CRA

The situation around Sam is vastly different. You have to account for that and that it is going to produce much better outcomes…even if he were to be literally the same QB. Which he could be. Or is very close to still even if he is improving. * 18 INTs and 9 fumbles. That is just a projection over a full season of what he has been in the NFL. That is just fumbles. Not fumbles lost. He puts the ball on the ground on average every other game. And I look at total fumbles often because recovering them or not is often just lady luck. and yeah two games where has made stupid turnovers in each game….isn’t evidence that Sam no longer is a turnover problem for a team.

In no real order, 2015, 1996, 2003 and 2005 are the 4 best defensive teams to date IMO. All unique. this unit has potential. And you really got to like it if they can keep adding to it given the age of some of the studs. It’s a young foundation. I could see them jumping some of those prior teams.

Jets game was a 5 pt game in the 3rd and 4th quarters it defiantly wasn’t over at the half

He is the leader of their defense and has a INT in every game thus far. That a very big blow for the Texans. Reid and Taylor are both massive blows for the Texans.

Moose, Walls, Allen, Mills, etc are all up as well. I think Mills and Allen eventually find there way in When his time comes, Peppers is the only one I’d put a dollar on being first ballot

Well, when your coach ask you to check down at a very high rate to CMC and company vs opponents that can't score.....it can aid a INT% But his turnover rate per game isn't going down. In every game to date, the bad turnover juju has peaked it's head out to say hello. Which is a cause for concern given he hasn't been in a rough game yet. I'm not trying to hate. Just declaring everyone is great or better or that we know all these things so early....isn't my bag. I like Sam. I hope he does well. I'm just not willing to be overly optimistic yet.

INT% isn't the metric I would exclusively use to judge things. If Sam plays a full season and has 18 INTs, fumbles 9 times? Yeah, I think Sam will of ended up being Sam. And he might easily win the most games of his career while being the same type guy he has always been.

Teddy is simply being Teddy. People put too much weight on one or two games. We saw that last year here, when people wanted to pretend Teddy Checkdown was something new and different for a minute. He wasn't. He isn't in Denver. There also is an adjustment period in the NFL. It's why Kyle Allen, Teddy, etc come out of the gates looking better than they are. Unless you are trash, you have a built in edge early until the DCs get some tape on you and your flaws within a new offense. players can grow. players can get better. but I do not believe your DNA ever changes. End of the day, Teddy will always be Teddy. and you can win with Teddy. and you can win with Sam. What matters most is the situation you put those types in. And I have always predicted we would have a decent year this year. Coming in I had us winning as many as 9 games this year.

Every QB doesn't turn the ball over as consistently has Darnold has throughout both a college and professional career. You cherry picking out a 2 game INT% isn't data that dismisses that. Especially when he has turned the ball over in every appearance to date here.

what conclusion did I make? that the data doesn't support? From college to present day.....he consistently turns the ball over. It's the Sam problem. We have seen it in both games here. It's Sam being Sam. And if you remember in preseason, the refs probably bailed him out of a fumble there too. He just has those moments. Always has. And I think it is a problem that we are seeing it....dismissed and masked because we played bad teams. and your data would be signaling Teddy Bridgewater is a top 5 QB. I don't think if you watched football this year though, your eyes would believe that though.

Mathis got a ring

Sam Darnold's ability to turn the ball over has been insanely consistent from college to present day. and he has a completely dumb turnover in each game thus far in Carolina despite not being asked to shoulder that much. and I have always maintained, he can not change one bit.....and he will win more games and he will have better stats here than at any time in NY. I think he can be the exact same dude he was in NY....and we get to as high as 9 wins being that same dude. I just think there is a weird line about that meaning he is getting better or not. The team around him is so much better. So he is going to have more success here vs there...even if he were to never change.

the perennial contenders in the present era have the QBs that can put it on his back every Sunday if need be.

yeah, the 2003 season never happens without a clutch kicker. That 2003 SuperBowl season doesn't even make the postseason with the caliber kickers we have had around of late.

The Jake comparison is largely decision making and simply doing stupid things. better arm or not....Sam's play and talent doesn't put him in the next tier where the Cam Newton's are (who also did dumb things with the ball). So Jake is probably as good of a Carolina comp as their gets. What's between the ears is what essentially defines every NFL QB. Jake brought a steady mix of good and bad. But when he lost his moxy.....the bad made winning with him too hard. That has been Sam to date. Steady mix of good and bad.

* Sam Mills made it to the semis last year

in the end, a max of 8 guys can actually get in but they don't always put in 8. Think it was 5 last year. I don't think 89 is going to be a first ballot guy. 122 guys also competing. I think 89 will go in year 2. I personally think Hester is technically the most deserving for being a first ballot guy. He is the GOAT at return. But that is one step up from being the GOAT at K.

I think it gets complicated. While our OL hasn't literally imploded like some thought it would....it still isn't great. CMC skews things. I think if you were to put Chubba behind a top OL that simply put him easily into holes....he would look pretty explosive. But if you are asking a rookie RB to evade a lot of tackles/contact in the backfield or at the line.....he isn't going to make a lot happen. Especially one that doesn't have a NFL body yet. Heck, CMC had to put in a lot of work after his rookie season getting a NFL body and to get where he could shake off the first contact he saw.

Delhomme had weird mojo. It actually was meant as a positive. An intangible bump Delhomme got. Tommy Jone stole it though. And he needed it

there is starting to be a real trend under this staff. to date in 2021, we are 31st in 2nd half scoring. in 2020, we were about the same, we were 29th in 2nd half scoring.

boring answer, but probably most interested in watching special teams. We will need them to start showing some improvement. The 3rd phase will matter more and more as our competition gets tougher. Especially as we enter the 3 game stretch after Houston.

Well, let me start by saying that my goal/preference for Carolina is to find a special/franchise QB. I think you need that in the NFL to consistently compete for a title. The league continues to evolve more and more in that direction. Especially, since the era in which Delhomme made his debut. Cam made lots of bonehead plays...but he countered that with being insanely special in his prime with the ability to carry a team on his back. And once he was no longer insanely special to outweigh his negatives? Well, he no longer was a our QB. Could Sam be a Jake Delhomme minus his weird mojo? Maybe. I've always thought that was the Sam ceiling and likely ending to this. And I wouldn't advocate for dumping Darnold if that is all he is. I'm not interested in Rhule doing what he has done for a 3rd go next year. It just means you would have to keep searching for a special QB and prioritize it going forward.

The questions and knock on Darnold have never been arm talent, ability, accuracy etc. Sam will have a better record in Carolina vs NY if he is the same dude he has always been…because our talent is significantly better here. I’m on the fence about Sam because the questions about Sam still remain….can he avoid consistently making bonehead plays. NFL - 40 games - 48 turnovers College - 27 games - 36 turnovers * 2 games thus far in Carolina….and he has bad turnovers in both. And hasn’t even hit a game with a lot of pressure yet…the need a play kind or under constant pass rush variety

If jinxing a team actually worked….I would have monetized my ability and retired

be a lot funnier if he did like that Bama kid did Saban and just put it out there....