Following the 2018 season, Sam Darnold‘s most revered trait was his ability to make something out of nothing. He was known as a quarterback who could extend plays and find a way to generate a positive result even after the initial concept was shut down.
In 2019, we did not see quite as much of that from Darnold as we did in his rookie season.
A big reason why? Chris Herndon wasn’t out there.
Herndon and Darnold had innate chemistry in 2018. When his initial route was covered, Herndon knew how to improvise and make himself an open target for Darnold, showing an excellent understanding of how to move in harmony with his scrambling quarterback.