Sam Darnold: “Our Offensive Line Is Playing Incredible” | Seattle Seahawks

Sam Darnold: “Our Offensive Line Is Playing Incredible” | Seattle Seahawks

Now that I think about it, good. What’s going on, guys? Good. Um, obviously a tough divisional game this week, um, that we’re really looking forward to. Got a, uh, you know, a great great defense. You know, I feel like, you know, they’re doing a really good job. I think they’re, you know, up there, if not number one, in forcing turnovers. Um, you know, that’s always tough whenever you’re on against a defense like that that can, you know, punch the ball out, take it away defensively. Um, and so for them, I think just, you know, rush and coverage, kind of working together. Um, they got a great front, um, tied tied with really good backers and really good DBs that make it all come to life. So, um, we’re really looking forward to the opportunity. How easy or hard is it to speed up your mechanics or delivery when you’ve got guys that are not just taking the ball away, that curve back hits and pressures, too. Yeah. You know, I think that’s that’s the name of the game, right? if you can just if you can get home rushing four or five guys every single time, um you know, you love that as a defensive coordinator especially. So, um you know, we got to be on our P’s and Q’s. Um but also, you know, they like to mix it up. They like to bring certain pressures. So, um we just got to be ready for it. How does uh the defense they’re playing this year compare to what you guys saw uh what you saw with them last year? Yeah. um you know, they’re doing some similar things, but um obviously like like every offense, like every defense, um like every team in the NFL, you know, they’re they’re evolving um you know, with the personnel that they have and all the different things that they can do defensively. So, um you know, they’ve they’ve shown a lot of different things this year and and we’re excited about um you know, going up against these guys. What are you seeing from Quinton Lake 37 and how they use him? Yeah, you know, I feel like, you know, he’s kind of the one back there that um you know, is kind of directing people where to go um and just kind of running the show back there and for a good reason. You know, he seems like a smart football player. Um you know, and again, it’s you know, he’s he’s obviously um you know, really good and not only him, but you know, some of the other you know, DBs that work along with him and the linebackers for that matter um in just disguising a lot of their coverages and a lot of their pressures. So, um, it definitely makes it tough to go against, but, uh, but exciting, like I said, about just the opportunity that we have. Do you go back and look at those two games from last year against them much at all, or is it obviously that was a different team you’re playing with? I mean, we look at everything. Uh, you know, we’re looking at all the games that they’ve played this year. Um, you know, games that, you know, I played last year. Um, yeah, we look at we look at everything just to kind of see, um, you know, see what we what we could, uh, potentially get on Sunday. You know, we’re defense is playing the way that it is. Mhm. How does that change the formula change the entire feel of the game for you on offense? Yeah, you know, I think I said this after the game, but you know, just playing playing with a defense like that um you know, can give you a lot of, you know, comfort as a quarterback. Obviously, you know, I’m still going to continue to push myself, push the guys on offense um to continue to be better. Um you know, I think we got to continue to protect the football. Um I think that was a huge emphasis coming out of that game that we had last week. Um, but again, you know, with with our defense playing the way that they are right now, um, yeah, they’re playing well and again, we just got to continue to to do what we do on offense. You know, we’re going to ask you, is this Rams game personal for you? How personal this is? Uh, no. I think I think for us it’s just about going down there. Um, for myself personally, um, it’s about going down there and taking care of business, you know, that’s that, you know, it’s as simple as that. What did you take away from that playoff game you yourself in quarterbacking? Yeah, I think, you know, just um you know, having answers. I think that’s the biggest thing is um you know, and I feel like I had opportunities to get the ball out. Um and I didn’t in that game. And uh yeah, I just feel like having answers for for certain looks and and being able to uh just go through my progressions, go through my reads, and trust my my feet and my eyes. You you talked about protecting the ball and and this feels like a game that could definitely come down to the to the end. You guys have had some turnovers at the end of the game. How do you change that if that if that that’s what happens this week is you get down to a close game. Yeah, I think it’s just what I said. I think it’s, you know, um being very um just being very uh deliberate with kind of my progressions, going through my reads, um understanding when the pockets, you know, a little bit messy and when I need to maybe check the ball down or even just throw it away. So, um I think that’s that’s going to be a huge point of emphasis this week. But again, I I like to play every single play as its own. um and and kind of go from there. You’ve only been sacked 10 times in nine games. What do you make of that fact? Yeah, I think first of all it’s a it’s a good, you know, um our offensive line is playing incredible. Um tight ends, running backs, um all those that are, you know, in protection. Um they’re doing a great job and then our receivers being able to get open. Um and then for me, it’s just being able to get the ball out and going through my reads. You guys have talked about the outside noise. It’s kind of, you know, about this game and that will start to come around you guys more if you guys keep winning. How do you how do you sort of, you know, eliminate that or not not get that seep into you guys? Yeah, I think, you know, it’s just understanding who we are. Um, who I am as a person, understanding the guys in the locker room. Um, the coaching staff, you know, we’re all working so hard every single week. You know, we enjoy the, you know, when we do get a win, we enjoy it on Monday. Um, but, you know, it’s on to the next, you know, Monday night really, Tuesday. Um, and we’re focused on next week. you talked about a while ago leadership style that you kind of admire is the the quiet like offensive line uh kind of was that always the way that you kind of led or is there a time that you tried different kind of leadership styles and and just settled on this one? Um no I think for me it’s it’s always you know if if I need to speak up or you know say something that the offensive guys need to hear um or a certain position group or a certain person needs to hear like I’m I’m going to speak up and I feel great about doing that. Um, but you know, first and foremost, it’s about doing my job. And if I’m if I’m not doing my job and I’m getting on people, like that doesn’t make sense to me, and it never has. And so, um, I always make sure that I’m I’m trying to and it it may come off as leading by example, but it’s really just doing your job. Um, and I feel like, you know, all those guys in that locker room are leaders. Um, because everyone in there tries to do their job and they do it at a high level. Um, and that’s just it. What does 12 attempts in a game say about your running game and the flu fluidity of your offense? Yeah, it’s uh it’s awesome, you know, to be able to run the ball that we the way that we did. Um I think without, you know, the the knees at the end and at the end of the uh first half, I think we’re over 200 yards. So, um you know, those guys are continuing to come together like I always say, as an offensive line and you know, as a running back group, tight end group, receiver group, even blocking blocking their tail tails off. Robbie UT’s doing his thing as a fullback. Brady. Um, so it’s good, man. The whole the whole group’s really coming together and we’re just going to continue to build off that week after week. Changing centers can be disruptive for an offense, but with Olu, can you tell like this is a guy that started a bunch of games and also you got the reps with them in camp when there’s competition. Can do you notice that as well? Yeah, for sure. Yeah, I think Olu does a does a really good job. He did a really good job when he got in there last week. Um, so I know that he’s going to continue to prepare his butt off and um do everything that he can to um help this team win. You guys seem to keep uh keep it light, keep it steady weekend, even as things build. Uh who’s who’s the person that thinks they’re the funniest in the locker room and who’s actually the funniest? Who thinks that there because that is a that is a big difference. Um you know, I’m a I think Eric Sabert might be the funniest guy, but that’s just, you know, again, that’s everybody has a different taste, but um Sabi’s pretty funny. Um Coupe, I would say, thinks he’s the funniest. Um, and I’m going to have to go with that because, um, he’s tried to drill me on a couple things, couple oneliners, and, um, yeah, I just thought this was a good time to maybe air that out, and, uh, we’ll see what he says about that. Speaking of Coupe, obviously going back to LA, and just for you having spent half a season around him now, what’s he meant to to the offense, this team as a whole? Yeah, man, he’s incredible. Um, you know, I feel like I talk about it a lot, but just the work that he puts in. Um, you know, it’s unlike anyone else that I’ve ever met. Um yeah, he’s just he’s been a huge a huge fit for us, you know, as an offense, just the way that he works and just the things he can do on the field as well. Um he’s also been a huge catalyst for kind of bringing these guys together, bringing the team together, too. So, um you know, yeah, he’s he’s been very I don’t know if this this is probably the understatement of the year, but he’s a very important piece um to what we’re building here. Appreciate it, guys. Thanks. Thank you.

Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold discusses the upcoming divisional game against the Rams. He highlights the Rams’ strong defense, particularly their ability to force turnovers (0:14). Darnold emphasizes the importance of protecting the football and being prepared for the Rams’ defensive strategies (2:48). He praises the Seahawks’ offensive line, noting only 10 sacks in 9 games (4:30). Darnold also discusses his leadership style, focusing on doing his job well (5:36). He commends the team’s running game(6:35). Darnold highlights the contributions of players like Robbie Ouzts as a fullback and Olu Oluwatimi at center (6:47, 7:04). He also mentions Cooper Kupp’s importance to the offense and team dynamics (8:03).

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