Tag: Commanders at Jets

Pro Football Focus top grades for the Commanders vs the Jets

Where did Jayden Daniels land? How about Dyami Brown?

I’m not sure how they do it, but Pro Football Focus has already provided the grades for the Commanders’ preseason opener at the New York Jets.

Of course, keep in mind that 11 Commanders did not even play in the game, and many of Saturday’s starters received very little playing time.

But hey, it’s preseason, and the Commanders 2024 football season opener is four weeks from today (Sunday). So, here we go:

With his big 42-yard reception in the first quarter and another reception for 13 yards, receiver Dyami Brown graded out the highest at 91.1.

New receiver Olamide Zaccheaus was actually the second highest-graded Commander with a 90.2. Interesting is the fact that Zaccheaus actually did not have an official reception. He did have one for a nice gain in the first half, that was negated by a penalty. He also contributed a nice 19-yard punt return.

Tight end Ben Sinnott scored an 87.2. On three targets, he made three receptions for 57 yards, including one where he was a bear to bring down, which gained 44 yards.

Starting quarterback Jayden Daniels was fourth with an 85.1. Daniels completed 2 of his 3 attempts for 45 yards and ran once for a 3-yard touchdown.

Offensive tackle Alex Taylor recorded an 82.2. Taylor is one of the newest Commanders. The Commanders don’t even have a photo of him yet for their online roster.

PFF states that players had to participate in at least ten snaps of the Jets game to qualify for their official grading system.

How do Commanders coaches really feel about Daniels’ audible?

What did Quinn really think of Jayden Daniels’ audible?

It was third-and-6 at the Commanders’ 34-yard line. Going no-huddle, the call was for Jayden Daniels to attempt a screen pass, get rid of the ball,  and avoid being hit behind an offensive line that was without their top three tackles (Cornelius Lucas, Andrew Wylie, Brandon Coleman).

Daniels instead called for an empty backfield, sending wide receiver Dyami Brown deep down the right sideline. With no running back to help pick up a penetrating pass rusher or blitzer, Daniels lofted a beautiful pass that Brown snagged for a 42-yard gain.

Did Daniels’ change from the screen pass to the long pattern for Brown impress or concern head coach Dan Quinn?

Well, first of all, Quinn is certainly not simplistic. So, is it out of the realm of probability that Quinn was both impressed and concerned?

On the one hand, Daniels’ move appears very confident, very assertive. That could speak very well to the rookie’s leadership skills and confidence in his physical abilities.

On the other hand, might it have been a demonstration of Daniels’ lack of understanding of the risks involved? Both could be true, quite true.

Daniels is confident, but he also does not yet understand the risks involved in the NFL. The SEC is a great football conference, but even most of the SEC players he faced won’t make it in the NFL.

What if Daniels had been hit hard, perhaps even injured? There is not one of us that wants to go down that path.

The experienced Quinn remained very positive with the media following the game. But Quinn, being the leader he is, do you think he will simply shrug his shoulders and let it go because the result was a short-term success?

In September, the pass rush Daniels will begin facing will be much more intense and much faster. Consequently, Daniels should not be surprised this week when he hears again the need to follow instructions from those who know much more than himself concerning what lies ahead this season.