Commanders QB Jayden Daniels can still improve despite remarkable Week 4 display

Washington Commanders fans aren't used to seeing their team generate national headlines for the right reasons. It's safe to say that Jayden Daniels is the main reason for that.

The Commanders are off to a 3-1 start for the first time since 2011. Washington's offense is firing on all cylinders, and it's no coincidence that this happened when Daniels was added to the team.

Almost everything is going right. Daniels is performing at a high level, the running game is working, the pass protection is coming together, and the weapons are making a contribution in different ways.

Daniels did not have a perfect game in Week 4, but it was pretty close. There is room for improvement going into Week 5 versus the Cleveland Browns. That's a scary thought for everyone else around the league.

Jayden Daniels' impressive traits in Week 4 win

Athleticism

Week after week, Daniels shows off his athleticism. This allows him to extend plays by scrambling out of the pocket, allowing a wide receiver to get open and hit them. Evading pressure is also not an issue for the Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU.

Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has no trouble calling designed runs for Daniels. That's exactly what he pulled out his play sheet on the signal-caller's touchdown run. Expect this trend to continue as the campaign progresses. It's a nightmare for opposing defenses to counteract.

Going through progressions

Daniels is starting to look like a seasoned veteran when going through his progressions. That's what makes the first-round pick so special - he can scan the routes like a field general and extend plays like a scrambler.

The improvement from Daniels from Week 1 to now as a rookie is just unbelievable. He looks polished and poised, making the right decisions almost all the time. There was an interception, but he shrugged that off immediately to put on a passing clinic.

Spreading the ball

The Commanders want to get Terry McLaurin heavily involved as the team's best wide receiver. However, getting everyone involved opens things up considerably.

When Daniels can spread the ball out, it keeps the defense guessing where the ball is going to go next. The quarterback hit no fewer than eight different receivers in Week 4, which was a problem the Cardinals couldn't handle.

How can Jayden Daniels improve in Week 5?

Timing on deep balls

The deep ball isn't a problem for Daniels. There were a few examples in Week 4 that show the timing being off that could have connected for huge chunks if the first-year pro was able to hit it quicker.

There were two examples of this - both on attempts to McLaurin. One ended with a pick, which is the sort of fine margins Daniels is dealing with at the pinnable of the profession.

Aside from that, it was pleasing. If Danbiels can fine-tune things effectively with more experience, Washington's offense can reach heights not seen for decades.

Hitting receivers in stride

There were a few times in Week 4 where a chance for a possible huge chunk play arose if Daniels had hit his receiver in stride. But with the ball being slightly behind his wideout, the momentum was slowed down with the catch.

The biggest example of this at the Cardinals was on a drag route to McLaurin. Daniels made the correct read and it was a very catchable ball. However, since the ball was a bit behind instead of on time, he was tackled before the first down marker and the offense was forced to go for it on fourth down.

If Daniels can just get in the habit of setting his feet and throwing a strike on these types of routes, he shouldn't have a problem with this again.

More Commanders news and analysis