#358: Sam Darnold LOOKS SHARP in Minnesota Vikings preseason debut

Minnesota Tim reviews the preseason game of the Minnesota Vikings and focuses on the quarterback play, specifically Sam Darnold. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's preseason game number one for the Minnesota Vikings and
Kevin O'Connell started. Most of the Minnesota Vikings starters. Only
a few didn't play, Justin Jefferson, Shack Griffin, and I
don't know who else really didn't play. But most of
the starters played offensively, and most of the starters played defensively.

(00:25):
But let's dive into the most talked about subject, the
most interesting subject of them all, and that is the
quarterback play from the Minnesota Vikings two quarterbacks.

Speaker 2 (00:38):
First, let's start with Sam Donald.

Speaker 1 (00:39):
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Speaker 2 (01:11):
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Speaker 1 (01:13):
When you mentioned the Minnesota tim podcast, So Sam donald
stat line he played one series for the Minnesota Vikings.
He went four for eight fifty nine yards about seven
yards per row, zero sacks, zero interception, zero touchdowns. He
did lead the Minnesota Vikings down the field, got them

(01:35):
in the field goal range, and the Minnesota Vikings offense
one ford on fourth and two. Because it was a
preseason game, why wouldn't you go for it on fourth
and two? But in all likelihood that would have been
a field goal and a regular season game. So you
can chalk three points up on the board for the
Minnesota Vikings offense led by Sam Donald. A couple of

(01:57):
notes to take away the fact that he only played
one series.

Speaker 2 (02:02):
Tells you a lot.

Speaker 1 (02:04):
It tells you that the quarterback decision has already been
made and that Sam Donald will be starting Week one
for the Minnesota Vikings.

Speaker 2 (02:13):
On the road versus the New York Giants.

Speaker 1 (02:15):
If Kevin O'Connell didn't have all that much faith in
Sam Donald, well then he would have played more than
one series. This isn't a real quarterback battle. Sam Donald
is the quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings in Week one,
and you got him some reps offensively, you got him
some throws to Jalen Naylor. He got him some attempts

(02:35):
to Jordan Andison, he got him handing the ball off
to ty Chandler, and that's all it was really for.

Speaker 2 (02:41):
If he played.

Speaker 1 (02:42):
Three series or four series, well then maybe we're talking
about a real quarterback battle. But because he played one series,
Sam Donald is the trusted quarterback, the guy that Kevin
O'Connell trusts most to win football games right now in
the NFL. My first takeaway, my second takeaway, Sam Donald

(03:04):
looks sharp.

Speaker 2 (03:05):
I know he only went four for eight, but.

Speaker 1 (03:07):
Ty Chandler dropped one of those went right off his hands,
which the ball was right at the three and two
on his chest and he just slammed it down like
a volleyball. So that drop wasn't on Sam Donald. They
went forward on fourth down. They wouldn't have done that
in the real regular season game. So even though he
went only four four eight, those numbers aren't super accurate

(03:30):
of how he performed. And I'm gonna show video of
some of his throws. In this first preseason game. He
had a third and ten on the opening posession and
the Minnesota Vikings elected to receive. I don't know if
the Raiders deferred. I don't know who won the toss.
I don't really give it bleep, but the Minnesota Vikings

(03:53):
got the ball first. And I'm gonna share my screen
just like this. And here's the first throw from I
am to Jalen Naylor.

Speaker 2 (04:02):
Look at that.

Speaker 1 (04:03):
That's a beautiful throw over the outstretched arm of the linebacker.
Third and long. The Las Vegas Raiders are also playing
their starters defensively and offensively to start this football game.
Third and ten not the position you want to be in,
but has a beautiful touch pass throw in between the
linebacker and the safety, and Jalen Naylor picks up the

(04:27):
first down. Here's another angle. Look at that, barely over
the outstretched darm And this is where people get the
talk of Okay, he was a number three overall pick
for a reason. It's because he can make these kind
of throws. And these are the throws that he displayed
in his one and only series for the Minnesota Vikings.
And this is why it's gonna be the starting quarterback.

(04:49):
Here's another good throw. Sam Darnold, under pressure from his
own running back, Ty Chandler, steps up right into his pocket.
It trips him up as he's throwing he still has
the arm strength to get the ball out there to
Jordan Addison and he catches the ball for another first
down on third and seven. So he moves the chains
twice on third downs. And this is an impressive throw

(05:09):
going to the right, all that across the other side
of the field, right on the dot as he's off balance.
I mean, this throw could have been something where he
threw it way high in the air. Cornerback runs under it,
and it's the easiest interception in the history of the NFL.

Speaker 2 (05:22):
No, no, no, no, no, that's not the case at all.

Speaker 1 (05:25):
It is a beautiful touch pass throw to the sidelines.
It's past the first down marker, So no fourth and
eight jokes here for Kirk Cousins.

Speaker 2 (05:33):
And it was a great throw.

Speaker 1 (05:35):
So Sam Donald leads the Minnesota Vikings down the field
and it would have been a field goal if they
didn't play.

Speaker 2 (05:45):
A preseason game. So Sam Donald looks sharp.

Speaker 1 (05:48):
He will be the opening day starter for the Minnesota Vikings,
and him only playing one series shows that that's true.
All right, A JJ McCarthy podcast will become later because
they're still playing. So thank you for making this episode
and this podcast a part of your day contact Oakland
form at nine five two four nine one one five

(06:10):
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