LSU Country

Film Room: Jayden Daniels' Growth, Strides in Right Direction

Daniels continues to evolve into a top quarterback in the SEC, leading the Tigers' offense to new heights.

Zack Nagy

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Jayden Daniels came to the SEC for a chance to showcase his talent under the brightest of lights college football has to offer. Leaving the PAC-12 and setting lofty expectations, Daniels is slowly checking boxes off of his list.

The film doesn’t lie with LSU’s QB1. The growth he has made from the Florida State game to now is impressive when it comes to his overall game.

Here we took a deep dive into a few areas he’s improved in the most:

Pocket Awareness

The first few games of the season were challenging for Daniels. Incorrect reads and hasty decisions halted offensive success with many of the difficulties coming when Daniels would rush out of the pocket to make the “hero ball” play.

Fast forward to Week 8 against Ole Miss and it’s been a completely different story for the signal-caller. Daniels has looked much calmer in the pocket while sitting back and allowing for plays to develop. There is credit to be given to him, but his offensive line has helped carry much of the load as well.

READ MORE: Bye Week Checklist - Areas of Improvement Ahead of Alabama Matchup 

While Daniels has been given time in the pocket, he’s making the correct reads down the field and escaping when needed. Tallying three rushing touchdowns against Florida, and carrying that rushing success into the Ole Miss matchup, Daniels is becoming much more aware in the pocket while making the accurate read.

Going Through Progressions

Another major challenge to start the season was Daniels’ inability to go through each progression and find the open wide receiver. This has certainly changed over the last few weeks for the better. We’ve seen Daniels hit his third and even fourth read at times, specifically in the matchup against Florida a week and a half ago.

During the bye week, Daniels and his wideouts must continue getting on the same page as they prepare for a fierce Alabama squad next weekend. With a receiver room that plays up to six guys a night, continuity will be key if the Tigers want to run the table and make some noise come late November.

READ MORE: Trio of Tigers Earn SEC Player of the Week Honors 

Utilizing his Dual-Threat Ability

The first few weeks of the season saw Daniels running for his life when given no time in the pocket for plays to develop. After eight weeks of growth, he’s begun to put together masterpiece after masterpiece.

Yes, there have been a few hiccups along the way, but Daniels has proven he’s a true dual-threat quarterback, especially in the Tigers’ last two contests. Racking up 11 total touchdowns, with nearly half of them coming on the ground, he throws different looks at opposing defenses to keep them on their toes.

Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock and Daniels are becoming the perfect fit for one another as the backend of the season approaches. A duo many believed could be lethal is slowly proving to be one of the best in the country.

READ MORE: LSU Ranked No. 18 in Latest AP Poll

Final Thoughts

It hasn’t been perfect, but the positive growth Daniels has made from the season opener to now is remarkable. There were questions surrounding his inability to “trust his arm” or make the proper throws for this team to be successful, but he’s changed that narrative rather quickly.

There is still significant room for improvement when it comes to LSU’s QB1, but the strides he has taken to elevate this team to new heights is something Tiger faithful has to be pleased with. 

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Zack Nagy
ZACK NAGY

Zack Nagy is the Managing Editor and Publisher of LSU Country, a Sports Illustrated Publication. Nagy has covered Tiger Football, Basketball, Baseball and Recruiting, looking to keep readers updated on anything and everything involving LSU athletics. 

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