A Look at Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor's Deep Passing Games
The New York Giants coaching staff and front office are in lockstep that whenever Daniel Jones is healthy, he is the starter, and while that is understandable, it is hard to ignore how Tyrod Taylor looked during his first two starts this season.
(We are throwing out the Week 8 game against the Jets because of the terrible conditions; it would have been near impossible for anyone to perform well in that game throwing the football.)
Taylor has come in and been a calming force behind center. Everything seems less frantic and feels more controlled. Despite the injuries continuing to mount on the offensive line, the offense has a rhythm and shows signs of explosiveness. As the team welcomes Jones back into the lineup, we looked at the difference between the two quarterbacks.
First, the obvious: the Giants defense is playing much better than they did when they lined up against the Cowboys in Week 1 or even against the Cardinals for the first half of Week 2. In the last three weeks, the defense has come into play, and obviously, it has allowed the offense to stay within their game plan.
However, it still is impressive how Taylor has looked commanding this offense. So, what is the biggest difference between Taylor and Jones?
While studying the film, you find that both Taylor and Jones quarterback similarly. They are pocket passers who use their athleticism to get out of trouble and/or extend plays. They will also run if they need to run. Instead of comparing everything, I thought I would focus on one element of their game: the deep ball.
In his first two starts, Taylor threw the ball deep eight times and completed six. That is an impressive 75 percent on a play that is historically a low percentage throw. Over the first five games of the season, Jones has only thrown 12 deep passes and completed three. That is a much lower percentage.
So why? A deep pass comes down to timing, touch, and placement. In all three areas, Taylor seems to shine above Jones, hence the results.
Timing is based on anticipation, decisiveness, and maybe a little trust. In the NFL, you rarely see receivers wide open unless there is busted coverage; as such, quarterbacks are often required to throw receivers open.
They must throw the ball early enough that defenders don’t have the opportunity to react to the pass before it gets there. They must anticipate whether their receiver can win the matchup before the picture is clear, and when it is time, they must pull the trigger without hesitation.
Timing also allows you to throw much shorter deep shots than you would without proper timing. The further away a receiver is, the lower the percentage that the pass will be completed.
You must believe in the phrase “if he is even, he is leaving” and let the ball go confidently. Taylor has never been afraid to let the ball go and never hesitates to let it fly.
In football, people say, “he throws a catchable ball.” In this instance, they are referring to the type of touch a quarterback puts on a ball. It can be the difference in how the ball falls into the cradle of a receiver or how it bounces off their hands.
In many cases, how far you can throw the ball does not matter if there is no touch associated with it. Those with superior touch know how to change the velocity of the throw to fit the receiver or the situation.
As evidenced in the video clips, Taylor seems to know how to throw a ball that feels right to the receiver, sometimes looking like he hand-delivered the pass.
Placement is also extremely paramount in completing deep passes. Depending on the defensive situation, it may be necessary to throw the football in areas that keep the ball and the receiver out of harm's way.
Good placement also allows the receiver to continue running after the catch or allows them to avoid a big hit. When the placement is not right, the ball is in jeopardy of being intercepted, or it turns a sure touchdown into a big reception because the receiver needs to stop for the ball.
Taylor always seems to hit the receiver in stride or with the ability to stay away from harm. Jones seems to always have something off with the placement of his deep passes.
With Jones returning to the huddle, the deep pass can not disappear as a weapon in the Giants offensive attack. Jones can not be afraid to cut it loose and be decisive.
His job was not in jeopardy when Taylor was performing well, so now that Taylor is on the shelf for a while, there is no fear of being pulled or someone behind him pushing him out this season.
He can show that he can let it rip like Taylor does. That would be beneficial to this offense.
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