It’s been a pretty quick rise for rookie quarterback Daniel Jones. The player has been a big part in the success of the New York Giants in the last couple of games, and could be called the main factor behind the team’s victory against Tampa in their third game of the season and first win, and in a year where there’s multiple young players excelling, Jones looks like an early candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year if his level of play remains high.
To understand why there’s plenty of confidence in Jones going into Sunday’s game against the Vikings, it’s important to look back at what Jones was able to do in his earlier appearances – one throw against the Redskins demonstrates some important skills in particular.
It might take a few watches to notice it, but there’s more going on with this play than what initially meets the eye. The player to watch here is safety Montae Nicholson, or #35. Nicholson is standing in the end zone at the beginning of the play and as the play progresses, falls victim to a trick by Daniel Jones and isn’t in position to contest Wayne Gallman’s touchdown.
Even with Gallman breaking to the right side of the field and making a move on a less crowded section of the end zone, Jones keeps his eyes to the left side and draws the attention of the defense. His pump fake keeps Nicholson’s eyes on that side of the field instead of the side that Gallman is heading to, and Nicholson isn’t the only Redskins defender that’s confident Jones is going to go to the left side.
Linebacker Cole Holcomb, wearing #55, has his eyes where Jones is looking rather than covering Gallman, and when Jones finally does turn back to Gallman to throw the touchdown pass, Holcomb can’t react soon enough and slips in his attempts to get there.
As you might be able to tell after breaking down what happened further, eye movement and pump fakes helped to throw off two key defenders and allow Jones to find an open target.
It’s a skill used by experienced quarterbacks that some rookies don’t pick up immediately – the fact that Jones is already showing traits like this should impress Giants fans, and offer some hope for his future performances. Either way, it won’t be very long at all before the world gets to see if Jones hits an early season slump or continues to climb in week five against the Vikings.