Sam Darnold: "We Did A Great Job Of Operating As An Offense"

Sam Darnold (0:00)

You guys?

Yeah, overall, man, just a better performance from us. Just overall, really, you know, just good football. You know, offense, defense, special teams, really defense, man. The way that they played all night, it was awesome to watch. And the way that we were able to stay on the field, too, as an offense, was huge. So, yeah, I'll leave it at that.

SPEAKER_2 (0:23)

You mentioned staying on the field. The third down was really good in this game, including a lot of third and longs.

Sam Darnold (0:27)

What was going on for you in those situations? Yeah, I think, well, we got to stay out of the third and longs. I think, you know, that's another thing, too, is like there's so much to get better at, you know, even with the win. So, you know, we're going to take a look at that and see how we can better and stay out of those third and long situations. But again, our guys did a really good job of executing. And again, our coaches did a really good job throughout the week of, you know, putting the plan together and putting us in a good position out there.

SPEAKER_3 (0:52)

It seemed like you guys, especially early on, were getting to the live scrimmage really quick. Did you feel like that kind of got you guys rolling a little bit in terms of being able to get up there, read the defense, make the adjustments that you needed to?

Sam Darnold (1:03)

Absolutely. Yeah, that was a huge point of emphasis this week, you know, and it's going to be moving forward is just, you know, how clean can the operation go and just being able to get in and out of the huddle, you know, change, change cadences, go on different counts and stuff like that. Like it just keeps the defense, you know, on their heels a little bit. And we want to do that as much as we can, especially with a good defense like Kansas City and a good coordinator. So, yeah, I thought we did a great job of operating as an offense that way.

SPEAKER_2 (1:29)

That first third down, was that the longest eight yard run you ever heard of, you think?

Sam Darnold (1:33)

Yeah, probably, it felt like it.

I don't know, but it was, you know, again, it's just being able to go out there and just play ball, you know, at the end of the day. And, you know, when I'm out there in that, you know, kind of state where I'm just out there playing, you know, playing the game that I grew up loving as a kid. That's when I met my best.

SPEAKER_4 (1:53)

You saw the film, you know, you know they go man and press a lot.

Sam Darnold (1:56)

Yeah.

SPEAKER_4 (1:57)

Were you surprised they did as much against Smith-Njigba in particular?

Sam Darnold (2:01)

I mean, that's kind of what they do, right? I mean, you know, the way that they, you know, play certain coverages, obviously they play very matchy and man, but, you know, for the most part, they had somebody over the top of Jax as well, if not even doubling him. So, you know, it's just, Jax is a tough cover. He always will be and, yeah, he's just, he's a, you know, fun receiver to be able to throw the ball to.

SPEAKER_4 (2:27)

A lot of times in those third downs, it looked like he was your only look, especially in the touchdown. He said that was, you changed to that call with that look.

Sam Darnold (2:33)

Did he say that?

SPEAKER_4 (2:33)

Yeah.

Sam Darnold (2:34)

Good.

SPEAKER_4 (2:35)

It sounds like you appreciate that.

Sam Darnold (2:37)

Yeah.

SPEAKER_4 (2:38)

But how big of an asset for a quarterback is that, to have a receiver that good against that kind of cover?

Sam Darnold (2:45)

Yeah.

Again, he's so good at so many things as a receiver, but the ability for him, I think just his mind, his football IQ, and being able to adjust on the fly and go out there and just, like I said, for myself as well, just play ball. When we're out there doing that, I feel like we're at our best, like I said.

SPEAKER_3 (3:06)

With all the main covers that they play, how big was it to have a number of those opportunities, whether it was JS and that 33-yard catch, we had a ton of yak on it, George Holani's catch on that third and 10th swing. How pivotal was that for you guys today to be able to manufacture that yardage?

Sam Darnold (3:22)