There may be modest to worry over in Jayden Daniels’ two preseason begins. That’s to not recommend the Washington Commanders rookie quarterback hasn’t made teacher Dan Quinn fearful.
Daniels’ 42-yard finishing touch upcoming calling an audible endmost while highlighted the electrical quarterback’s first-ever NFL motion — and induced a grand “Top Gun” analogy from the pinnacle teacher. In Saturday’s moment preseason recreation, a 13-6 loss on the Miami Dolphins, the first-round rookie finished 10 of 12 passes (83.3 %) for 78 yards and drove the Commanders into garden function territory on his handiest two possessions.
He additionally bumped into visitors on one play games in lieu than pumping the brakes and sliding to protection, well-known Quinn again to the flicks for a quote from “Animal House.”
“Yes, double-secret probation he is on,” Quinn joked.
Escaping the preseason with out accidents is the Incorrect. 1 function for any group. That want is going tenfold with Daniels, the Incorrect. 2 pick out within the 2024 NFL Draft who handed and ran to the Heisman Trophy endmost season. The 6-foot-3 quarterback’s negligible body isn’t constructed for parched hits. The cartoonish blows he absorbed at LSU made sliding a number one matter for the fresh training body of workers.
“He will. He will, he will,” offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury mentioned this presen. “We’ve harped on it a lot, but you love the competitive nature. It’s just there’s a time and a place for it.”
This era got here on a second-and-4 from Washington’s 37-yard layout on its moment ownership. Kingsbury known as a read-option, and Daniels, upcoming faking the handoff, took off outdoor proper in the back of the govern cancel of tight finish John Bates. He received 13 yards however in demand with a couple of Miami defenders sooner than falling to the grass with out hurt.
Daniels smiled as he spoke with journalists in regards to the run, calling the do-or-don’t determination “a constant battle” and pronouncing it’s a “fine line between knowing when to take chances and when to get down.”
Then he sought too much yards steps clear of the Commanders’ sideline, Daniels mentioned he may just pay attention Quinn pronouncing, “‘Get down, get down!’ That’s just our little joke going on.”
Not anything is foolish about Daniels’ doable or the consider Quinn, Kingsbury and others have already positioned in him.
“It means a lot that they trust me to go out there and play the position,” Daniels mentioned at the native tv broadcast about his 12 move makes an attempt in two drives. “Put the ball in the right spot. Take care of the football. (They let me) play football.”
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa finished all 5 move makes an attempt for 51 yards, together with a deft 13-yard nook toss over Washington cornerback Benjamin St-Juste to River Cracraft for the sport’s handiest landing. Defensive finish hopeful Jamin Davis, enjoying towards Miami’s third-stringers, had a strip sack for one in all Washington’s two takeaways and 4 sacks.
“I really felt the running and hitting coming to life,” Quinn mentioned.
sacked
recovered#WASvsMIA @WUSA9 pic.twitter.com/E9QRJUkDd8
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) August 18, 2024
Washington sat fewer avid gamers than within the highway loss towards the Unutilized York Jets. The protection competed with out linemen Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Clelin Ferrell, Dante Fowler Jr., and 5 linebackers, led by way of Bobby Wagner. Wagner’s tag-team spouse, Frankie Luvu, flew across the garden in restricted paintings, completing with 4 tackles.
Quarterbacks Marcus Mariota (groin) and Sam Hartman (shoulder), offensive take on Brandon Coleman (shoulder pressure), and tight finish Zach Ertz (non-public) had been out. Miami performed with out superstar receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
Daniels confirmed deny tension in executing Washington’s up-tempo way, getting teammates briefly to the layout of scrimmage and adroitly studying the protection. If Daniels doesn’t get dressed for the Aug. 25 assembly at Commanders Ground towards the Unutilized England Patriots — just right wager he sits — he finishes his first preseason 12-of-15 for 123 yards with 16 speeding yards and one speeding landing.
Kingsbury shared his intentions for Saturday’s plan with The Athletic, creation with the need to turn modest technique, realizing era foes are looking at. Bottom schemes. Linemen looking to go community on the level of assault with no chip or double-team. Receivers aiming to win one-on-one matchups in field. The sport tape will divulge main points on the ones fronts to the body of workers. Kingsbury’s alternative tick list merchandise — pushing the pace — calls for deny evaluation.
Washington moved briefly on drives of 10 performs (for 46 yards) and 9 performs (52 yards) with Daniels at pleasure, although each possessions ended with garden function makes an attempt from outdoor the 20-yard layout. Kingsbury put Daniels within the pistol nearly completely, with variance in team of workers and formation.
3-receiver units had been the principle formation unofficially, together with on a couple of 11-yard energy runs by way of Brian Robinson Jr. to kickstart the second one power. The use of 4 receivers is a Kingsbury staple. That’s what Washington deployed on a third-and-3 from its 45-yard layout with Daniels feeding Terry McLaurin on the layout marker and the receiver breaking isolated for 20 yards. The power stalled, and kicker Riley Patterson neglected a 49-yard garden function aim huge left.
The nearest ownership prolonged into the second one quarter and took longer than desired thank you to 2 consequences, each on proper take on Andrew Wylie. A keeping name on third-and-1 from Miami’s 22 successfully ended any landing hopes.
Jeff Driskel (11-of-15, 82 yards) adopted Daniels and flashed his athleticism with a 41-yard run. Then signing on Thursday, quarterback Hint McSorley just about generated a landing throughout the ultimate tiny, however Mitchell Tinsley may just no longer catch the rather off-target throw on the function layout. Barring the unexpected, the ones names gained’t play games within the usual season for Washington. Despite the fact that he has no longer but been named the Generation 1 starter, Daniels is the man even upcoming scaring his head teacher as soon as once more.
BIG achieve for @jeffdriskel
#WASvsMIA @WUSA9 pic.twitter.com/Mb7E8YNM1y
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) August 17, 2024
“I thought (Jayden) had another really good outing,” Quinn mentioned. “The decision-making of where to go (with passes). He really is a unique competitor. But, yes, he is definitely in trouble again with the head coach.”
Alternative notes from Washington’s moment preseason recreation
• Patterson, coming off an ideal 6-of-6 appearing in Thursday’s joint apply, accounted for Washington’s handiest issues with garden targets from 46 and 38 yards. He additionally neglected a couple, the second one approaching a 43-yard aim, proceeding an erratic summer season. Signed early in coaching camp, the ex-Jacksonville Jaguar is the one kicker at the roster upcoming the group absolved Ramiz Ahmed following the Jets recreation.
Quinn supported Patterson upcoming the loss. Nonetheless, the Commanders will in the end upload every other kicker or two, although they may wait till groups cut rosters to 53 avid gamers.
• The WR2 pageant remainder fluid because the applicants had been restricted to beneath throws. Dyami Brown stuck 3 passes for 19 yards at the first power. Olamide Zaccheaus completed with two for 9 yards, date Jahan Dotson’s lone catch on two goals went for three yards.
• 7th-round edge rusher Javontae Jean-Baptiste, enjoying forward of Davis, additionally had a sack. Washington’s coaches appear proud of Davis’ attempt date switching from linebacker to defensive finish. Davis’ bodily equipment are chief, as is the 2021 first-round pick out’s expansion this summer season. On the other hand, he remainder in the back of alternative defensive ends, together with every other participant status out, KJ Henry. Protecting Davis and Jean-Baptiste is possible if Washington is prepared to retain six defensive ends. That may well be difficult if UDFA standout Tyler Owens results in keeping field for seven safeties.
• The returner experimentation persisted. Kazmeir Allen averaged 19.5 yards on two kick returns and three.0 yards on a couple of punt returns. The Commanders additionally sought after to offer the huge receiver a possibility at operating again, and the velocity blackmail had 13 yards on 3 carries. Allen additionally became the ball over with a fumble. Closing life’s body of workers was hoping to get Allen at the major roster, however he wasn’t able. Any other alternative is right here. He’ll have nearest while’s finale to turn he belongs.
(Photograph: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Photographs)
