It's time to talk about Daniel Jones 4-game stretch so here's a thread. Why? It was the best 4-game stretch of his #Giants career on tape (context considered).
On this week's #BigBlueBanter I described DJ as a starting pitcher in full command of his arsenal. Let's start by (cont)
Daniel Jones' 4-game stretch has some INSANE advance stats:
4.1% off-target throw % (best in NFL)
4th-best EPA behind (Mahomes, Allen, Burrow)
Second-most yards per scramble (10.0)
3rd down conversion rate (45.5%) (fourth-best)
1st down per pass attempt rate (38.1%) (third-best)
We'll dive into some film clips shortly, but:
His off-target % on the year (6.9% nice) and 4.1% over the last four (best in NFL) combined w/ his rushing EPA are a big reason for the high conversion rates on 3rd and 1st downs
This is what I mean by a pitcher in full command (cont)
Adding to DJ's command on the mound analogy is how he's protecting the ball. His 1.1 INT rate is second-best in the NFL and he has just two fumbles in seven games. Why it matters most: The #Giants have won all six games by a one-score margin.
Ok let's talk traits tape now (cont)
We'll start with the area Daniel Jones needed to make the biggest jump: Pre and post-snap processing. To the naked eye, it's how fast he moves through progressions and makes a decision.
This is the lifeblood of any QB who wants long-term success.
Let's look at some EXs (cont)
The most notable difference is how much faster Daniel Jones is moving through his post-snap progression.
3rd down: DJ has to make this read to come off the vert route fast after taking a deep PA drop. He reacts and works back to Bellinger to keep the drive alive #Giants (cont)
3rd and 14: I love how Daniel Jones holds No. 6 from dropping into the eventual throwing lane w/ his eyes. Watch No. 6's feet closely just before the throw. That gives Slayton time to work into the vacated area. And DJ drives this throw w/ velocity and placement #Gants (cont)
Daniel Jones is just moving so much faster w/ his eyes.
Take this short pass for EX. DJ reads the LB left to confirm where he'll be, works back to the right with his eyes, doesn't like what he sees but has previously confirmed he'll have Myarick so he can be decisive. #Giants
Another EX of Daniel Jones moving fast through multiple progressions after quickly processing/confirming what he sees post snap before working back to his solution (Bellinger)
Also note how he slid to reset/find a better throwing lane w/ pressure coming from RG #Giants (cont)
In addition to layering a tight spiral w/ excellent touch and location, there was an excellent post-snap processing moment for Daniel Jones on his Darius Slayton TD: His eyes confirm where the safety. Subtle but necessary. (Side: Why can't Slayton just run under this?) #Giants
The post-snap processing is just so sped up for Daniel Jones.
This play is designed to go to Daniel Bellinger. In the past, we've seen DJ hang on to that read, stare it down too long, and disaster ensued.
Here, he works off it fast to find a solution #Giants#TogetherBlue (cont)
All of the previous plays on this thread were good EXs of his post snap processing, but he's improved so much pre snap too
Last year DJ didn't recognize a critical blitzer v. KC and nearly threw an INT
Here he reads the Jags blitz presnap and knows he'll have Barkley free #Giants
Outside of pre-and-post snap processing, though it goes hand in hand in some ways, Jones has improved his pocket manipulation.
In the past, he's bailed right too early and ran into sacks.
Here, Feliciano gives up ground and DJ calmly slides right to find a throwing lane. #Giants
One thing I always love to see w/ QBs is when they look in one direction, hold there and then snap back the other way to make an immediate throw.
Daniel Jones processes the coverage post snap and feels confident when he snaps back to ward RJ here. #Giants#TogetherBlue (cont)
Back to the processing real quick:
Daniel Jones confirms the DB's (outside) leverage on Sills first, then confirm the safety gets depth (for the dig to work), then confirm 33 carries Barkley, then confirm 23 hangs on Wan'Dale whip route
Four steps. Lightning fast. #Giants (cont)
Another area of improvement for Daniel Jones in the presnap game has been his recognition of when to change protections.
Here, he communicates a change to Feliciano.
Seems subtle, but how often did we see free rushers and blown up plays in 1.2 seconds over the last 7-8 seasons?
It's not just the presnap recognition of blitzers for Daniel Jones -- he's also making key changes on run plays.
Here he makes a check and motions to his TEs presnap. All of the sudden Myarick (85) is a puller and makes an impact on the play after Barkley cuts back #Giants (cont)
Another area of improvement: Patience.
I love how Daniel Jones remains patient here even though the over route to Marcus Johnson is not there at first.
Then, he drives the ball w/ velo and location. He's accurate and off platform. #Giants
Speaking of off platform throws...
Another area Daniel Jones has improved drastically is throwing off platform. I wasn't sure it was a trait that can change much for QBs.
I chose this play, but there are others.
DJ as a right-hander rolls left, has to flip his hips and delivers w/ velo + placement off platform.
Daniel Jones' rushing efficiency has played a key role in his improvement as well (see Tweet below)
I just love how fast he's diagnosing rushing lanes. Here, he recognizes the blitzers and understands it will open up a huge rushing lane right. #Giants
We also need an appreciation for the SMALL details.
Daniel Jones has been selling BALL FAKES w/ the best of them.
Here, DJ holds the ball tight to his body in his right hand and it fools No. 6. Into his body = the small details! Now, No. 6 can't get into the pass lane. #Giants
There are other EXs I could post where Daniel Jones' ball fakes have fooled the defenses (the game-winning drive rollout v. JAX is great), but I loved this one b/c you can just watch the entire Bears defense get fooled by it. #Giants#TogetherBlue (cont)
If you came this far, it probably means you LOVE this kind of analysis. Why else are you still here?
If that's right, PLEASE check out the #BigBlueBanter YT page. We break down FULL games on offense w/ @nickfalato who knows 100X times more than me.
Here: youtube.com/channel/UCJ5Jx…
Thread got cut off for some reason... so here is the rest of it (I think) .. if not, you can find some other EXs of improvements in 1. Pocket Manipulation 2. Off Platform throws 3. Ball fakes 4. Patience on my profile.
Thread cut off, so adding now:
Another area of improvement: Patience.
Daniel Jones remains patient here even though the over route is not there at first.
Then, he drives the ball w/ velo and location. He's accurate and off platform. #Giants
Speaking of off platform throws...
OK. Hopefully those last few Tweets will cover all of the thread that got cut off.
If you enjoyed this PLEASE check out the #BigBlueBanter YT page. We break down FULL games on offense w/ @nickfalato who knows 100X times more than me #Giants#TogetherBlue
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Key takeaways from #Giants GM Joe Schoen's presser (Brian Daboll was there, but didn't reveal anything)
Thread 1/?
- First and foremost, Schoen preaches PATIENCE in everything that he does. This is the way. And it's the opposite of how Dave operated. For EX: He says (cont)
Schoen: "I don't believe in the "you're one player away" re: finding the #Giants a WR1. He will let it come to him. All great GMs (and poker players) display the ability to wait for their spot rather than force the action.
- Schoen also recognized the value of not using (cont)
NOT using free agency for the #Giants core. He discussed the value of extending in-house b/c: "The good thing about extending in house, you can eliminate some of the margin for error since it’s a known commodity. You know their work ethic, how they train, who they are."
(cont)
If you want the TLDR, #Giants Brian Daboll is the obvious Coach Of The Year b/c he made the playoffs w/ THIS roster.
But having analyzed the tape of every game (check out the YT show linked at end of thread!), there's a non-TLDR case to be made.
So here's my thread on that(1/?)
Most of the Daboll COTY talk focuses on his roster maximization. Gettleman left him with more than 25% of his cap allocated to players off the roster or not playing. AND he burned multiple 1st-round picks (Baker, Toney). But I want to focus on his actual coaching so.. (cont)
The key to Daboll’s success has been his (w/ help of Kafka/Tierney) development of DJ. We’ll get to that. But his decision in Week 1 to go for the win (2-pt conversion call) was momentous. The #Giants hadn’t had a winning record at any point since 2016 before that W (cont)
Per @Doug_Analytics the #Giants win probability dropped 19% after Daniel Jones' first INT, but he also had some of his best throws of the year v DET. He also didn't pull the trigger on throws they need him to.
More good than bad.✅
Here's some of the film in this thread (cont)
Starting the thread w/ the good clips
This was my favorite Daniel Jones play of the game:
Escapes pressure✅
Generates ++velocity completely off platform w/ pure arm talent✅
Changes trajectory to layer over second level's fingertips✅
Ball placement straight up PERFECT✅ #Giants
The above clip was a 3rd&10; this one is a 3rd&15
I love the growth from Daniel Jones here re: resetting the pocket and finding a new pass lane rather than rolling to his right and cutting off half the field. This keeps the Hodgins dagger route in play and DJ drives it. #Giants
After watching the #Giants Week 10 film, I've grown such an appreciation for what Daboll/Kafka did. It had Parcells-ian vibes. They lined up w/ extra offensive linemen and did everything to shout "we're running the ball, we know you know we are, and you can't stop, and (cont)
we know we'll win the physical battle at the LOS." This set up multiple play action pass attempts where the second level defenders cheated up so much that there was WIDE open separation (Slayton crosser X2). For the most part they just ran it and although they could have (cont)
Thrown the football if they wanted to, it was the RIGHT plan to run like that. Why? Because it minimizes the variance. When you throw the football more often, it will always lead to higher variance. The #Giants staff were confident they would win the trenches and they were right.
Incredibly insightful info from the GOAT film analyst Greg Cosell on Inside the Birds about the #Giants re: Daniel Jones, Joe Judge and Brian Daboll
Doing a quick thread w/ key takeaways 1. Joe Judge was even worse than you think. From what Greg heard, JJ wouldn't allow a (cont)
a single mistake to happen. He would freak out for any kind of error. This is a horrific way to coach, obv, but it can also have a debilitating impact on a QB no matter who the QB is. "It was almost as if you weren't allowed to make a mistake."
This more than anything (cont)
Serves as a viable excuse for DJ to me. That's two years of his career listening to/playing under that kind of nasty environment (I still have no clue why JJ was celebrated for winning a few games down the stretch of 2020 against backup/out of league QBs). Dabes will be (cont)
Quick thread on what I feel are the most promising developments from #Giants training camp thus far: 1. EDGE Lorenzo Carter: Achilles injuries used to be a career death sentence, but that appears to no longer be the case. Carter looked explosive at minicamp and carried (cont)
it over to training camp. Wasn't expecting a major contribution from him in 2021, now expecting he'll start and play most snaps off EDGE. He was a top-3 breakout candidate for me in Patrick Graham's system that's a cookie-cutter fit for his skill set. Offers best edge bend (cont)
on the roster. 2. Will Hernandez looks a lot better. Maybe it's being removed from COVID (long haul effect for 300+ lb people). Maybe it's the body transformation. Maybe it's the offszn work w/ @BigDuke50 but he's starting to look more like the player we expected out of (cont)