First speed bump of career.
So, now what?
So many folks had undrafted free agent quarterback Jalon Daniels as Baker Mayfield’s heir apparent after putting together really fun plays in the first two worthless preseason games.
Then came last night when Daniels started. As Al Davis would ask, “What’s his pedigree?” He’s undrafted free agent, Al. And he looked the part last night.
Joe really likes Daniels. Go in the archives here and read Joe celebrating the Bucs signing the Kansas product.
But that’s what Daniels is: A project.
In last night’s early moments of the WFLA-TV Channel 8 broadcast, former Bucs Super Bowl winner and Hall of Fame corner Rondé Barber all but crowned Daniels the Bucs’ No. 2 quarterback. Last night’s game was supposed to be the coronation.
Instead, someone farted on the elevator.
The things Chucky was concerned with about Daniels last week reared their ugly head last night. Specifically, how Daniels is still learning how to take a snap directly from center.
Last night Daniels fumbled a snap. Not good. Was it a bad snap? Maybe.
No, Daniels did not look good. And he got zero help from a really poor group of Bucs backup offensive linemen. How bad are they? They made Chris Braswell in training camp practices look like Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett.
But, like Joe said about No. 2 quarterback Jake Browning, if Daniels is ever called upon to play for Mayfield, he will be playing behind a far superior offensive line.
Joe just does not see KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles trusting Daniels. Hell, Bowles didn’t trust Kyle Trask and he was a veteran. Are we really to believe Bowles, who is on the hot seat, will trust his career to a green undrafted free agent who struggles just to take the snap?
Joe likes Daniels a lot but that doesn’t mean Joe is going to play ostrich. He’s got talent, but he’s so green. Too green.