Kliff. Are you breaking up with me?

[Solitary Man]

Close circuit to Kevin Sheehan. Your source was bad.

 

[Faithful Fan]

He’s not even very good on designed runs, he’s a disaster choosing whether to keep or give the ball on RPO plays. He’s SPECIAL as a scrambler, and he can protect himself more when he calls his own number. He can use that in any scheme. His arm and his accuracy is special, he’s allegedly got a computer for a brain. The designed QB runs were not what made him special, in fact they didn’t look very good most of the time imo.

Give this kid an offense that abuses motion like the best, boot him out at times, put him under center and abuse PA down the seam to a functional TE room. He has a lot we haven’t seen because he’s being used a certain way by Kliff. And not all of it makes life easier on him.

Is it just Kliff who used him that way? I thought he played out of shotgun in college too.

 

[AZDave]

Ok, let’s throw some names out there for replacement. Starting on our staff we. Have David Blough, assuming McDaniel is out in Miami or what about a some new blood from the college ranks like Ryan Grubb from Washington. Just thinking

 

[CuredFromBatteredFanSyndrome]

I guess I’m in the minority here, but I don’t have a problem with this.

It’s not so much the moving on from Kliff, it’s everything else that goes with it. Might as well stay entirely fresh, rather than let Dan go hand select 2 more coordinators.

 

[clskinsfan]

Ok, let’s throw some names out there for replacement. Starting on our staff we. Have David Blough, assuming McDaniel is out in Miami or what about a some new blood from the college ranks like Ryan Grubb from Washington. Just thinking

Stefanski or Udinski would be my top two choices.

 

[Conn]

I don’t know. Has Jayden ever been asked to take a large percentage of snaps from under center? Has he ever not run the ball 10 times a game? Maybe he can, but as far as I know he never really has.

This season, Maye and the Patriots had one of the highest number of plays from under center, whereas Daniels and the Commamders had one of the lowest, which seems fitting. I would actually prefer to do what the Patriots are doing, but that ship sailed 2 years ago, doing so now seems like a bad fit.

What is going on in this thread. After last season didn’t we all basically agree that this scheme was training wheels for Daniels, and he was much further along as a passer and processor than we dared dream, basically from the jump? People in this thread are talking about him like he was RG3 his rookie year. There is absolutely zero reason why Daniels can’t be elite in any other NFL offense and still use his legs. He’ll likely always have a high percentage of shotgun and pistol looks because he’s dangerous with an open view of the field like that, as a scrambler. That’s fine, it’s his 5th tool. He can be an elite passer, he can learn to play under center, he can learn to abuse PA fakes, he can learn to utilize motion more often to read what the defense is showing him.

I feel like this thread is in crazy town. Being worried that your franchise QB has to start over is very, very valid. But talking about him like Kliff MADE him and he needs that sort of offense to thrive is nuts. He showed us every tool in the belt last season. He’s not a running QB, he just has the ability to run.

 

[AZDave]

I like stefanski but he could be a one and done. I think he was a good coach in a bad situation

 

[Faithful Fan]

While I agree. It is clear Daniels wont survive his rookie contract in that system. At least to my eyes.

That was always the danger of drafting a running quarterback, but it’s too late to change that, might as well play to his strength for as long as he lasts.

 

[Conn]

He isn’t a running QB. He’s a quarterback who should utilize his ability to run in his skill set. It’s not revisionist. It’s what makes him unique.

And Kliff used him almost perfectly in ‘24, imo. If we try to turn him into something different, he was a bad selection.

Why are you resistant to the idea that he can be a scrambler and still use his legs, exploiting what makes him special? Designing run calls and RPO’s is not what made him unique or special. It worked great when he was a rookie and managed to stay healthy. Did we really think that’s what he was going to do for 10+ years? I didn’t.

This is setting aside the fact that he clearly will not physically survive being used like that. He can rush for 600-800 yards yearly mainly as a scrambler. That weapon is still there, and he can pull the trigger. He has every other tool in his belt except a large physique. After his rookie year we were all talking about how he could be an elite passer who just happened to be able to run, after what he showed us. You’re putting him in a box that he doesn’t need to be in, imo.

 

[KDawg]

Why are you resistant to the idea that he can be a scrambler and still use his legs, exploiting what makes him special? Designing run calls and RPO’s is not what made him unique or special. It worked great when he was a rookie and managed to stay healthy. Did we really think that’s what he was going to do for 10+ years? I didn’t.

This is setting aside the fact that he clearly will not physically survive being used like that. He can rush for 600-800 yards yearly mainly as a scrambler. That weapon is still there, and he can pull the trigger. He has every other tool in his belt except a large physique. After his rookie year we were all talking about how he could be an elite passer who just happened to be able to run, after what he showed us. You’re putting him in a box that he doesn’t need to be in, imo.

I’m not and that isn’t at all what I’m doing. I think you’re misreading me and my point and we can leave it there. If I have time to expand later I will. But I don’t think you’re following my point, which is likely a me problem.

 

[Conn]

Is it just Kliff who used him that way? I thought he played out of shotgun in college too.

I think he’ll see a lot of shotgun looks his entire career, because that field view with his legs is deadly as a scrambler. It stresses defenses, that makes him special.

It doesn’t mean you need to slam him into a waiting front-7 8 times per game. Again, his weakest decision-making the last two years has been on RPO’s, he’s not even great at deciding when to pull the ball. His legs are most dangerous naturally, as a scrambler

 

[Faithful Fan]

What is going on in this thread. After last season didn’t we all basically agree that this scheme was training wheels for Daniels, and had was much further along as a passer and processor than we dared dream, basically from the jump? People in this thread are talking about him like he was RG3 his rookie year. There is absolutely zero reason why Daniels can’t be elite in any other NFL offense and still use his legs. He’ll likely always have a high percentage of shotgun and pistol looks because he’s dangerous with an open view of the field like that, as a scrambler. That’s fine, it’s his 5th tool. He can be an elite passer, he can learn to play under center, he can learn to abuse PA fakes, he can learn to utilize motion more often to read what the defense is showing him.

I feel like this thread is in crazy town. Being worried that your franchise QB has to start over is very, very valid. Talking about him like Kliff MADE him and he needs that sort of offense to thrive is nuts. He showed us every tool in the belt last season. He’s not a running QB, he just has the ability to run.

Kliff didn’t make him, but Kliff’s style fits his style. Even JD and his mom have said as much publicly.

And yes he is a running quarterback. He had over 3,000 yards rushing in college including 1,100 his final season, and then he led the team in rushing last year.

Maybe Daniels can be successful in an offense where he is under center, in the pocket, and runs less often, but that remains to be seen.

 

[Faithful Fan]

I think he’ll see a lot of shotgun looks his entire career, because that field view with his legs is deadly as a scrambler. It stresses defenses, that makes him special.

It doesn’t mean you need to slam him into a waiting front-7 8 times per game. Again, his weakest decision-making the last two years has been on RPO’s, he’s not even great at deciding when to pull the ball. His legs are most dangerous naturally, as a scrambler

Maybe I’ve misunderstood you. Do still want JD in shotgun and running all the time, you just want the runs to be scrambles instead of designed runs and option plays?

I wonder who you would pick to be the offensive coordinator that would be a better fit than Kliff.

 

[Conn]

I’m not and that isn’t at all what I’m doing. I think you’re misreading me and my point and we can leave it there. If I have time to expand later I will. But I don’t think you’re following my point, which is likely a me problem.

Very possibly, in which case, apologies. I look forward to reading it if you decide to expand later, I’m probably misinterpreting your point.

I think learning new terminology and starting over, it’s a scary idea for your young QB. I’m on board with that. I think the idea that if you don’t utilize Daniels on designed run (or run option) plays like Kliff did, means it didn’t make sense to draft him…that’s crazy to me. It’s like a crappy season this year made people forget what a passer Daniels was as a rookie. He’ll always use his legs to be special. Doesn’t have to be how Kliff did it imo, Daniels has every tool as a passer that Maye does and already showed it (against a similarly weak schedule last year, but under more adversity imo).

 

[Conn]

Kliff didn’t make him, but Kliff’s style fits his style. Even JD and his mom have said as much publicly.

And yes he is a running quarterback. He had over 3,000 yards rushing in college including 1,100 his final season, and then he led the team in rushing last year.

Maybe Daniels can be successful in an offense where he is under center, in the pocket, and runs less often, but that remains to be seen.

I really don’t care what he and his mom think, young players don’t know anything about what they need, they know what they know. One thing they’re right about is that stability and consistency in scheme for a young QB are important, so that’s a risk and he’s got hard work ahead to get where he was as a rookie last year in a new system.

But you’re acting like it’s some major projection. He was a borderline elite passer as a rookie, and it wasn’t due to abusing wide-open PA looks like RG3 did as a rookie under Shanahan, and it wasn’t because he was throwing tons of yardage off of RPO trickery. He was making high difficulty, tight window throws on a rope, in crunch time, consistently, in passing situations where the D knew what was coming. His legs are a weapon. There’s no need to grade him differently than you would Joe Burrow, who is a statue. His legs are just the special sauce

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

Very possibly, in which case, apologies. I look forward to reading it if you decide to expand later, I’m probably misinterpreting your point.

I think learning new terminology and starting over, it’s a scary idea for your young QB. I’m on board with that. I think the idea that if you don’t utilize Daniels on designed run (or run option) plays like Kliff did, means it didn’t make sense to draft him…that’s crazy to me. It’s like a crappy season this year made people forget what a passer Daniels was as a rookie. He’ll always use his legs to be special. Doesn’t have to be how Kliff did it imo, Daniels has every tool as a passer that Maye does and already showed it (against a similarly weak schedule last year, but under more adversity imo).

Significantly more adversity, I think it's undeniable.

It will be interesting to see how the jumble of events unfolds next year. New players, new coordinators, same HC, same GM.

For those who are saying that DQ is a lame duck next year - yes I have read that theory by writers. I am not 100% sure that's the case. IF he makes himself out to be the guy who hires and manages the coordinators and sits at the 10-thousand foot view, that isn't a guy who has to be fired when year-1 of the second attempt at getting the right coordinators happens.

If his process of picking coordinators is flawed, yes. If they are certain that these coordinators in the long-term will fail, probably. But year-1 of a new pair of coordinators, if the org thinks they are trending in the right direction based on what they have to work with... I guess DQ could stay on with his new pair. That would be my prediction, there are scenarios where the season as a whole doesn't go awesome but there's enough to keep people around. I don't know about something like this season, mind you... but missing the playoffs? I think he could still stick if things look a certain way.

 

[CuredFromBatteredFanSyndrome]

I feel like this thread is in crazy town. Being worried that your franchise QB has to start over is very, very valid. But talking about him like Kliff MADE him and he needs that sort of offense to thrive is nuts. He showed us every tool in the belt last season. He’s not a running QB, he just has the ability to run.

I don’t know how anyone watching thought that the stretch run to lock up the playoffs was about Kliff, and not JD. Dude literally played hero ball. We weren't out scheming folks in the least.

 

[Conn]

Maybe I’ve misunderstood you. Do still want JD in shotgun and running all the time, you just want the runs to be scrambles instead of designed runs and option plays?

I wonder who you would pick to be the offensive coordinator that would be a better fit than Kliff.

I think that’s a part of his game you’d be crazy to take away, but it’s something that almost anyone can work into their scheme. I don’t expect to hire some Arthur Smith type ground and pound triple TE type.

I’m simply saying that the things we’d all identify as Kliff stuff: basically never under center, hurry-up (but with tons of subs?), low motion, minimal PA, RPO’s and designed QB off-tackle type runs…none of THAT is necessary for Daniels to succeed. And a lot of it is arguably what is holding him back and putting him in unnecessary danger (in my opinion of course)

I’m curious who they interview because it will tell us what THEY think they need. Which is more interesting than whatever crap I have to say

 

[Faithful Fan]

I know people hate the comparison, but it really feels like we’ve seen this movie before.

Remember when RG3’s dad decided he should be a pocket passer and the end result was a falling out woth one of the best offensive coaching staffs ever assembled? Fun times.

Of course there are differences. JD5 is a better passer than RG3, and JD5 and his mom both know what kind of quarterback he is, which is why they liked KK. Hopefully we get somebody else who plays to his strengths.

 

[Chris 44]

Im fine with moving on from Kliff. Was he terrible? No. But he is so stubborn in his scheme and how long it took him to make adjustments. The amount of delay of games incurred while allowing the opposing defenses to sub was infuriating. The refs were calling it....stop doing it. The adjustments were just too slow. How many opposing defenders this year called out that they new over and over again what was coming. JD will adjust to a new OC. look at Caleb Williams and Maye this year.