The 2024 NFL draft saw six quarterbacks go in the first round. In Week 1, three of those six quarterbacks started for their respective teams: Caleb Williams (Bears), Jayden Daniels (Commanders) and Bo Nix (Broncos).
It wasn’t a great day for any of the rookies. Williams was the only one to end up on the winning side, but not because of him. The No. 1 overall pick completed just 14 of 29 passes for 93 yards and never looked comfortable.
Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick, had some big moments but didn’t have a standout day passing the football. While he rushed for 88 yards and two touchdowns, Daniels passed for 184 yards. Daniels and the Commanders kept everything close to the line of scrimmage in Washington’s loss to Tampa Bay.
Nix struggled the most, completing 26 of 42 passes for only 138 yards with two interceptions.
No coach made life more difficult for rookie quarterbacks than the legendary Bill Belichick. For years, Belichick’s schemed against rookie passers, tormenting them. His battles against Peyton Manning were legendary.
The good news for the current rookie quarterbacks is they don’t have to face Belichick. He stepped away from coaching after last season and is now doing some work in the media.
On Monday, Belichick joined the “Pat McAfee Show” and discussed what he saw from the rookie quarterbacks in Week 1.
https://twitter.com/PatMcAfeeShow/status/1833194238399435232
“Well, I think it varies from player to player; I think that’s kind of an unknown there,” Belichick said. “I expect the rookies, really all players, to get a lot better here in the first month of the season. I’m sure those guys learned a lot, saw a lot of coverages and a lot of looks and a lot of things that they didn’t see in preseason.”
Belichick then broke down what he saw from several quarterbacks, not just the rookies.
“I’d say the big thing to take away for me was the lack of overall production in the passing game. Eight quarterbacks had an under 75 quarterback rating, the pass length for some of those, like Jayden Daniels, his average pass length was less than two yards. Now he had good yards after catch on that. But Nix was a little over two yards, (Deshaun) Watson was a little over two yards, (Kyler) Murray was a little over two yards. That’s the average pass length. Caleb Williams is three yards. Some of these guys, even the passes they are completing, aren’t for very many yards. They’re just totally counting on run after catch and trying to protect the quarterback.”
McAfee then asked if the average pass length was more related to the offensive scheme or the quarterback’s decision-making.
“Well, I think it’s a little bit of both,” Belichick said. “I think it’s a lot of quick throws to try get it out of the quarterback’s hand and hope they can gain some yards running with it. I’d say it’s a lack of execution in the intermediate passing game. Now, that’s not the whole league, but you’ve got almost half the league that threw for less than 175 yards. I think this is the fewest touchdown passes we’ve had in Week 1 in quite a long time.”
This was really good analysis from Belichick here. In Washington’s case, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury called a safe, somewhat boring game for Daniels. The game plan was for Daniels to quickly get the ball out of his hand. That was a smart plan against the Buccaneers, but in some cases, Daniels gave up on the play and took off running.
It wasn’t the best day for Washington’s passing offense, for Kingsbury or Daniels. But it wasn’t only Washington. Belichick stated that at least half of the league struggled throwing the ball in Week 1.
The key for the Commanders and Daniels, is improving each week, beginning in Week 2 against the Giants.