Sam Darnold given 2 things to improve on after Seahawks debut
The Seattle Seahawks have rested their hopes on Sam Darnold, trading away Geno Smith (who had a spectacular Week 1 outing) and bringing in the free agent quarterback to guide their offense for the next few years. In Week 1, the Darnold era got off to a really rocky start.
Darnold was 16/23 for just 150 yards (124 of which went to Jaxon Smith-Njigba) and lost a fumble in the red zone while trailing by four. The entire offense was pretty dismal in Week 1, and Darnold wasn't very good, so one insider has two things that the QB has to improve on in Week 2.
"The Seattle Seahawks placed a lot of trust in Sam Darnold to be the quarterback he was last season with the Minnesota Vikings. His Week 1 performance didn't live up to those expectations, but he wasn't terrible by any means, either," Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski wrote.
The first is not honing in on only one pass-catcher. Sobleski said, "First, Darnold must do a better job spreading the ball around to his receivers... Cooper Kupp had only 15 yards on two catches."
The second is a little more important. Darnold has to take care of the football. "Seattle had a red-zone opportunity to take the lead with less than a minute remaining, but Darnold was stripped of the football," Sobleski said.
Of course, it was star edge rusher Nick Bosa who demolished right tackle Abe Lucas, but Darnold just has to hold onto the ball. "At the same time, Darnold had a man open and patted the ball before trying to uncork the pass," the insider wrote.
"These instances may be little things right now, but the Seahawks ended up on the wrong side of the ledger when they expected their new quarterback to bring a different approach to the team," Sobleski concluded.
If the Seahawks are going to win in Week 2 and beyond, they need Darnold to get other players involved. They also need him to avoid such destructive turnovers in key moments. Had he held onto the ball or thrown it first, the Seahawks could've lived to fight another down or two to win the game.
Shilo Sanders projected to be cut by Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Shilo Sanders is facing an uncertain path as an undrafted free agent. The former Colorado Buffaloes standout is trying every he can to make the final roster, but he might just be the odd man out.
One recent projections from the FanSided's Pewter Plank Report suggest Sanders' chances are in jeopardy. Their latest roster forecast lists five safeties with J.J. Roberts, Kaevon Merriweather, Christian Izien, Tykee Smith, and Antoine Winfield Jr. making the cut. Sanders was notably absent from the list.
Shilo’s strong work ethic and playmaking in training camp made him a fan favorite, with many believing he could earn a spot on the Buccaneers’ 53-man roster. However, given the depth at the position, he could be vying for a practice squad position.
Sanders' fate isn’t sealed. In preseason action, he has shown physicality and awareness that caught head coach Todd Bowles’ attention. Against the Titans this past weekend, he recorded a tackle and a quarterback hit in a 29-7 win, also applying pressure on the passer. Bowles praised his ability to step up when called upon.
With two preseason games left against AFC contenders the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills, Sanders has a final window to prove he belongs which starts now.
The deadline for final roster cuts is Tuesday, August 27, at 4 p.m. ET. Until then, his task is clear to stand out in every snap, special teams included.
While the odds may be long, the Sanders family has built its brand on defying them. If Shilo can continue delivering high-effort performances, he could be stacking up highlights for another team to get him.
