Kevin Sheehan doesn't expect Commanders to run 'true dual-threat offense' with Jayden Daniels

One reason many people believe Jayden Daniels will be on the field very early in his rookie season – and might be the Washington Commanders' Week 1 starting quarterback at the start of the Dan Quinn era – is his running ability.

Josh Edwards, writing in CBS Sports, puts that as the reason he sees the No. 2 overall pick making the start Sept. 8 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers: "Daniels is a dual-threat quarterback and that mobile skill set will buy him time as he becomes more comfortable with the speed of the game and understanding how quickly windows close at this level."

Kevin Sheehan believes it is likely Daniels to be the starter Week 1, but disagrees with that reason.

"I just don't see it that way," he said. "I don't see a Lamar Jackson-style offense being created for Jayden Daniels. Do I think that some design runs and some option runs will be a part of what they do? Of course, and they'd be silly not to have some QB draws and some zone-reads especially in short yardage and the red zone... he will be great at that, he's done it before and you want to give him an opportunity to read an outside d-end or linebacker and have daylight after that guy crashes down on the running back."

However, that is not what Sheehan is expecting from first-year offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

"I don't think that Kliff Kingsbury is looking at Jayden Daniels and drafted a buy they believe they can play like they played Lamar Jackson until Todd Monken showed up," Sheehan said. "Greg Roman the offensive coordinator [for Jackson's first four full seasons as the starter]... they designed an offense that took advantage of Lamar Jackson as a runner and it was true dual-threat offense. He's in the shotgun, he's sticking it in the gut of Gus Edwards or any of the other running backs that they've had over the years and it's a 11 on 11 in the run game. Which every coach understands is a massive advantage, kudus to Mike and Kyle [Shanahan] for introducing it in a major way, not just situationally, like Carolina had done the year before in 2011, but as part of their offensive approach in creating a lot around Robert Griffin III's speed and ability as a runner..."

Sheehan added: "I don't see an offense designed for Jayden Daniels – even in his rookie year just to get him on the field – that is primarily a QB threat-run offense, a true dual-threat 'that quarterback may run on any of these plays that he's lined up in the shotgun on.' I don't see that.

"... I just don't se the key to Jayden Daniels' success as a young player being creating a dual-threat, Lamar Jackson style attack. Talking about Lamar Jackson, pre last year where Todd Monken [had him] play quarterback more traditionally than he had in the past. I think this kid at 6-3 and 3/4 with the ability to throw the football the way he has the abiliy to throw the football, with the way to process the way he processes, I think you can use him in a lot of different ways."

The full conversation can be heard about what Sheehan expects to see from the Commanders offense on the audio player above!