Seahawks Want Sam Darnold to Let It Fly-or Just Take Off Running
Last weekend in Atlanta, Sam Darnold had a choice. It was early in the game, and the Seahawks' offense was grinding through a sluggish first half.
Darnold rolled left on a designed pass play, and the lane in front of him opened up like a runway. He needed just one yard for a first down.
But instead of using his legs, he hesitated-waited for a receiver to uncover. No one did.
Then came the mistake: a forced throw into traffic, intended for rookie tight end Elijah Arroyo. The ball ricocheted off a crowd of hands and landed in the arms of a Falcons defender.
Interception. Another one for the NFL’s turnover leader.
But here’s the thing-Darnold adjusted. In the second half, he stopped waiting and started running.
Twice he took off when the play broke down, picking up first downs each time. The Seahawks exploded for 31 second-half points, blowing out the Falcons and improving to 10-3.
It wasn’t just a one-off adjustment. It looked like a quarterback tapping into a part of his game that’s always been there, just underutilized.
“I just tried to take some of the opportunities the defense gave me,” Darnold said this week. “Going through my reads, and if something wasn’t there, not panicking-just understanding I could get out of the pocket and make something happen with my legs.”
That’s not just coach-speak. That’s a quarterback recognizing the value of controlled improvisation.
And it’s not new. Darnold’s always had mobility in his toolbox.
Back in 2020, during his final season with the Jets, he averaged six yards per carry. He’s always been comfortable throwing on the move, especially rolling left and slinging it back across his body.
But here’s the curious part: through 13 games this season, he’s only run the ball 19 times. That’s not just a dip-it’s a career low for him as a full-time starter.
He hasn’t scored a rushing touchdown all season. And yet, he leads the league in yards per pass attempt.
That patience in the pocket, those deep shots downfield-that’s what’s helped Jaxon Smith-Njigba rise to the top of the NFL in receiving yards.
So, with four games left and a potential NFC West crown within reach, the Seahawks are walking a fine line. Should Darnold run more to cut down on turnovers? Or keep waiting for the big play?
Head coach Mike Macdonald isn’t asking for a full-blown identity shift-but he does want Darnold to trust his instincts more when things break down.
“He’s so good at extending plays,” Macdonald said after the win in Atlanta. “Just go be a playmaker, man.
Go do the things that you do. Get excited about it.”
Translation: Don’t overthink it. If the read isn’t there, go make something happen.
That echoes what Cooper Kupp said the week before. The veteran wideout-who knows a thing or two about productive offenses-pointed out that Darnold could avoid sacks and tipped passes like the ones he took against Minnesota by simply moving the pocket.
Get outside. Avoid the blitz.
Use your legs.
Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is on the same page.
“Sam’s got great mobility. We’re always encouraging that part of his game,” Kubiak said. “When number one and number two aren’t there in the progression, you get to your third hitch-take off and run.”
Kubiak lit up talking about Darnold’s second touchdown pass in Atlanta. Under pressure, Darnold stepped up in the pocket, kept his eyes downfield, and waited just long enough for Smith-Njigba to shake free in the end zone. It was a subtle but savvy play-one that required mobility, awareness, and trust.
“Really pleased with what he did in that last game, especially in the red zone stepping up and getting a ball to ‘Jax,’” Kubiak said. “But that’s always a part of how we talk to Sam.”
This Sunday, the Seahawks host the 8-5 Colts, and the matchup could test Darnold’s instincts again. Indianapolis ranks in the top 10 in sacks, but they’re just 23rd in pressure rate. That tells us their coverage has been tight, forcing quarterbacks to hold the ball longer-and eventually get sacked.
But there’s a wrinkle: All-Pro cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, whom the Colts acquired midseason, hasn’t practiced this week due to a calf injury. If he’s out or limited, Darnold might find more room to operate-whether that’s with his arm or his legs.
Still, the dilemma remains. Running more could mean fewer deep shots to Smith-Njigba, who’s been torching defenses all year-except for that Minnesota game, when the Vikings held him to two catches for 28 yards.
Darnold knows it’s a balancing act.
“At the end of the day you can’t be thinking about all that while the ball is getting snapped,” he said. “You’re trying to evade rushers and go through your progressions. It’s definitely a learned skill.”
Sometimes the best play is the one you don’t make-the throw you don’t force, the hit you don’t take.
“Sometimes you just need to throw the ball away and live for the next down,” Darnold added.
That’s the tightrope Seattle is walking right now. They want Darnold to be aggressive, to take shots, to trust his arm. But they also want him to be smart, to use his legs when the moment calls for it, and to protect the football.
If he can strike that balance, the Seahawks might not just be playoff-bound-they could be a real problem once they get there.