Jayden Daniels is getting praise from coaches, pundits, and current and former players alike, and on the week he faces Baltimore and Lamar Jackson, JD5 got some more love from one who made his name by winning a Super Bowl in Baltimore after growing up in NoVa and playing college ball in the DMV.
“He's confident, and that's half the battle when you play in this position, and he has the athletic ability. People were questioning things like, oh, it's college offense, but no, this guy can play ball,” Torrey Smith told BMitch & Finlay on Wednesday.
Smith wishes that Baltimore-Washington was more of a regular rivalry like the NBA or NCAA Football, because he’s hearing it all over the place this week from Commanders fans – and it’s true that right now, there’s a different energy around the Commanders that is fueling that.
And of course, that’s in large part due to Daniels, who has brought both skill and hype to the field.
“It is different, and this Washington team has a completely different type of energy. I think it happened a lot faster than everyone thought it but would, but I think it goes to show that when you have a quarterback, that's almost half the battle these days; if you have a quarterback, you stand a chance,” Smith said. “He’s growing up a lot faster than expected, and I love to just hear what all analysts think earlier in the spring and in the draft; there was hope, but the idea was, ‘hey, it's time, we're rebuilding the right way,’ and now you're seeing that these guys are able to compete right away and it's definitely a great time to be a Commanders fan.”
What is it about Daniels that’s bringing all this?
“Watching him on film, he does not look like a rookie; people think he can be Offensive Rookie of the Year, but the reality of it is that the level that he's shown that he can play at, he can go even higher than that, and it goes to show a lot about him,” Smith said. “That’s just an individual thing, but the coach is doing a great job preparing him. From Day 1, he knows his ability, he’s confident, and when you have that coming in right away and have that underdog mentality – it was like, hey, this team’s not gonna be good so take some time to really find your roots in this league, and I think he took that all to heart.”
That, and, well, it’s all about the poise Daniels has that everyone also shouts out.
“Everyone reads body language, so if you're stepping in the huddle with a guy that's unsure of his responsibilities and in his play and doesn't trust the people around you, it shows,” Smith said. “I've been in those huddles with guys that I'm like, ‘man, we don't stand a chance!’ And that's the stuff that allows a cancerous culture to build. But it's almost like sometimes a young guy just doesn't know any better, and I think it feels that way with him. He's like, ‘man, I win, this is what I do, I’m a competitor.’ And when you have people like that in the building, it does nothing but elevate everyone.”
And he got one last piece of praise from Smith, which might be the highest of the bunch:
“I met him during the Super Bowl and he was extremely humble, and I'm happy for him,” Smith said. “I'm very picky with my kids and players who I like them liking, but when you know him on the personal side…like, a good athlete doesn't make you a good role model. But, we're definitely a Ravens household, but if my sons wanted his jersey, I would probably go to the store and buy it.”
Take a listen to Smith’s entire visit above, which includes his thoughts on the Ravens’ first five weeks and this Sunday’s game, and much more!