5 major observations from Jayden Daniels' performance at the Buccaneers
By Dean Jones
Jayden Daniels' rushing prowess
One of the biggest positives surrounding Jayden Daniels coming out of college centered on mobility. He's a dual-threat force capable of making things happen on the run when plays aren't developing as expected downfield. The Heisman Trophy winner displayed that to full effect in Week 1 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Daniels is going to be a nightmare for opposing defenses based on this showing. He was explosive, elusive, and managed to protect himself for the most part. The dynamic presence picked his spots well and had the conviction to take off when opportunities arose.
This is something that can benefit the Commanders enormously as the season goes on. Not since the days of Robert Griffin III have Washington had this sort of player under center. They cannot be over-reliant on his rushing ability, but it's not a bad weapon to have up your sleeve.
The LSU product eventually finished the game with 88 rushing yards and two touchdowns from 16 carries. Expect this trend to continue until defenses figure out how best to counteract the supreme threat he brings to the table.
Jayden Daniels couldn't get Terry McLaurin going
If Jayden Daniels is going to contend for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2024, he needs to maximize Terry McLaurin at all times. The Pro Bowl wide receiver is easily the team's best pass-catcher and one of the league's most underrated players at the spot. Unfortunately, the signal-caller couldn't get him going in Week 1 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
McLaurin was an afterthought more often than not. Daniels missed him on a deep shot in the third quarter, but targets were in short supply aside from that. This could have been play-calling more than anything else, but it's something that must be rectified as a matter of urgency moving forward.
The Buccaneers keyed in on McLaurin to nullify his threat, which was unsurprising. What's important for Daniels is trusting the wideout to make plays even when coverage is tight. He's got proven credentials in this regard, so making the most of them is only going to help.
McLaurin eventually finished the game with two receptions from four targets for 17 receiving yards. That's not going to cut it, but expect things to improve once the pair become more familiar with one another in a regular-season setting.