I see fans bashing Daniel Jones and saying the Giants should move on from Jones. That they should look to draft a quarterback next year. I like Daniel Jones and see a lot of potential. I think this talk about moving on from Jones is way too premature.
Jones is highly competitive and sometimes tries too hard, rarely giving up on a play. I like that in a young quarterback. He’ll mature and I expect the turnovers to drop. His fumbles are way down from last year when he had 1.5 per game. This year he has had only 0.625 per game. After 20 career starts he matches Peyton Manning’s turnover totals exactly. In fact their first twenty games are pretty close with Jones having a statistical lead.
Jones led the Giants on a couple of very impressive drives both in the Eagles game and the Tampa game. The Giants have had 12 drives this year from inside their 25 to the red zone. That is more than the Bears, Seahawks, Colts or Ravens had. It was tie for 24th in the league. It is the same number per game as he had in a very good rookie season. He’s had five in the 4th quarter which is tie for 13th in the league. The average time for those drives was 11th in the league. To me that is a sign of a good quarterback. Being able to lead a team on a long drive the length of the field is what the great quarterback can do.
Over Jones’ first 20 games he has had 30 such long drives. Eli Manning in his first 20 games had only 13 such drives. Also figure that Eli had Plaxico Burress, Jeremy Shockey, Amani Toomer and Tiki Barber on his team in 2005.I love Eli and was glad they had him as their quarterback all those years. He helped get us two Super Bowl wins. But just making the point that a slow start for a new quarterback is not something to get too alarmed about, Do they flash greatness? I see that with Jones in his long drives, pinpoint throws at times into tight windows, his ability to run, his fearless attitude, his work ethic and competitive nature.
Among active quarterbacks Jones’ quarterback rating thru his first 20 career starts is better those of Drew Brees, Alex Smith, Matthew Stafford, Ryan Tannehill, Josh Allen, Sam Darnold, Derk Carr and Jameis Winston for their first 20 starts to name a few. Jones rushing yards per attempt is third among all time quarterbacks for their first 20 starts. His 590 rushing yards is 18th among all time quarterbacks. The kid can run but that is not his first choice. I like that.
Jones is still young. Among starting quarterbacks since the 1970 merger Jones ranks as the 21st youngest quarterback for their first 20 starts and 13th among active quarterbacks..
Now for the other side. The ANY/A combines all the important quarterback stats into one – yards, touchdowns, sacks, interceptions and pass attempts. Jones’ adjusted net yards per pass attempt of 5.98 is 39th among 54 active quarterback’s first 20 games. That translates to 70% of active quarterbacks had a better ANY/A in their first 20 starts. His number relative to the average was 0.90. While his ANY/A to average number is not that good it is comparable or better compared to many great quarterback thru their first 16 starts – Steve Young, John Elway, Randall Cunningham, Troy Aikman, Vinny Testaverde, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees. Jones deserves at least the rest of this season to see how his performance over a minimum of 28 games shows.
Let the year play out and then see where the chips fall. The quarterback decision comes down to need and opportunity. You need both to make a change. The Giants may not even have the opportunity come draft time to select a “franchise” quarterback. From what we see from Jones he looks like a good if not franchise quarterback. You can win Super Bowls with good quarterbacks. I don’t see the value in the Giants trading up in the draft for a “franchise quarterback” when you probably already have a good one. Too much capital to give up and most analysts say trading up is never a good approach. So that comes down to would the Giants even have the opportunity to draft a “franchise” quarterback. We need to let the season play out and wait to see. Then discussions about another quarterback make sense if the opportunity arises. Till then I give Daniel Jones the benefit of the doubt and back him as our potential “franchise” quarterback..
Update Stats
- Daniel Jones is one of only nine active quarterbacks and thirteen all-time that in their first 20 starts had
30 passing touchdowns
61% Completion Percentage
80 Passer Rating
21 or less Interceptions
5.9 Adjusted Yards/Pass Attempt and
4600 passing yards
- Daniel Jones is second all time in yards per rush attempt for quarterbacks in their first 20 starts with a passer rating of 65 or better. Only Roger Staubach leads him. Jones is 18th in rushing yards.
- Jones is tied for most passing touchdowns in a single game by a rookie quarterback.
- Jones is the only rookie quarterback to have three games of 4 touchdown passes with zero interceptions.
