Tampa Buccaneers Head Coach Todd Bowles is not taking rookie Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels lightly but realizes he’s not prepping just for him in Sunday night’s season opener.
Speaking with Sports Illustrated on Tuesday Bowles said, “Any time you face a dual-threat quarterback, it’s going to be a problem. He can beat you with his legs or his arm…He was taken that high for a reason. He’s very accurate, very calm in the pocket, has a good mastery of the offense from what we’ve seen… It’s going to be tough trying to keep him in the pocket and trying to cover those guys.”
How will Washington fare on Sunday?
A New Commanders QB Isn’t The Only Change
The last time the Commanders faced the Bucs was Nov. 21, 2021, when the Commanders beat the Bucs 29-19. This was one of only four wins that season. That year both teams looked very different. Former Bucs QB Tom Brady, retired and now a Fox Broadcaster, was quarterback and was intercepted twice.
Former Commanders QB Taylor Heineke, now a Los Angeles Charger, threw for 256 yards and had one touchdown. Former Commanders Running Back Antonio Gibson, now with the Buffalo Bills, rushed for 64 yards. True, some faces have changed, but not all. Bowles still has to deal with current Commanders WR Terry McLaurin who caught six balls for 59 yards in that game. Meanwhile, the Commanders have to handle current Bucs WR Mike Evans, who caught two balls for 62 yards and had one touchdown in that game.
Bowles focused On More Than Rookie Commanders QB
Bowles realizes he’s facing the entire team, but the last time a rookie Commanders QB was under center, Robert Griffin III, he threw for 3,200 yards. He also had 20 touchdowns, five interceptions was selected for the Pro Bowl, and won the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. While 2012 seems so long ago, Bowles has to be thinking about that. Nonetheless, Bowles maintains he’s looking at the bigger picture.
“I think if you find yourself just facing a rookie quarterback, the other 10 guys are going to kill you. We’re facing the [Commanders], we’re not facing Jayden Daniels,” Bowles told SI. “They’ve got 10 other guys that we’ve got to worry about, as well. We don’t look at it as facing a rookie quarterback – we’re trying to beat the [Commanders].”
New QB, New Leadership For Sunday’s Season Opener
On Sunday, the Commanders will debut more than just Commanders QB Jayden Daniels. There is the beginning of the Dan Quinn Era, who comes in as the 31st coach in franchise history. This season is also the beginning of the Adam Peters era, who left the San Francisco 49ers to become the General Manager of the Commanders.
The Commanders have also added a great deal of new faces behind the scenes like former Los Angeles Chargers Head Coach Anthony Lynn, the former 49ers running backs coach who will lead the running scheme. The Commanders also hired Tom Donatell to work with defensive backs and Darryl Tapp to work with the defensive line. Peters is excited and told “Grant & Danny” of 106.7 The Fan that everyone should be as well.
“I couldn’t be more excited…It felt like a blink of an eye we’re here now… I think our fans should be really, really excited about this next week and what’s to come with this team…I’m really excited about our offense. It’s gonna be a really fun offense to watch. It’s gonna be a fast offense, and it’s gonna put defenses in a bind with what we do…Defensively I really love how fast and physical the guys are playing, the mindset of the guys…I’m not exaggerating when I tell you how excited I am.”
This is not the 2021 4-13 Commanders. With a new Commanders QB, front office, and reenergized spirit, Week 1 should be full of surprises. Bowles would be wise to remember that. Kickoff time is 4:25 p.m. EST.
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