With the NFL offseason in full swing, probably the most fashionable conversations has been concerning the Pittsburgh Steelers and the quarterback state of affairs. Names like Russell Wilson and Justin Fields have dominated the dialog. Nonetheless, one title acquired talked about right now that I haven’t heard a lot in any respect: San Francisco 49ers QB Sam Darnold.
On Monday’s episode of Up On Recreation on Fox Sports activities Radio, former NFL WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh and former Steelers WR Plaxico Burress had been joined by former NFL LB Lavar Arrington. More often than not was spent on various opinions on Wilson’s match, however Burress introduced up Darnold as a high quality possibility.
“You already know what makes probably the most sense for me?” Burress stated. “After I say this to individuals, they sort of have a look at me they usually like ‘Properly, he’s not probably the most fascinating of man,’ however he suits. It’s Sam Darnold. I believe he suits what Pittsburgh desires to do proper now. Pay attention, he’s not younger Ben Roethlisberger. He’s not a foul quarterback.”
At first look, the phrase “He’s not a foul quarterback” and Sam Darnold may not match collectively. He was the third total choose within the 2018 NFL Draft by the New York Jets after a profitable faculty profession at USC. Nonetheless, he by no means established himself as a high quality quarterback in his first three seasons with the Jets. He was traded to the Carolina Panthers after the 2020 season and completed his Jets profession with a 59.8 completion share, 45 touchdowns, 39 interceptions, and eight,097 passing yards. It wasn’t significantly better in Carolina the place he completed his two seasons with 16 touchdowns to 16 interceptions, 3,670 passing yards, and a 59.5 completion share.
Regardless of Darnold’s struggles, he has thrown for extra touchdowns (63) than interceptions in his profession (56,) however his profession completion share is under 60 (59.7)
So what makes Burress suppose Darnold may achieve Pittsburgh? The Steelers’ concentrate on the operating sport and their weapons on offense. In any case, when you have a look at whom Darnold has thrown touchdowns to, it’s not precisely an inventory of the perfect receivers within the sport. Essentially the most touchdowns he’s thrown to 1 receiver is 14, and that was to Robbie Chosen (previously Anderson). Then Jamison Crowder at 10, DJ Moore with seven, Chris Herndon with six, and Ryan Griffin at 5.
What number of of them are higher than the three main choices in Pittsburgh of WRs George Pickens and Diontae Johnson together with TE Pat Freiermuth? The one one who you would make any form of a high quality argument for is Moore, who has surpassed 1,100 receiving yards in 4 of his six NFL seasons and caught a career-high eight touchdowns final season with the Bears.
One factor is for positive about what Burress stated: Darnold, or no matter quarterback the Steelers herald, received’t must be the star of the present. The Steelers will decide to the operating sport beneath new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who will construct a robust play-action passing assault off that run sport. Maybe a 12 months beneath Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco may help Darnold reset after the expectations (and lack of high quality teaching) he confronted by his 5 seasons within the NFL.
You’ll be able to hearken to all the dialog concerning the Steelers’ quarterback state of affairs under:
