TAMPA, Fla. — The NFL launching of Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was frustrating to the degree that Washington took a 37-20 loss to the Buccaneers, however the videogame still provided a appealing look of how electrical a playmaker the novice quarterback will be.
“I grade myself tough,” Daniels stated after the videogame. “We didn’t win. I’m a rival. I like to win, however total, it went well, quite well.”
Daniels’ rushing capability and speed were in complete result Sunday, as he hurried for 88 backyards — fifth-most for any quarterback making his veryfirst profession start in the Super Bowl period — and scored a set of 1-lawn goals in the 2nd half.
“I idea he got to totally reveal all the things that he has, utilizing his legs, you understand, being aggressive down the field,” Washington coach Dan Quinn stated. “Like him, like a number of gamers tonight, there’s going to be a lot of takeaways and things that we’re going to like, things we desire to enhance on. But what I can inform you is we got one hell of a rival in him. We’re simply getting began with him and the guys.”
The draft’s 2nd total choice from LSU has currently made an impression on his colleagues, and not simply for his athletic expertise.
“His capability to stay calm among misfortune was really strong,” guard Sam Cosmi stated. “I didn’t feel anything wavering or any panic or anything like that. There was a minute at the really end, we were in huddle throughout like a timeout and we kind of simply looked at each other, like ‘Hey guy, we (have) something unique here.'”
The Bucs understood he was a unsafe risk going in.
“You go put on his scramble reel from LSU, and it’s kind of sickening,” co-defensive planner Kacy Rodgers stated Thursday. “He’s (not) simply getting 5, he’s getting55 He is a issue when he chooses to take off. He can make all the tosses. You kind of see why he got prepared where he did. He’s going to be a significant young gamer.”
Daniels, 23, was a talented runner at LSU — he hurried for 1,134 lawns last year, balancing 8.4 lawns a bring in the SEC, and he instantly endedupbeing one of the finest hurrying quarterbacks in the NFL. Bucs linebacker Lavonte David, playing in his 12th NFL season, stated Daniels is “probably” the fastest quarterback he’s dealtwith in his profession.
His elite rushing equates quickly to the pros, however commanding an NFL offense is another difficulty totally. That he didn’t dedicate any turnovers is good, however there were plenty of missedouton chances. Washington hadahardtime to relocation the ball regularly Sunday, going 2-for-8 on 3rd downs. He hardly linked with his receivers, finishing a overall of 7 passes for 55 backyards, getting simply 17 from top receiver Terry McLaurin.
On the opening play of the 2nd half, when Washington was still just down 16-7, Daniels took a uncommon deep shot down the left sideline, and while McLaurin had a action on Bucs corner Jamel Dean, Daniels had a little too much air on the toss and missedouton him insufficient. “One I desire I might have back,” Daniels stated after the videogame.
And while Daniels’ rushing is an undisputed weapon, the Commanders will desire to be mindful not to expose him to too much threat of injury. He had 16 brings Sunday, 4 more than running back Brian Robinson, however stated it didn’t feel like too lotsof or any kind of unneeded issue, simply part of his videogame. Twice, he was struck tough sufficient that his helmet flew off, one illustration a 15-yard charge.
“I think that’s a concern for the coaches,” he stated of his use, laughing. “They’ve got to identify that, however no, I got down, I got what I might get. You understand, that one hit and the one on the objective line, that was absolutelynothing. I’m not going to go down for that. I got to rating.”
An NFL launching on the roadway versus a three-time protecting department champ can be a lot for any novice, however Quinn stated he saw a convenience and calm in Daniels that bodes well for his capability to manage himself and continue enhancing as the season advances.
“In the videogame, he was precisely the verysame as back in Ashburn: positive, strong, clear-eyed about how to go assault, going down to the end,” Quinn stated. “He was simply believing and processing rapidly. I would state we’ll have a muchbetter evaluation on that (Monday), however male, it was right in his wheelhouse.”
Quinn stated even with just one NFL videogame under his belt, Daniels hasactually made the regard of his colleagues, a essential action for any franchise leader, regardless of how vibrant a playmaker he is simply off his skills on the field.
“They have such belief in him,” Quinn stated. “They here think in him since of the work he’s put in. It’s one thing when someone comes in, however you still have to show it. Over the time here with these gamers, they love this guy and what he stands for as a competitior, as a colleague, the work. So that’s why, guy, he’s going to go huge.”
Greg Auman is FOX Sports’ NFC South pressreporter, covering the Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers and Saints. He is in his 10th season covering the Bucs and the NFL full-time, havingactually invested time at the Tampa Bay Times and The Athletic. You can follow him on Twitter at @gregauman.
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