LSU football fans have many reasons to get hyped for Jayden Daniels as the top quarterback in Death Valley. Conversely, some fans have reasons for concern.
Death Valley Voice effectively triggered dozens of LSU football fans with an article suggesting Garrett Nussmeier is the best quarterback in Baton Rouge.
Such was not a suggestion that starting Jayden Daniels at quarterback in 2023 is the wrong answer. However, some fans, pundits, and Kieran Patterson believe Nussmeier is the more talented quarterback.
Indeed, LSU football history involves instances where the right starting quarterback and the most talented were different. Regardless, I’m focusing on Daniels with the understanding and acceptance that he’ll be QB1 in 2023 regardless.
I offer a disclaimer to the fans that prefer flowery articles that beam positivity this time of year. This article is not that type.
Death Valley Voice covers many positives, including that which regards Jayden Daniels. However, today, the focus is on concerns many will brush off and label ‘negative’ or ‘unfair.’
To each their own.
Nevertheless, there are worries about the 5th-year starter and his potential to lead LSU football to greater heights in 2013.
I will start with another disclaimer that cautions against preseason media hype.
Preseason accolades regarding Jayden Daniels don’t matter
Jayden Daniels has received a lot of preseason hype from the media this offseason.
Even DVV’s own Luke Hubbard, recently appealed to LSU football fans regarding Daniels’ Heisman Trophy potential. Daniels is ranked the top quarterback in the SEC by about every significant talking head and publication in sports media.
The super-senior-signal-caller was also, one of 85 players recently named to the Maxwell Award Watch List. The Maxwell Trophy recognizes the most outstanding player in college football. Suffice it to say that a spot on the watch list indicates hefty expectations.
Moreover, Daniels is the first LSU football player since Tommy Hodson in 1989 to earn Preseason All-SEC First Team honors at quarterback.
Preseason accolades are nothing more than what looks good on paper. Daniels has earned the attention after a solid 2022 season that included 885 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. However, the early hype often results in inflated expectations from fans.
I see fans slinging preseason charts and lists to justify why Daniels is the LSU football starting quarterback. Such is laughable, if not unnecessary.
Daniels is ultimately the starter because he has earned the trust of the offensive staff and head coach. Trust also put Daniels over during the Tigers’ Fall 2022 camp. That is not surprising, considering his level of experience.
Nevertheless, of course, Daniels’ play enabled him to keep the job despite some early and late-season stumbles. However, the LSU football starting quarterback cannot afford to stumble much in 2023, or the earned trust will wilt away.
Specifically, the 5th-year senior must avoid struggling in the passing game.
Jayden Daniels is historically reluctant to go deep
Jayden Daniels is exceptionally talented, especially with his legs. His legs logged many yards and big plays in 2022. However, most fans understand that teams cannot always rely on the quarterback’s ability to scramble.
The Alabama Crimson Tide learned such a lesson with Jalen Hurts late in 2018. Hurts was very successful as a two-year Tide starting quarterback, but eventually, the better defenses found ways to keep him inside the pocket. As such, the onus fell on the young quarterback to move the offense with his arm.
Hurts wasn’t an efficient passer then; thus, Nick Saban was forced to call on his younger, pocket-passing backup quarterback, who wore No. 13 and eye black in the shape of a crucifix on both cheeks.
Sound familiar?
Daniels must push the ball downfield to enable an LSU season good enough to return to the College Football Playoff. He did throw the ball to the tune of 2,913 yards and 17 touchdowns. However, advanced metrics indicate Daniels threw the ball downfield less than his SEC foes.
According to Pro Football Focus, 50.6% of Daniels’s passes were short (0-9 yards), 21.6% medium (10-19 yards), and 11.2% deep (20+ yards). For context, Georgia’s Stetson Bennett threw 26% of his passes in the medium range and 13.7% deep.
The percentage does not seem like a significant difference, but volume matters. As such, Bennett pushed the ball downfield (10+ yards) 31 times more than Daniels. In other words, the 5th-year senior’s 68.6% completion percentage isn’t as sexy considering the high volume of shorter, safer throws.
2022’s LSU vs. Auburn contest is arguably the most significant example of Jayden Daniels’ stumbles in the passing game. He was utterly out of sync with his receivers resulting in 8-for-20 passing attempts and 80 yards.
Thankfully the purple and gold Tigers won the game over the orange and blue. However, such was not the case three significant occasions later in LSU’s 2022 season.
Jayden Daniels must do more than beat Alabama in 2022
“He beat Bama; isn’t that enough?”
No.
Jayden Daniels was poised in the 4th quarter of last November’s clash with the Crimson Tide. His 95 rushing yards were huge for LSU football’s overtime win in Baton Rouge. I could knock Daniels’ 182 passing yards, but I won’t.
Indeed, the Tigers’ quarterback played a great game, earned the win, and deserves the credit he received.
However, that’s not enough. We are LSU, not Auburn. As such, beating Alabama is never enough. Winning championships is the goal.
Jayden appeared poised to lead the Tigers to last year’s College Football Playoff. Two losses were acceptable if LSU managed to win out in the regular and win the SEC Championship Game.
The Tigers followed up the big win over the Tide with a narrow 13-10 victory at Arkansas. Even so, Daniels stunk that day. He threw for 86 yards and an interception on 15 pass attempts. Nevertheless, Harold Perkins had a monster game and led the LSU defense in a stingy performance that enabled the team’s win.
Daniels followed up his clunker against Arkansas with a big win over UAB and then played his worst game of 2022 at College Station.
I won’t pile on much more, but the point is that Jayden Daniels’ 2023 season cannot resemble an EKG reading. Peaks and valleys won’t get it done in the SEC.
Few expect the LSU quarterback to dominate the box score week-to-week, but he cannot disappear in games against 5-win opponents. Moreover, Daniels must have his biggest games against contenders like Tennessee and Georgia.
However, despite all the worry, Daniels is a quarterback LSU football fans must believe in.
There’s a belief that Jayden Daniels can get it done
Despite the concerns, there are more reasons to believe in Jayden Daniels this season.
The 5th-year senior is one of the most experienced starting quarterbacks in the SEC. He will also benefit from continuity that is unlike any other conference foe. Daniels is playing in the same offense under the same coaching staff in 2023.
I expect Daniels to take the field with more confidence and better control over the offense this season. Moreover, Jayden is smart enough to know that he has to put more confidence in himself and his receivers and let the ball fly.
Jayden Daniels will also benefit from Garrett Nussmeier waiting in the wings.
There’s no doubt that Nussmeier is the next LSU football starting quarterback. As such, Daniels knows that Nuss’s era can start sooner than later if the Tigers’ offense struggles in 2023. In other words, having a talented quarterback on his heels will bring out the best in Daniels.
I hope Daniels plays at the Heisman Trophy level for the entire season, and my concerns ultimately make me look foolish. Indeed, I will take LSU football wins over being right any day of the week.
Ultimately, unless injury strikes, I expect Daniels to remain the starting quarterback for the entirety of the 2023 season.
Conversely, if Nussmeier gets his opportunity to start, regardless of the reason, I do not expect him to look back.