Coaches share how Sam Darnold improved en route to guiding Seahawks to Super Bowl

Roughly 12 months ago, Sam Darnold of the Seattle Seahawks was seen as a quarterback who was capable of producing impressive regular-season numbers but who also would crash and burn when asked to play on the biggest of stages. 

Darnold has mostly quieted such chatter during a redemption tour run that involved guiding the Seahawks to a Super Bowl LX showdown with the New England Patriots.

For a piece published on Thursday, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated wrote about how Darnold has improved from what he was during the worst days of his career. 

Playing "faster" helped Sam Darnold enjoy a career renaissance 

"The simplest way I could get it covered from the coaches that work with him — he’s playing much faster than he was years ago, which is a simple result of seeing things faster as he’s gained experience," Breer said about Darnold. "He’s cut his snap-to-throw time way down. He’s become more willing and able to take checkdowns. He’s avoided negative plays as a result." 

Darnold hasn't completely "avoided negative plays" with the Seahawks, as the StatMuse website shows that he committed a league-high 20 turnovers during the regular season. That said, he also produced some memorable heroic moments during his first campaign with the Seahawks. Back in Week 16, he helped Seattle erase a 16-point deficit and earn a 38-37 overtime win over the rival Los Angeles Rams.

Seahawks believe Sam Darnold is still getting better?

"One example of how fast he’s seeing the game came on his game-winning throw against the Rams in the team’s overtime thriller in December — the two-point conversion dart was to Eric Saubert, who was the fourth guy in his progression," Breer added about Darnold. "And those who work with him have told me that part of his game keeps getting better. For the Seahawks coaches, the idea is simplified in three keys they give Darnold every week: Protect the ball, listen to your feet and find the open guy."

As of Friday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook continued to list Darnold as the betting favorite at +120 odds to earn MVP honors for Super Bowl LX. That says plenty about how far Darnold has come since he tossed four interceptions in a loss to the Rams this past November.