What's wrong with Caleb Williams? Why is Jayden Daniels thriving? Also, Brian Flores' suffocating plan

How can Jayden Daniels play at such a high level?

The story of the 2023 NFL Draft was that the Houston Texans struck gold with CJ Stroud, the second quarterback selected No. 2 overall (after Bryce Young). Will history repeat itself in 2024? As I said above, it would be entirely premature to come to any conclusion on this matter, but commanders are clearly excited about the early return. Daniels is playing like a 10-year veteran, showing the poise, confidence and composure to succeed as a franchise quarterback with a unique game.

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound player leads the league with an absurd 80.3 percent completion rate and ranks fifth in passer rating (111.8). Washington's playmaker on the edge. Daniels operated like a blackjack dealer, delivering pinpoint passes to perimeter pass catchers using various catch-and-run concepts developed by Air Raid guru Kliff Kingsbury. The former Arizona Cardinals head coach and veteran college coach has devised a plan that allows Daniels to play to his strengths as a rhythm passer while taking advantage of the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner's explosive running skills. As a result, Washington has now scored points on 14 consecutive drives (excluding knee losses) and remains the only NFL team without a single turnover this season.

Daniels' excellent ball security immediately helped the Commanders become tougher. Washington, which finished last season with the fourth-most turnovers (32), doesn't help its opponents with extra possessions or short fields, which makes a big difference in a league where most games are decided by eight points or fewer.

Additionally, the rookie's exceptional efficiency as a passer and his overall spectacular playmaking ability have added a new dimension to an offense that lacked momentum prior to his arrival. The Commanders can torch their opponents with a barrage of rhythm passes from Daniels to all areas of the field from short, medium and long range, or unleash their first-year quarterback on targeted runs and scrambles that force opposing players to optimize their game plans , to consider an additional runner in the backfield. Here's a great nugget from that Washington Post: With 15 rushing first downs in three games, Daniels was tied with Cam Newton (2015 and 2020) for the second-most rushing first downs by a quarterback in three games. (Daunte Culpepper is the all-time leader with 16 in 2000.) Considering how a mobile quarterback can enhance a ground attack, it's no surprise that the Commanders rank fifth in rushing yards per game (153.7 ).

Thanks to Washington's ability to lean on the rushing attack to control the game, Daniels has kept the offense on schedule and allowed him to operate in attack mode. A deadly, accurate passer with exceptional arm talent, he used his good looks and high-percentage shots to punish opponents for overaggressive tactics or soft coverage.

Most notably, in last Monday night's 38-33 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, Daniels torched the defense with blitzes that exposed the secondary to one-on-one coverage against Terry McLaurin. The 23-year-old repeatedly conceded with pinpoint throws that resulted in a touchdown or first down. Since Daniels was unfazed by the strong pressure from the opponents who tried to force him to make a mistake, the commanders were able to take full advantage of these opportunities.

In a league where points are at a premium, Daniels' talent and temperament have helped Washington build a potent offense by applying pressure with timely throws and runs. Perhaps his extensive collegiate experience (55 career starts) prepared him for his role, thanks to the countless practice and game reps at Arizona State and LSU. Even though he levels up, he seems to see the game in slow motion.

Additionally, Jayden's experience and emotional maturity as a rookie helped him quickly bond with a veteran group of playmakers (guys like McLaurin, Zach Ertz and Austin Ekeler) who have high football IQs have the ability to save the young quarterback if necessary.

In addition to Kingsbury, credit goes to head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters for creating an environment that allowed Daniels to be successful from day one.