Jalon Daniels’ first NFL begin had all the things you’ll count on from a rookie quarterback. There have been errors, missed alternatives, and two expensive turnovers, however there have been additionally sufficient flashes to grasp why the Buccaneers have been comfy placing the offense in his palms. Daniels completed Tampa Bay’s 17 to 14 loss to Inexperienced Bay finishing 19 of 27 passes for 148 yards, one landing and two interceptions. These numbers don’t bounce off the web page, however his affect went past what he produced via the air. Daniels added 55 dashing yards on eight carries, averaging 6.9 yards per try, and instantly gave the Bucs one other dimension offensively.
That was the place Daniels seemed most harmful. When Inexperienced Bay created stress or protection held up downfield, he didn’t should power the soccer into a nasty window. He may escape, get outdoors the pocket, and switch a damaged play into constructive yardage. His 21-yard scramble was Tampa Bay’s longest run of the sport, and his 55 dashing yards set a franchise report for a rookie quarterback. The turnovers have been the largest concern. Daniels threw each interceptions within the first half, with the second giving Inexperienced Bay the ball close to midfield with 34 seconds remaining. The Packers turned that mistake right into a 58-yard subject objective earlier than halftime. For an offense that scored solely 14 factors, gifting away a possession and finally three factors mattered.
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What was encouraging was that Daniels didn’t enable these errors to outline the remainder of his afternoon. He performed a lot cleaner soccer after halftime and helped Tampa Bay put collectively its greatest drive of the sport within the fourth quarter. The Bucs went 84 yards on 12 performs earlier than Daniels discovered Kenny Gainwell for a 10-yard landing, chopping the deficit to 3. Daniels nonetheless has to turn out to be extra aggressive as a passer. His 148 yards got here on solely 5.5 yards per try, and Tampa Bay struggled to persistently create explosive performs via the air. A few of that falls on the offensive construction, however Daniels will finally should show he can punish defenses that begin enjoying nearer to the road of scrimmage to comprise his legs
This text initially appeared on Bucs Wire: Jalon Daniels has ups and downs in NFL debut