So, Daniels — barring damage or main regression — is predicted to start out the season opener. The following questions are 1) will splitting reps sluggish his potential to construct rapport with offensive teammates, and a couple of) how lengthy will he share time with Mariota earlier than Quinn formally names the rookie the starter?
For now, splitting reps will sluggish offensive cohesion “for some folks greater than others,” proper deal with Andrew Wylie stated, however he famous the staff has almost seven weeks earlier than its Week 1 opener at Tampa Bay.
The quarterback rotation isn’t an enormous deal, added star large receiver Terry McLaurin, who has caught passes from 11 quarterbacks in his five-year profession.
“I’ve been capable of adapt,” he stated with a type of verbal shrug. “I feel it simply forces everyone to speak a bit bit extra.”
Throughout their first follow, the Commanders centered on the pink zone, and Daniels was clearly the staff’s finest quarterback. He confirmed confidence and crispness with tight window throws and dropped a fantastic lob into the again proper nook of the tip zone for operating again Brian Robinson Jr. Daniels not often used his legs to flee hassle and didn’t throw an interception.
Within the excessive pink zone, McLaurin was impressed by Daniels’s ball placement on one brief “hitch” route, which he stated is often tough to finish when a defensive again has assist behind him and may play tighter protection with out having to fret about getting crushed down the sector.
On this case, Daniels threw the ball low and away, which can have seemed awkward as a result of it compelled McLaurin to twist backward to make the catch, however the receiver thought it was excellent as a result of solely he may make a play on it.
Afterward, McLaurin stated, he and Daniels talked about how the throw may have been delivered excessive to his exterior shoulder as effectively.
“He simply has a pure really feel for [ball placement], and you’ll see it by the way in which he operates,” McLaurin stated. “It’s not at all times gonna be excellent, however simply to have that mindset. … I’m anticipating that now. So, once I come out my routes, I’ve a good suggestion the place he’s gonna put it.”
The staff began with pink zone work, Quinn stated, as a result of condensed spacing permits gamers to ramp up slowly and forces them to make faster choices. That’s why, he stated, the teaching employees received’t grade the tape solely on completions.
“What was the decision-making course of that went together with it?” stated Quinn, who spoke earlier than follow. “It’s the time that it’s a must to push your self to see if you can also make some performs. … In case you by no means push these boundaries to see what you’re able to, you’ll by no means know the way far you’ll be able to take it in a recreation. Since you actually don’t wish to be danger averse the place you’re so tight that you simply don’t wish to make a play. However there additionally needs to be the stability.”
The shortage of competitors between Daniels and Mariota doesn’t imply the staff is with no quarterback battle. Veteran Jeff Driskel and undrafted rookie Sam Hartman appear to be combating for the third spot, which within the canine days of summer time may not appear essential however is actually one thing the brand new regime cares about.
Two seasons in the past, GM Adam Peters was with San Francisco’s entrance workplace when accidents to the highest two quarterbacks compelled the 49ers to make use of operating again Christian McCaffrey as a wildcat quarterback within the NFC championship recreation.
On Wednesday, Driskel was forward of Hartman in reps. It’s unclear if the staff will maintain its third quarterback on the energetic roster or follow squad. However it’s clear what is going to occur on the prime of the depth chart.
