QUARTERBACK SAM DARNOLD
Yeah, obviously a really exciting win. For us as an offense, early mistake with the fumble, but I felt like we bounced back really well with that. And I thought our defense and special teams played really well. Yeah, it was nice to be able to just kind of move the ball up and down the field. Kind of got stalled a little bit in the second half, but I feel like when we move the ball and we were able to get in the red zone, we weren't turning the ball over, we were able to turn those into points. And that was huge for us today and just really proud of the guys in the locker room.
Sam (Darnold), was there something about those dagger throws that you like so much?
Yeah, I think you know when, no matter if its dagger throw or another type of route coming into a window against a zone defense, it's always just kind of feeling that space and feeling very confident in being able to rip it. And so that's just kind of what I felt on that play and J (Jordan Addison) did the rest.
Is there anything in the world that can simulate the pocket movement type stuff that you were doing today?
No. I mean, I think we'll watch it on type. I felt like there were sometimes where I could have, you know, I was able to hang in the pocket. Obviously moving around and converting third downs is great, but some of those third downs, like I mentioned early in the second half, I felt like I was able to kind of sit in there and maybe deliver a throw. But yeah, just got to continue to learn from that and continue to have a feel with those kinds of plays. And yeah, I think that's the biggest thing, it's just throughout the season learning from plays like that.
On the touchdown to (Jordan) Addison could you feel the corner blitz because it was really close?
Yeah. Yeah, that's the game man. You know sometimes they're going to—they're breathing down your neck, especially the way that this defense plays, a lot of credit to that defense and that team over there. Really tough group. Obviously defensive rankings are what they are for a reason. And I just felt like the way that we prepared throughout the week for certain pressures and for their certain looks. Again, credit to our coaching staff for being able to put together a lot of just really solid look teams and the scout teams this past week were unbelievable with this kind of stuff. Some of their pressures and different coverages that they play with those pressures. So yeah, just a really—overall I just felt like as an organization this was a great win for us.
Sam how do you reflect on the last three weeks as a whole just finding wins any way you guys can?
Yeah, that's this league. You just got to find a way to win. We're just going to continue to try to do that and take it one week at a time and take it one day at a time. And we're just going to continue to watch the tape from this, grow from it and then get ready for Chicago next week.
Sam, Harrison (Smith) got a pick and he's obviously from this state, what stands out the most about being around that guy?
Yeah, he's a special player, but an even better person. He's just a great, steady presence in the locker room. Obviously, he's been in the league for a while, been on this team for a while and he's just an incredible teammate. Like I said, even when he makes a huge play, he's just right here every time. He's so steady and that's what we love about him.
