49ers' Sam Darnold Emulating Rams 'Gunslinger' Matthew Stafford in Practice
Heading into Sunday's matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium, the San Francisco 49ers' top priority on defense is containing quarterback Matthew Stafford.
The 35-year-old's resume speaks for itself, as he's been one of the premier quarterbacks in the league for over a decade and has a Super Bowl ring to show for it. There were doubts that he could still perform at a high level after an injury-plagued 2022 season, but he showed he can still sling it by throwing for 334 yards against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1.
Stafford will present a challenge for the tough San Francisco defense, so the 49ers are taking measures to prepare for him. This week in practice, backup quarterback Sam Darnold has played the role of Stafford while emulating the Rams offense.
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“I take it very seriously,” Darnold said Thursday, via The Mercury News. “I go out and play against a very good defense every single day, and watching some of Stafford’s film too. It’s super fun and I look forward to helping the team any way I can.”
In emulating Stafford, Darnold has gained a new level of appreciation for the veteran quarterback. In fact, he referred to Stafford as "one of those dudes" when asked about his admiration for the former No. 1 pick.
“They call him a gunslinger because he’s a guy that just goes out and lets it rip," Darnold said. "The amount of respect everyone has for Stafford in the entire league is incredible and he deserves it — a great player and a Super Bowl champion.”
It's quite common for backup quarterbacks to emulate the opposing team's starter in practice, and Darnold is playing the role well this season. Last week, he acted as a stand-in for Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett ahead of the 49ers' road trip to the Steel City. That practice served the 49ers well, as they held Pickett to a quarterback rating of 27.5 while intercepting him twice and sacking him five times.
Stafford and the Rams will look to fare better this week as they enter Sunday's game as touchdown underdogs.
