion and then he holds the safety over the top of him and allows Addison to be one-on-one with a corner who’s scrambling. Throwing from the opposite hash, Darnold hits the back foot and the ball comes out to a location where there is no risk of the corner undercutting the throw and breaking it up or picking it off. Only his man is getting there. Addison catches it right out of his break and just before reaching the sideline. Can’t draw it up much better than this.

The Vikings caused a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and had an opportunity to essentially put the game away. At times throughout the season, Darnold got a little antsy in the high red zone. This time around he was surgical.

Here are three throws that led to a touchdown, all of them simply playing within the structure and making good decisions. The first clip is a short pass to Jefferson where he reads the other side of the field and then works back to his best reiver for a first down. The second clip is the reverse angle that shows his patience and the dot he throws to Jefferson. The third clip is a simple in-breaking route to Addison that he reads the zone coverage well and finds him accurately. The fourth is his TD pass to Addison, which is also timed out perfectly with his route.

The bottom line from all of these throws — some of which won’t make the highlight reel — is that Darnold is playing with incredible comfort within the system. He’s letting his play designer and receivers set him up for success and finding the right places to throw on time. This isn’t just a guy with a cannon firing the ball down field and praying.

However, he did have some pretty big plays downfield. Here’s the end zone view of the signature play of the day, Jefferson’s 52-yard catch:

How many quarterbacks in the league make that play? Not too many.

Players outside of starters making an impact