Jayden Daniels did not look much just like the quarterback that electrified faculty soccer final season and gained a Heisman Trophy. For such an thrilling participant, what we noticed in his NFL debut was fairly boring.
The Washington Commanders obtained little happening offense, however that was partially as a consequence of a hyper conservative recreation plan. Daniels seemed like a rookie in his first NFL recreation and the Commanders fell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 37-20. Daniels was 17 of 24 for 184 yards and rushed for 88 yards. It was a completely respectable debut, even when it was unspectacular.
It’s not simple to play quarterback as a rookie in the NFL, regardless of how simple C.J. Stroud made it look final season. Caleb Williams did not even break 100 yards in his debut in what seemed like a good matchup towards the Tennessee Titans. Bo Nix struggled at instances in his Denver Broncos debut. Daniels wasn’t unhealthy however the participant who made a number of huge performs a recreation at LSU final season did not get much going.
Daniels’ first cross wasn’t even formally a cross. He rushed a throw and threw it wildly to the again popping out of the backfield, it was a backwards cross and formally a lateral and a fumble. Washington recovered. Passing it backwards on his first try set the tone for a lot of the Commanders’ passing plan on Sunday.
The Commanders got here into the sport clearly targeted on a quick passing recreation, to get the ball out fast seemingly as a consequence of a shaky offensive line. There was no actual query about whether or not Daniels ought to begin from Week 1 on, however he is not in a nice state of affairs due to the road. It’s simply one thing Washington hopes to handle. It additionally implies that the offense shall be restricted till the purpose in which they really feel snug opening issues up a little.
Daniels wasn’t unhealthy. It wasn’t Daniels’ fault that kicker Cade York missed two area targets. The helped the Buccaneers open up a 23-7 lead throughout the third quarter, which put Daniels in a powerful spot. Daniels did not play poorly, he simply did not make many performs apart from his quite a few scrambles. By that time, Daniels had accomplished solely two passes longer than 8 yards. It’s arduous to run an offense with no downfield passing and counting on a quarterback to scramble most performs. It was additionally regarding to see Daniels take some arduous hits, together with two that knocked off his helmet.
Daniels lastly obtained the Commanders in the tip zone late in the third quarter. He hit Brian Robinson Jr., who had a good run downfield for 32 yards. On the following play Daniels scored his first NFL landing on a 1-yard learn possibility run.
The Buccaneers scored a landing proper after that to place the Commanders again in a deep gap. Washington punted on its subsequent drive and it was virtually over after that. Daniels did rating a second landing on a run in rubbish time close to the tip of the sport.
Daniels has the flexibility to have a lengthy, incredible profession. There’s a purpose he was the second general choose in a robust class. But his first recreation wasn’t the dynamic begin anybody hoped for.
