The Throw to Avoid for Sam Darnold
When the Minnesota Vikings take the field for the 2024 NFL regular season, they will do so with a new quarterback. Long gone is Kirk Cousins, and not yet ushered in is J.J. McCarthy. This is the Sam Darnold show, and there’s a specific throw Kevin O’Connell will want him to avoid.
The Throw to Avoid for Sam Darnold
When the Vikings lost Justin Jefferson early in 2023, the injury was a soft tissue sort. Given the amount of preparation professional athletes put into their bodies, that situation is largely fluky. Jefferson pulling his hamstring was not ideal and certainly, something he would have wished he could’ve avoided.
Jefferson does not want to see again the type of pass Josh Dobbs threw him that sent him to the hospital. An awful ball placement and ultimately errant throw put the playmaker in a spot to get absolutely blown up. That happened when the fill-in quarterback asked his wideout to elevate and reach backward, leaving him exposed.
Jefferson went up to catch the pass because he always does. In stretching his body upwards, Jefferson’s entire torso was exposed, and the defender was able to lay a massive and legal hit. It was brutal and a reflection of how dangerous the game is.
When Darnold gets under center the goal will be to develop a quick level of rapport with his star. How much Jefferson can click with a new quarterback will largely determine the success of Darnold’s new situation. If the pairing can show a level of trust, then both sides should flourish as teammates.
Jefferson missed a substantial amount of time last year then returned to a trio of makeshift quarterbacks that largely chucked the ball up for grabs. His talent will always keep him in position to make those plays, but it also leaves him exposed. Darnold’s delivery of quality passes and avoiding the circumstances that leave his star out to dry must be part of the process.
If this is going to be a revival for Darnold, it will be because of execution through accuracy. If that happens, Jefferson putting up gaudy numbers again should be the expectation and not a surprise.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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