First major question: Why does Daniel Jones have such poor career numbers against Bronco Mendenhall-led Virginia? Last year: 14/42 124 yards, 1 TD and 2 INT. His numbers against G Tech, V Tech, and NW have significantly improved from last season. However, V Tech lost very significant experience in the secondary, NW lost its two best d-backs, and GT lost a ton as well. (Altho DJ benefited greatly from short fields against GT in 2018 to get quick touchdown passes). Accordingly, all three teams have dropped in opposing QBR, especially VT and NW. So improvement against those teams doesn't really show that he got better.
He struggled against Virginia's man coverage in trying to fit the ball into tight spaces and against Virginia's pass rush. He didn't throw well with pressure in his face. His best hopes were to roll out and throw short with an open passing lane to an open receiver or back.
I saw Daniel Jones' performance against Army and it was much different in that he had time to throw, time for the play to develop and he threw balls as nicely as he did against UVA in 2017, Army's defenses just afforded him many more opportunities. This year's UVA is returning as significant experience as Duke's wide receiving corps, the difference is that UVA's d-line has suffered significant quality and depth. This showed in the lack of pressure that it applied against NC State's strong pass protection. Finley had time to make throws, also had help from higher-quality receivers (for instance, the first touchdown which was actually almost an INT, but NC State's receiver showed greater ball skill). The NC State pass attack is a step up from Duke's. Duke's pass protection is looking a lot worse than last year's. So both UVA's pass rush and Duke's pass protection are taking a step up. It's not that DJ is any less elusive, either. Obviously its disconcerting to see how few sacks and how little QB pressure UVA managed in its last two games--though it still got away with it against Miami thanks to Miami's awful quarterbacks who love to float deep passes that easily get intercepted. But Duke's o-line is simply a step back.
I will keep contemplating DJ vs UVA secondary and add other components as the week progresses.
He struggled against Virginia's man coverage in trying to fit the ball into tight spaces and against Virginia's pass rush. He didn't throw well with pressure in his face. His best hopes were to roll out and throw short with an open passing lane to an open receiver or back.
I saw Daniel Jones' performance against Army and it was much different in that he had time to throw, time for the play to develop and he threw balls as nicely as he did against UVA in 2017, Army's defenses just afforded him many more opportunities. This year's UVA is returning as significant experience as Duke's wide receiving corps, the difference is that UVA's d-line has suffered significant quality and depth. This showed in the lack of pressure that it applied against NC State's strong pass protection. Finley had time to make throws, also had help from higher-quality receivers (for instance, the first touchdown which was actually almost an INT, but NC State's receiver showed greater ball skill). The NC State pass attack is a step up from Duke's. Duke's pass protection is looking a lot worse than last year's. So both UVA's pass rush and Duke's pass protection are taking a step up. It's not that DJ is any less elusive, either. Obviously its disconcerting to see how few sacks and how little QB pressure UVA managed in its last two games--though it still got away with it against Miami thanks to Miami's awful quarterbacks who love to float deep passes that easily get intercepted. But Duke's o-line is simply a step back.
I will keep contemplating DJ vs UVA secondary and add other components as the week progresses.