After being important players in their universities, rookies must once again earn their places in the pros. Who are they and what hopes do they raise? Today, Jayden Daniels, rookie quarterback for the Washington Commanders.
Reissue with update, of an article/podcast published on September 24, 2024.
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Jayden Daniels
Born December 18, 2000 in San Bernardino, California
1m93 for 95 kilos
Quarterback, Washington Commanders
In a few days, Jayden Daniels will be voted best NFL rookie on offense. While awaiting confirmation of the result of this election, a look back at the player's presidential campaign in Washington.
The Labor Party
If Jayden Daniels was voted best university player in 2023, he owes it above all to his work. Present every day from 5:30 a.m., the employees of the LSU training center had rarely seen more diligent than him. The player confirms this on the official website of his NFL franchise.
“At that time, there were no outside distractions in the building. So I was really focused on studying my matches and what I needed to fix. »
But before arriving at LSU in 2022, he first played at Arizona State University. In 2019, he won the votes for best beginner at the university quarterback position. With Arizona State, Jayden Daniels throws 17 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions! Unfortunately, the following season was cut short by covid-19.
In 2021, the Sun Devils are without receiver Brandon Aiyuk (49ers) who has left for the NFL. The attack is then much more focused on the ground than in the air: 37 races for 24 passes on average per match. Runner Rachaad White (Tampa Bay) is then the leader of the attack.
For the following year, he decided to join a party with a program more favorable to his qualities as a pitcher.
The progressive party
Candidate Jayden Daniels is campaigning with a slogan: work more but above all work better! During the 2023 season, the University of LSU will acquire a latest generation simulator. Founded in Germany, the company Cognilize provides virtual reality programs and glasses for sports.
Coaches and players who have tried this new tool describe its astonishing realism. This simulator was already there in terms of graphics. The LSU coaches allowed all types of defensive coverage to be added to the simulation, as well as the different offensive systems in their playbook.
Jayden Daniels was able to test this new approach the week before a game against Mississippi State. Virtual reality headset for the player and tablet for Jack Marucci, head of LSU’s “Performance and Innovation” department. An article from The Athletic describes the work as follows:
“The computer guy selects a game then gives the verbiage to Jayden Daniels: Tree Right Hug Y Swift Iowa Cold Flash Z Stop. Of course, he does not inform the quarterback of the type of defense he has selected to counter him. When the game starts, the quarterback then has less than two seconds to make his decision and play! »
Jayden Daniels was able to experience the entire game book planned for this match. On the day of the match, he scored more than 360 yards on the field and two touchdowns in the air, with an impeccable 30 out of 34 completed passes!
Thus, every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday following the 2023 season, he was able to repeat the entire playbook planned against a given opponent. The simulator of course offers the specific characteristics of the defense to be encountered.
“It helped me a lot. After training, being able to repeat the playbook again is valuable. Become familiar with the opposing defense too. “, he tells Saturday Down South.
If this tool is just one more reason for his success, Jayden Daniels is having a fantastic season: 40 passing touchdowns for only 4 interceptions! With an additional 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground, Jayden Daniels won the title of best university player: the Heisman Trophy.
God's party
Jayden Daniels was born into a Christian family. He sometimes went to church on Sunday mornings but his faith was more a family tradition than a belief. It was upon arriving at LSU that the context brought him closer to God.
“In Arizona, my family wasn't that far away. But when I arrived in Louisiana, I really found myself on my own. »
He also entrusts Sport and Faith that faith took a lot of pressure off of him. Understand that you cannot control everything, do your best and leave it to fate. If the player has changed at LSU, it is also because the man has gained maturity.
Obviously, God's plan was for him to become the number 1 hope of the nation's capital.
The White House
After governing the state of Louisiana, Jayden Daniels wants to rule the country! For this, he has an experienced campaign manager in Dan Quinn. The latter has been coaching in the NFL for 24 years, including seven seasons as head coach. And to best prepare for the future mandate of his candidate, he enlists the services of offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
The two chiefs of staff put together a very balanced program for Jayden Daniels: 525 passes for 526 races in the regular season. If runners Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler are effective with more than 1,000 yards between them, the mobility of the young quarterback is highlighted by being the best on the ground on his team.
Concerning the aerial game, if seven players receive more than 20 passes, Jayden Daniels can mainly rely on the ministers Terry McLaurin and Zach Ertz. The offensive system is based on Read Pass Option allowing the quarterback to decide at the last moment, to give the ball to the runner or to play it himself: by passing or running with it.
The electoral strategy is based on short passes on the first attempt, in order to obtain less complicated second and third attempts. Finally, for a candidate that no one expected at this level before the season, the coaches know how to be aggressive when necessary: no one in the NFL has converted more 4th attempts than Washington.
This Sunday stands the penultimate obstacle to the nomination. And during this decisive meeting, Jayden Daniels will face an opponent he knows well: the Philadelphia Eagles party. After a first debate lost 28 to 18 in week 11, he was able to take his revenge on December 22.
Trailing 33 to 28 with only two minutes remaining, Jayden Daniels closed the debate with ten arguments, including the two-point conversion, to allow the Commanders to win!
He will have to repeat the feat this Sunday, January 26, 2025 for “Make Washington Great Again”.
