Schrager’s Cheat Sheet: Why this Sam Darnold is different from ghosts of his past-ZoomTech News

Each week, FOX Sports activities NFL Insider Peter Schrager opens his pocket book and opines on three of the largest storylines across the league. Listed below are his takes heading into Week 10, together with what to make of Sam Darnold’s season with the Minnesota Vikings to date.

The Sam Darnold Expertise in full

You could possibly hear the “I advised you so’s” coming from New Jersey, Charlotte and even components of cities Sam Darnold had by no means performed soccer in. Thirty minutes into Sunday night time’s Vikings recreation towards the Colts, Sam Darnold appeared just like the ghost (no pun intended) of Sam Darnold. A careless pink zone interception, confusion on the line of scrimmage and perplexing decision-making by the primary two quarters — the Vikings quarterback had seemingly reverted into regardless of the worst model of himself was from his earlier stops. Two interceptions and a fumble — the final one, a backbreaker that led to an Indianapolis scoop and rating — was the stuff that is plagued Darnold his whole profession. It is what made him expendable in New York and what left the door open for Baker Mayfield in Carolina. 

However, then, the QB emerged from the locker room and was out of the blue the man that he was the primary 5 weeks of the season; not the primary 5 years of his profession. Three landing passes, mastery of the place, and a command of the Vikings offense that’s nearly as good as any when he is cooking — the Darnold from September was again. 

I am not a stats man. I am not. I shudder after I see ex-jocks on TV studying stats and names and numbers off a card. It seems like a crutch. I just like the story; I just like the circulation of the sport and the personalities that play and coach it. However Darnold’s numbers, throughout the board, are among the many tops within the league. He is sixth in TD passes (17), eleventh in move yards per recreation (237.5), and tied for fourth with Josh Allen in passes 20+ yards downfield (30).

And the Vikings, after a two-game skid wherein they misplaced video games in dramatic vogue on the buzzer to the Lions in addition to a wild Thursday night time in Los Angeles, are out of the blue alive once more for the No. 1 seed within the NFC. The cream rises and as Jameis Winston got here again right down to Earth versus the Chargers after an ideal Browns debut the week earlier than, and Derek Carr reverted to Derek Carr in his return to the lineup for the Saints in Week 9, you’d have been greater than justified in saying the “Standard Sam Darnold” line at halftime Sunday night time. 

Darnold fought the darkness, although. The Vikings-Colts Week 9 recreation is perhaps one which will get misplaced or forgotten over the subsequent few weeks, however we noticed Darnold do one thing he hasn’t within the earlier stops in his profession. He dug out of the outlet. With a brand new left deal with, a smattering of boos and a nationally televised viewers collectively shaking their heads, Darnold responded. It is enormous. Minnesota’s QB — as fickle as his performances have been prior to now — has no less than proven us that he can regulate, bounce again and determine it out on the fly. Minnesota has the Jaguars, Titans and Bears up forward on the schedule. That needs to be three wins. They usually’ve bought a QB who can lead them even additional. We predict. 

Chris Shula’s time has come

Chris Shula has been on Sean McVay’s teaching employees since McVay took the Los Angeles Rams job in January of 2017. McVay’s outdated faculty pal from Miami (Ohio), the grandson of Don Shula has at all times been a sounding board and well-respected assistant on the defensive facet of the ball. He is additionally watched as different guys — each inside and outdoors of the group — have been given the defensive coordinator title. Wade Phillips was McVay’s authentic rent. Then, he employed Vic Fangio protégé Brandon Staley after Fangio’s protection continued to present him matches. When Raheem Morris grew to become out there after his stint with Atlanta as an interim head coach, McVay pounced and employed his outdated colleague from Washington. 

However when Morris bought the top coach gig with the Falcons over Invoice Belichick this previous offseason, it was Shula’s job to lose. He, together with Staley, met with McVay and some others to put out what he envisioned the protection to appear to be. Per my conversations with the Rams, Shula was energized and truly laid out how the Rams protection might survive in a post-Aaron Donald period. 

The Rams protection has survived in a post-Aaron Donald period. And on Sunday, regardless of giving up a ton of yards, Chris Shula’s younger protection was opportunistic and willed the Rams to a comeback victory versus the hated Seattle Seahawks. The Rams D had seven sacks, three interceptions of Geno Smith, a pick-6, eight passes defensed, eight tackles for a loss and significant stops on third and fourth down within the additional time interval. Maybe most spectacular is the play of Shula’s rookies on the unit. First-round choose Jared Verse is effectively on his option to a Defensive Rookie of the Yr Award, however on Sunday, his outdated Florida State teammate Braden Fiske, undrafted rookie Omar Speights, and defensive backs Tank McCullough (who we mentioned on this column final week) and Kam Kinchens all made enormous performs within the comeback victory. 

Shula is not a person of many phrases, however his unit speaks for him. What’s cool is the way in which they’re a chameleon. The superb Rams weblog Turf Show Times wrote the next: “The Rams disguise their coverages at the highest rate in the NFL, however that is not all. The defensive formations are in every single place, on consecutive performs you would possibly see three standup edges, 4 cornerbacks, a nook and security as inside linebackers, or three down linemen in entrance of eight secondary gamers.” 

The quantity of names contributing is what’s staggering. Seemingly each week, it is a totally different title you were not acquainted with stepping up and making a key play. Whether or not it is Michael Hoecht, Christian Rozeboom, or Kam Curl — everybody’s elevating their play on D. 

As soon as upon a time, this unit had stars like Aaron Donald, Von Miller, Jalen Ramsey, Leonard Floyd, Aqib Talib, and Marcus Peters. It isn’t the case this yr. However this protection is arguably simply nearly as good. Shula deserves some love. He is the person calling the photographs, and he, too, appears to be solely getting higher week to week. 

What might have been in Vegas? 

Kliff Kingsbury was verrrrrry near signing on the dotted line to be the Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator again in January. He and Antonio Pierce had a number of productive discussions and it appeared prefer it was practically a achieved deal. I used to be on the Senior Bowl in Cellular after I bought a name from a supply saying that issues had gone haywire in negotiations and the Kingsbury/Raiders union was falling aside. The problem was with the contract, and one which the Raiders possible remorse. After interviewing twice in individual, and the forwards and backwards taking longer than it ought to, Kingsbury eliminated himself from consideration on a Saturday. He was on the telephone with Commanders head coach Dan Quinn a day later, and the remaining is historical past. 

Washington has one of the crucial electrical offenses within the league and Kingsbury’s a scorching head teaching candidate. Las Vegas fired their alternate alternative — Luke Getsy — simply 9 weeks into the season. Along with Getsy, offensive line coach James Cregg and quarterbacks coach Wealthy Scangarello had been additionally axed after the staff’s 41-24 loss to Cincinnati on Sunday. Kingsbury, in the meantime, hasn’t appeared again. It makes you surprise, what might have been? 

STAT OF THE WEEK

Lamar Jackson now has 4 profession video games with an ideal passer score (158.3), essentially the most ever by any quarterback in NFL historical past. 

Peter Schrager is an NFL Insider for FOX Sports activities and a number of “Good Morning Soccer” on NFL Community. You’ll be able to observe him on Twitter at @PSchrags.

[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]

---

---