Daniels deserved props for the beginning he is needed to the season, main the Commanders to a 4-1 document, the highest spot in scoring (31 factors per sport), and main the NFL in completion proportion (77.1). Those aren’t typical rookie numbers.
“[Daniels] creates issues in several varieties of how,” Harbaugh stated. “He can throw it – he is throwing the ball downfield at a really environment friendly charge. He’s hitting the entire quick-out throws, [and] the RPO throws and the quick-game throws very successfully – he will get the ball out quick on these throws. And then, if it is not there, he is creating performs on the run along with his legs. He’s not simply working, which he’s working, however he is additionally throwing on the run and making performs that method. He’s doing it in all these other ways.”
But Smith is not within the enterprise of giving any quarterback a bouquet of flowers – notably a rookie.
“Got lots of respect for this rookie, Jayden, and what he is completed so far this season,” Smith stated. “But, hey, it is the NFL. We’re wanting ahead to it. At the top of the day, he is nonetheless a rookie.”
Harbaugh, Smith, and different Ravens defenders stated they’re impressed with how the Commanders have constructed their offense round Daniels’ distinctive dual-threat skillset and that he is executing at a “excessive, excessive stage.”
Defenders additionally stated defending Lamar Jackson in follow day in and time out will assist some with understanding how you can defend Daniels. The run-pass choices are comparable, as is their capability to assault down the sphere with their arm and prolong performs to throw.
“But there’s just one Lamar on the finish of the day,” Smith stated. “Make no mistake about that.”
Baltimore’s protection, which ranks first within the league towards the run however second-to-last towards the go, will look to decelerate Washington’s speeding assault first, which trails solely the Ravens in speeding yards per sport (178.4). At the identical time, Baltimore cannot afford to let Daniels, who has been very correct on his deep passes, hit it with bombs excessive to Terry McLaurin or Dyami Brown.
“[Daniels] is a superb participant,” defensive sort out Nnamdi Madubuike stated. “[He] has lots of {hardware} from faculty. [He’s] an ideal athlete enjoying actually good ball, so it should be an ideal problem for us, for positive.”
After giving up 36 factors final week in Cincinnati, the Ravens protection is hungry to show it is higher than it confirmed. And it simply so occurs {that a} rookie is subsequent up.
“We’re excited in regards to the problem understanding they’ve a extremely good offense and have been enjoying some good ball this season,” Smith stated. “But we’re wanting ahead to the chance understanding how good we’re after we’re on the identical web page. We should be at our greatest, and after we’re at our greatest, we’re a [darn] onerous protection to maneuver the ball on.”
