The growth of Jayden Daniels in VR simulation has the Administrators accepting mind games

ASHBURN, Va. – Kliff Kingsbury accepts the true comparison Jayden Daniels is credited with developing his quarterback skills, even if technology led him in the wrong direction.

“The first time I put it up, I went back to the wall,” said Kingsbury, the Washington Commanders’ offensive coordinator and former Texas Tech quarterback. It looked like (more) speed was coming.”

The former Arizona Cardinals coach has spent the year away from the professional ranks intending to look for a new approach should he return. Playing in the “air raid” system of Mike Leach and the Red Raiders from 2000 to 2002 meant that Kingsbury returned one of the most recent revolutions in football.

He’s not ready to do the latest stuff yet.

“I’m all over it,” Kingsbury said of the VR platform. “I mean, it’s amazing technology.”

Six weeks into his rookie season, Daniels is the talk of the league and part of early MVP discussions. The Commanders, led by a highly efficient offense that is tied for second with 29.7 points per game, sport an impressive 4-2 record entering Sunday’s home game against the Carolina Panthers.

Perhaps the only thing faster than Daniels’ rapid growth is the speed with which he sets the VR simulation. That would be the highest possible level.

“It moves faster in VR than in real life,” Daniels said before Washington’s 2024 season opener. “Once you get there, everything slows down. I know that this is coming. I’ve seen this before, (and) it went 20 times faster in VR.”

Jayden Daniels works for real every morning as a “flight simulator for QBs”@tracywolfson it has more 🎤 pic.twitter.com/LmScO2SBt4

– NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFlonCBS) October 13, 2024

A simulation from the German company Cognilize arrived on LSU’s campus before Daniels’ final season. The dual-threat quarterback became the latest disciple of a diving technique originally designed for elite football players to get more reps in practice without tearing up. more. Going forward, the quarter with the most recent projections going into 2023 has been stellar.

Daniels racked up 50 touchdowns — 40 passing, 10 rushing — 3,812 passing yards and 4,946 total yards from scrimmage on just four carries en route to winning the Heisman. He had not passed for 3,000 yards or more than 17 touchdowns in any of his previous four seasons at LSU or Arizona State.

When the LSU staff slowed the VR down to game speed, “It was like slow motion,” Daniels said.

That hasn’t changed, as evidenced by his accuracy — Daniels’ 75.3 completion percentage leads the NFL — and Matrix-like moves around defenders. He ranks fourth among quarterbacks in passing yards (1,726) and has accounted for 10 touchdowns, six through the air.

Regardless of the results, not every coach grows with his game or accepts new and different methods. Others, stuck in their ways, are determined to rise and fall in their ways. The Management Staff under coach Dan Quinn is always open-minded about new approaches, how they can work in multiple situations and whatever else comes around.

“That’s one of the fun parts of coaching,” Quinn said. “Nothing stays the same, and there are things that change and move forward.”

Washington targeted Daniels early in the first round of the draft, meaning Kingsbury had time to start drafting for the Chiefs’ next quarterback prospect. The first meetings after the draft, in which Washington made Daniels the No. 1 pick.

“It’s a unique technology, and it’s really for beginners,” Kingsbury said. “I think it’s more effective if they’re just watching the movie. They’re reading their news, they’re continuing, they’re seeing it.”

Daniels is also hearing from Kingsbury at the same time. The coordinator changed his daily schedule to spend 45 to 60 minutes rehearsing the weekly performances on tape. Kingsbury’s voice is the soundtrack for those VR moments.

“(Pilots) are not going to train for real flights. They make their own flight simulators. … (Jayden) has that thing all the time. He can see our reading and our ways and hear my voice in it. It’s as true as you can (as far as) getting reps, and your mind doesn’t know the difference,” Kingsbury said. “Your mind thinks you’re doing it.”

Shortly after the draft, the organization purchased a VR simulator for its quarterbacks. Marcus Mariota, the Commanders’ backup and former NFL draftee, finds the use of the modern system “awesome” in helping quarterbacks become comfortable within the offense. and pattern recognition.

“I believe defense is a technique,” Mariota said. It’s important to recognize them early, and (VR) seems to be helping Jayden with that.”

Confidence in coverage and “space awareness” are part of Daniels’ college-to-NFL transition and another way to improve the comparison aid.

“You have to open guys up,” Daniels said. “There are (defenders) who have been in this league for a long time who have a lot of experience and know what’s coming, all the patterns and things like that. You have to make tough breaks in the window. So that’s what you should do in this league.”

Experience does not end after clarity. The plays allow the quarterback to move in the pocket and use the entire field. Roadside information, including the location of the game clocks, enables the user to see the entire event before entering.

Limited versions of the VR product existed in the past. Mariota was reluctant to watch a simulator run by Stanford years ago. The 2014 Heisman winner recalled the performance using clips from game tape that couldn’t even come close to matching the game.

Nine-year veteran Jeff Driskel “played around” with VR technology as an athlete. As a “visual learner,” Washington’s third quarterback has seen significant improvements since then. It’s tailored to each game “based on what we think they’re going to do defensively and what we’re going to do offensively.”

Quinn, 54, relies on the educational aspect of his job and assembles his staff accordingly. Seeing these technological advances enlightens the “lifelong learner.” Now quarterbacks like rookie Sam Hartman, who don’t get valuable practice time in the team’s offense, have a tool to help them learn.

“Reps are always very limited for everybody,” Hartman said, “especially at the level and speed we’re going at. “The goal for quarterbacks is to get reps and see every play. one times a million. (VR) is very helpful. ”

Hartman, a member of Washington’s fitness team, used to play video games wearing an Oculus headset but is sick of all the real motion. Football does not require running around.

“If I had Jayden’s speed, I’d run more,” said Hartman, an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame.

Mariota and Driskel said there’s no telling how much help Daniels gets from the comparison or how he’ll do under center without VR. They know that more reps lead to more natural attention. When instinct takes over in real sports, success often follows.

Daniels had a career setback last year the week before LSU faced SEC-rival Florida. The injury kept him out of the physical but not the mental aspects of exercise. He then delivered the signature performance of his college career with 372 passing yards, 234 rushing and five combined touchdowns in a 52-35 victory.

“That’s where VR has really helped,” Daniels said.

Currently, only Washington’s quarterbacks have access to the new technology. When simulations are available for others to manipulate their minds, Commanders trainers will not be afraid to accept any situation that may arise. The one with Daniels created a beautiful reality.

(Photo: Meech Robinson / The Athletic; (photos: Patrick Smith, Michael Reaves, Michael Zagaris/Getty Images)