The Jayden Daniels Tracker

[SkinsLife]

I don't know if I will remained justified in this opinion, I just thought McCarthy was going to fail from day 1. I watched a few games of his, and came away thinking he wasn't a pro QB. So far he's been hurt and then played badly. (Except against us.)

We'll see if he turns it around. There were some who had him over Maye as QB3, and maybe some who even had him higher than that and I thought that was coocoo bananas. I liked Nix more than him.

Wasnt Peters boasting that he had Mccarthy ranked above Maye in that draft after 24 season? 🤦‍♂️

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Wasnt Peters boasting that he had Mccarthy ranked above Maye in that draft after 24 season? 🤦‍♂️

I don't think he was boasting, but it came out they really didn't like Maye, and it was like McCarthy who was next on the list.

That terrifies me.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

I don't think he was boasting, but it came out they really didn't like Maye, and it was like McCarthy who was next on the list.

That terrifies me.

If memory serves they had Maye as the 5th best QB, so it was McCarthy + someone else above Maye. Which, I agree, is a terrifying knock on talent evaluation.

However!

One of the big strengths for Adam Peters is also a big weakness. He really wants to marry scheme and talent evaluation with the coaches perceptions. Then he views his job as finding the best or most optimal route to getting as much talent as the front office and the coaches agree upon.

He's not evaluating guys in a vacuum this way, it's heavily weighted towards what the coaches think and what they want to accomplish. There were 3 key coaches fired and you can point to failed player decisions around them too.

Joe Whitt was in over his head with talent evaluation and how that went into his scheme. He wound up being Square Peg in Round Hole a little too much and couldn't figure out ways out unless injuries forced it (Sainristil in 2024 and 2025 when he was moved to Outside corner). I believe both Whitt & Peters together agreed that Lattimore still had it and would fix what ailed the defense. That was a failed joint evaluation.
Kliff Kingsbury went to bat for acquiring Deebo, thought he could revitalize him, didn't quite work out. It's well known how badly Kliff Kingsbury wanted Josh Conerly instead of Brandon Coleman at OT. He also hated playing and involving the younger players in the scheme. He kept forcing plays for a washed up Deebo instead of younger players that could still develop.
Bobby Johnson, also behind Kliff's decision to move Coleman to LG (where he struggled) and away from OT (where he was solid) in favor of drafting the rookie Conerly (who has the physique more of a Guard instead of Coleman who has the physique of an OT). It's also clear that Peters has a double check system for talent evalution and scheme fit. He does not need it, but prefers it if both the Coordinator and the direct Position Coach are in full agreement. If they do, for example, that player moves up the draft board.

Whitt and Kliff were fired in part because the front office could no longer trust their input on personnel and talent evaluations.

Adam Peters is not a Howie Roseman style GM. He came from San Fran where Kyle Shanahan has been the Head Coach since 2017. Shanahan obviously evaluated talent well, knows scheme fit, and adjusts scheme and players based on what he wants to do and what he can currently do. Peters knew to trust Shanahan's opinion on offensive talent. Likewise he also saw the 49ers DC, Robert Saleh, had a pretty good grasp on talent, scheme, and how they worked well together

Peters comes here first, then there's the big Head Coach search. In this time a lot of quality OC and DC candidates were scooped up. Dan Quinn was part of the last 3 Finalists for the spot. The other 2 considered would have been the defacto OC or DC (Ben Johnson and Mike MacDonald). We did not land those guys, so we needed to get a DC from scratch. At that point Quinn thought Joe Whitt could be worth the role. Clearly did not work out. Kliff was well known to handle schemes with athletic/squirrely QB's that helped them develop.

Patrick Mahomes in college. Caleb Williams in college. Kyler Murray in the NFL. So it seemed like a good fit for Jayden Daniels, in that his scheme would make things easier for him as he started his career. But Kliff never took off the training wheels, never developed young talent. Remember a lot of those huge touchdown plays or big catches by McLaurin in 2024 against the Bengals, Cowboys, etc? That was Terry and Jayden asking Kliff for a play that had Terry lineup somewhere else besides the left side of the field where he was as the 'X' for 95% of the game. Kliff should have adjusted his scheme to fit the rapidly developing Jayden and Terry being the only real receiving threat. Yet he could not.

Is Adam Peters going to work out? I don't know. But if they can find talented coaches that actually know what they're doing. Then yes, he will be a great GM.

So far the failures of the Front Office can be traced back to the coaching search in 2024 taking as long as it did after acquiring a new GM (Adam Peters). It took Peters a bit to figure out the coaches weren't capable to handle his style of GMing.

Evidence of the brand new OC and DC also point to the Adam Peters style of GMing. All of the off-season moves indicate a complete buy-in by Peters of the new defensive scheme and not pursuing talent blindly, but guys that would be key to making the scheme work. We had Sonny Styles rated really high on our Big Board. This is somewhat arguable I take it, and based on rumors. Styles was the #3 overall prospect and the #1 defensive prospect on their Draft Board. In large part because of how key he would be in making the new defensive scheme work. Sainristil (this is my opinion) will be key as an outside corner with eyes on the QB, and the new DC came in and said Sainristil would be playing Outside, and Peters acquisitions in the off-season re-inforced that (Amik Robertson + Quan Martin position change). Compared to Whitt believing that Sainristil must be a Nickel.

We know Adam Peters tried to move more on WR in Free Agency, and he had Love higher than Styles on the draft board. But besides shuffling the OL around a little (Center), things are largely the same. The big change here is internal. It's the belief that more can be unlocked by a new OC. This is the riskiest move Peters has made where he's doubling down on his own talent evaluation instead of relying on the coaches for input. Maybe this is in part due to how inexperienced David Blough is. They spent the focus on defense because they trusted the new DC to know talent and scheme fit more.

I bet, if we start the season with a surprisingly solid position. Such as NFC East is looking weaker, and our record is above .500 during our initial tough schedule, he might rely more on Blough's input for what the offense needed and go find him a WR. Except this time he probably wants to have more emphasis on the Front Office evaluation rather than rely on Blough (like he did with Kliff), until he feels comfortable that Blough can be trusted there.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

I asked Jean Claude (Claude AI for those playing along at home) if he could figure out how many called runs vs. scrambles Jayden Daniels had in 2024.

It was a clean split. 75 of each according to Jean Claude.

I'm going to go ahead and say Daniels played in 16 games in 2024, he missed virtually one entire game even though he started. Over 16 games, that's an average of 4.6 scrambles and 4.6 called runs per game.

That's actually not a lot of called runs for a dual threat QB. It felt like more because on average, he would end up with ~9 carries per game. And 9 carries per game over an average of 65 snaps per game is ~14%. So overall, that's high.

So, a reasonable question would be, if you knew Daniels was going to scramble 4-5 times a game, should you still have called 4-5 running plays per game? Btw, that works out to 1 of each per quarter.

Tough to say. If you aren't going to use a dual threat QB as a dual threat QB, why did you draft that QB?

However, there is a fallacy out there that Kliff called all these designed run plays over and over and over. The data doesn't support that.

FWIW, it appears as though Lamar Jackson led the lead in designed runs, with about 100 for the season. I think Daniels might have been second, but 25 less over the season, which is more than 1 carry a game less than Lamar.

I may be wrong but I think a lot of calls were read option where situationally and schematically it ended up being more like a designed run.

So I don’t think the stats will necessarily show those as “designed runs” but maybe it depends.
Interesting article with some of the 2024 trends:

We’ve Seen This Before From Kliff Kingsbury

What has happened to Jayden Daniels resembles what previously happened to Kyler Murray.

www.sportsinfosolutions.com

Also: I think Blough may be removing some of those elements. Daniels legs are a threat without read option and without designed runs. If he has a mentality that given the right spacing, he will run, defenses have to respect that more than a less a mobile QB.

Hopefully Blough can figure out a great gameplan and scheme.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I may be wrong but I think a lot of calls were read option where situationally and schematically it ended up being more like a designed run.

So I don’t think the stats will necessarily show those as “designed runs” but maybe it depends.
Interesting article with some of the 2024 trends:

We’ve Seen This Before From Kliff Kingsbury

What has happened to Jayden Daniels resembles what previously happened to Kyler Murray.

www.sportsinfosolutions.com

Also: I think Blough may be removing some of those elements. Daniels legs are a threat without read option and without designed runs. If he has a mentality that given the right spacing, he will run, defenses have to respect that more than a less a mobile QB.

Hopefully Blough can figure out a great gameplan and scheme.

It's possible some of the designed runs are removed.

Personally, I want 3-4 designed runs per game. That's ~ 1 per quarter. The reason is, if you show it, defenses have to prepare for it, and it adds to the disguise. The other thing is, the time when QBs can actually protect themselves the most is on designed runs. They know where they're going, the blocking is set up, and if it's not there, they can fall down or run out of bounds.

When QBs tend to get hurt is on scrambles or in the pocket where there is chaos and they can't see the hit coming.

And finally, if we remove the dual threat nature of Daniels, then I would question why we drafted him in the first place. It's the reason why people had him rated higher than Maye, was his ability to take over a game with both his arms and his legs. If you're not going to use that as a weapon, then they should have drafted somebody else. ** I don't think they should have drafted somebody else. But I also don't think they should limit him.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

It's possible some of the designed runs are removed.

Personally, I want 3-4 designed runs per game. That's ~ 1 per quarter. The reason is, if you show it, defenses have to prepare for it, and it adds to the disguise. The other thing is, the time when QBs can actually protect themselves the most is on designed runs. They know where they're going, the blocking is set up, and if it's not there, they can fall down or run out of bounds.

When QBs tend to get hurt is on scrambles or in the pocket where there is chaos and they can't see the hit coming.

And finally, if we remove the dual threat nature of Daniels, then I would question why we drafted him in the first place. It's the reason why people had him rated higher than Maye, was his ability to take over a game with both his arms and his legs. If you're not going to use that as a weapon, then they should have drafted somebody else. ** I don't think they should have drafted somebody else. But I also don't think they should limit him.

I have read that last comment a lot and it is where I have a queasy feeling. I know Daniels’ legs make him special, but he is not RG3. RG3 was a sprinter. He could take over a game with his legs but his ability as a true field general was going to be limited based on what we read about his work ethic and what we saw when he was asked to step out of specific comfort zones.

Daniels - from what we read - is not that.

So this year we will see, because I do think the scheme he plays this year will test some of his learning but I am very confident he will be up to the task.

Maholmes and Hurts are also scary with their legs but Maholmes specifically does (I think) a lot of that damage on scrambles and can throw both with timing and without. I see Daniels in that mold.

I think Maholmes also could do “more” damage with more designed runs, but when you have a special QB like that, in 2026, I think using his legs in space, where he can throw if it is there or scramble if it is not- I feel that is where you want him.

Personally I would like them to 99.9% designed runs via RB. I would still foresee Daniels getting 3-400 yards running on the season.

Daniels’ legs can still threaten a defense in the right scheme. His talent level as a passer is high enough that I would combine that with scramble and rb runs / play option / other handoffs and call it a day. I would definitely practice those scrambles though. They become pretty close to designed runs in specific formations and rollouts.

 

[HOF44]

I still like the rollout with an option to run/pass and just throw it away if no lanes, faking/handing to Bill going against the boot. D picks wrong and it could get housed.

 

[Faithful Fan]

Pretty good interview with Jayden. Talks about last year, Netflix, Blough, the WR competition, his relationship with Tom Brady, training camp, Sonny Styles.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[Discobob]

It's possible some of the designed runs are removed.

Personally, I want 3-4 designed runs per game. That's ~ 1 per quarter....

I question whether or not we really need that many 🤷

I think Jayden will always be a player that scrambles more than most QBs. When we run boots, he will always have scrambling as an option. Broad point being... I think opposing defenses will be required to treat him as a run threat, regardless of the number of designed QB runs. I'm not saying we can't run them... but I would only have them in the playbook as a targeted option for when a team shows a weakness...

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I question whether or not we really need that many 🤷

I think Jayden will always be a player that scrambles more than most QBs. When we run boots, he will always have scrambling as an option. Broad point being... I think opposing defenses will be required to treat him as a run threat, regardless of the number of designed QB runs. I'm not saying we can't run them... but I would only have them in the playbook as a targeted option for when a team shows a weakness...

I don't. I think 4 per game is perfectly fine. That is enough to keep defenses honest, it shows we're willing to run it, and and it helps every other play because it makes the defense always respect all 11 guys on offense.

If you draft a guy who's a dual threat QB, and you don't use the dual threat as a weapon, then you're mis-using the player.

 

[Discobob]

If you draft a guy who's a dual threat QB, and you don't use the dual threat as a weapon, then you're mis-using the player.

Teams appear terrified when he drops back that he'll end up running it... that is a great use of his dual threat capabilities 🤷

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Teams appear terrified when he drops back that he'll end up running it... that is a great use of his dual threat capabilities 🤷

Disagree. Putting the Qab as a run threat as part of the play changes the way the defense has to start the play.

Even if you don’t do it that often, it’s the threat. But you have to be able to do it.

Also, QBs on designed runs are actually sagged than on scrambles. If it’s designed, they know where they are going and where the pressure is coming from. If they scramble, it’s kidof chaos.

To each tier own. But to me, if you’ve got that as an added dimension to the offense and you don’t use it, you’re leaving a pretty big chip on the table.

If you don’t think he can run 4 times a a game and stay healthy, I almost think you shouldn’t have drafted him due to injury concerns.

 

[Discobob]

Disagree. Putting the Qab as a run threat as part of the play changes the way the defense has to start the play.

Even if you don’t do it that often, it’s the threat. But you have to be able to do it.

Also, QBs on designed runs are actually sagged than on scrambles. If it’s designed, they know where they are going and where the pressure is coming from. If they scramble, it’s kidof chaos.

To each tier own. But to me, if you’ve got that as an added dimension to the offense and you don’t use it, you’re leaving a pretty big chip on the table.

If you don’t think he can run 4 times a a game and stay healthy, I almost think you shouldn’t have drafted him due to injury concerns.

I guess the part I'm taking issue with is the planning QB runs as a part of the scripted game plan. If the opponent is showing that they are susceptible to a QB run, I have no issue with calling it (very sparingly).

In addition to that, I might quibble with what we are calling a QB run. I'm OK with calling a few read option plays...

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

Disagree. Putting the Qab as a run threat as part of the play changes the way the defense has to start the play.

Even if you don’t do it that often, it’s the threat. But you have to be able to do it.

Also, QBs on designed runs are actually sagged than on scrambles. If it’s designed, they know where they are going and where the pressure is coming from. If they scramble, it’s kidof chaos.

To each tier own. But to me, if you’ve got that as an added dimension to the offense and you don’t use it, you’re leaving a pretty big chip on the table.

If you don’t think he can run 4 times a a game and stay healthy, I almost think you shouldn’t have drafted him due to injury concerns.

Eh, you don't have to run it against a defense prepped for it to keep them honest. They're already honest. You only need to do it when they stop being honest, and that's also when the bigger QB gains happen.

There was a study done on how effective play action was at times. You don't need to "establish the run" to get good play action, or to run it against a strong front to get good play action.

There were some games where they basically ran the ball almost no times but the play action completely diced the defense up.

You have your opponent, and then you change to how your opponent is playing you. I think this was a big failing of Kliff. He got too stuck in his game scripts, and this leads to that, and then it just failed against certain teams.

 

[Faithful Fan]

I don’t know about this.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Don Orlovosky, so fickle, ranks Qbs on traits, ranks Maye above Jayden on just about everything including being a better runner. lol. Look I loved both players before the draft, had a slight Maye preference. Orlvosky prefered Jayden predraft. Can't wait to see Jayden prove the naysayers wrong.

Baker a better runner? lol.

Rushing ability​

1. Lamar Jackson, Ravens
2. Josh Allen, Bills
3. Drake Maye, Patriots
4. Caleb Williams, Bears
5. Justin Herbert, Chargers
6. Jalen Hurts, Eagles
7. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
8. Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers
9. Bo Nix, Broncos
10. Jayden Daniels, Commanders

 

[SkinsInSATX]

Don Orlovosky, so fickle, ranks Qbs on traits, ranks Maye above Jayden on just about everything including being a better runner. lol. Look I loved both players before the draft, had a slight Maye preference. Orlvosky prefered Jayden predraft. Can't wait to see Jayden prove the naysayers wrong.

Baker a better runner? lol.

Rushing ability​

1. Lamar Jackson, Ravens
2. Josh Allen, Bills
3. Drake Maye, Patriots
4. Caleb Williams, Bears
5. Justin Herbert, Chargers
6. Jalen Hurts, Eagles
7. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
8. Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers
9. Bo Nix, Broncos
10. Jayden Daniels, Commanders

Fuck Dan Orlovsky!! You can't take a QB,, who ran out of the end zone causing a safety against his own team, as a serious analyst!! I mean, you can,,but I never have.😂

 

[HTTR]

I don’t know about this.

Ugh. Business is business I guess, but this is not a good look demanding that your own number be retired. Sooner or later, it’s gonna bite him in the ass if he doesn’t ditch mommy and get some professional representation. I could be completely wrong, but this feels like something that’s coming from her and not something Jayden spends much time thinking about. And so what if LSU is using his likeness, if that’s the case then he will make money off it, so to me this is all about vanity. The program decides which jerseys get retired, not the player.