The Daniel Jones effect is difficult to quantify

[Kray007]

PFF, as is their wont, assigned him a passing grade for the game…66.5, which ranked him 19th among Quarterbacks after week 1. Digging into their mountain of stats, I discover that only 3.3 percent of his passes were considered big time throws. His expected completion percentage of 75.9% was exactly the same as his actual completion percentage, which means that nobody was dropping balls. Under pressure, he completed 4 of 5 passes. Against the blitz, that number dropped to 68 percent and change.

All of which leads me to the not unsurprising revelation that there’s more that goes into playing the position than anything you can glean from statistics.

Daniel Jones doesn’t bring elite traits to the table. He doesn’t have an arm that will wow you, he isn’t a riverboat gambler. There’s nothing flashy about his game, we’re never going to see a jaw dropping, Anthony Richardson moment when he spins away from pressure, stumbles, and launches a 65 yard TD strike to Alec Pierce.

What he brings to the table is reliability and an unsurpassed work ethic. He recognizes defenses, makes solid pre snap reads, and manages to exploit an opponent’s weaknesses. He keeps the chains moving and extends drives, milking every last play for maximum benefit. If the choice is between forcing the ball into tight coverage 40 yards downfield and settling for a 10 yard crossing play with an 80 percent chance of success, he opts for the easy 1st down. He’s accurate and throws a ball that’s easy to catch; everything isn’t a 98 mph fast ball.

In other words, he’s a pro; and, sometimes, that’s the difference between losing 17-10 and winning 33-8.