Every NFL defense wants to know how to stop Jayden Daniels after he took the game by storm for the Washington Commanders in 2024, and the answer has something to do with movement.
Specifically, Daniels has an unlikely kryptonite. It involves where the mobile quarterback throws from, according to John Kosko of Pro Football Focus.
Kosko explained how Washington’s star QB1 “did have some issues when teams forced him to move in the pocket to the left or backward. Daniels posted a 46.9 PFF overall grade in those situations, and he took a sack a league-high 37% of the time. If he moved up or right, Daniels earned an 87.7 PFF overall grade and generated positive EPA 58.2% of the time. It’s clear he has a movement preference, but can defensive coordinators force him back and left?”
What Kosko has outlined is a simple formula for stopping Daniels, but simple is not the same as easy. The assignment might be clear, but Commanders’ offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has multiple ways to offset any attempts by defenses to force Daniels to throw from where he feels least comfortable.
Commanders Need Jayden Daniels Move Plan
Having Daniels in the lineup gives the Commanders the edge in almost every quarterback matchup. Unless defenses figure out ways to move him into awkward territory.
They could try by sending pressure over rookie right tackle Josh Conerly Jr. and forcing Daniels to run left to escape the rush. Blitzing worked to stymie Daniels at times during his spectacular debut campaign, but the Commanders have the incentive to keep him throwing from the right angles.
That incentive was summed up by Daniels being “5/5 for 43 yards on throws on the run tonight, per Next Gen Stats,” during a win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football in Week 3, with NFL Network’s Nate Tice highlighting one of No. 5’s best throws from a moving pocket.
Kingsbury can find answers to defenses trying to send Daniels the other way. Answers like supplementing first-round offensive tackle Conerly with help. Veteran tight end John Bates is a formidable blocker who would merit more snaps in this plan.
Alternatively, Kingsbury could take the energy out of a blitzing defense by maintaining a quick pace, although the Commanders may find this unsustainable. Kingsbury will be better served focusing more on the moving parts among Daniels’ supporting cast.
Kliff Kingsbury’s Moving Playmakers Can Protect Jayden Daniels
Defenses might want to stack pressure and coverage to force Daniels to move and throw left, but it won’t be easy when the Commanders can change the pre-snap look so often. They can keep teams guessing thanks to the array of roving playmakers around Daniels.
The biggest name is All-Pro Deebo Samuel, a rushing and receiving game-breaker who thrives in motion. So does 2025 NFL draft fourth-round draft pick Jaylin Lane, while the Commanders might even beat the San Francisco 49ers to a former Samuel teammate who plays the same way.
Setting and readjusting the positions of Daniels’ primary targets is how Kingsbury can prevent opponents from zeroing in on any of the signal-caller’s tendencies. Exploiting growing pains in Daniels’ ongoing development is the aim for every defense on the schedule, but the Commanders have the right personnel and X’s and O’s to stop it from happening.
Doing so will mean preserving the team’s best chance to remain a viable Super Bowl contender.
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