First-round QBs: Assessing Murray, Jones, Haskins after first week

They’re in several conditions but doing the identical job: studying an NFL offense and making an attempt to determine the right way to beat NFL defenses.

Quarterback Kyler Murray, the No. 1 total decide in 2019, opened camp as Arizona’s starter. Daniel Jones (drafted No. 6 total) is taking part in behind longtime starter Eli Manning in New York. Dwayne Haskins (drafted No. 15 total) is behind Colt McCoy and Case Keenum in Washington. Jones and Haskins have the luxurious of sitting and studying; Murray should lead his crew now.

This is an replace from NFL Nation reporters in Arizona (Josh Weinfuss), New York (Jordan Raanan) and Washington (John Keim), analyzing how the younger quarterbacks are faring to date in coaching camp:

Kyler Murray, Cardinals

Kyler Murray is anticipated to open the season as Arizona’s beginning quarterback. AP Photograph/Matt York

Highlights: The place to start out? Murray has been exhibiting off all aspects of his sport in coaching camp, particularly throughout 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 drills, from his passing to his working to his poise to his understanding of the offense. He got here into the NFL with a fame as a top-tier passer, however he is likely to be elevating the expectations. He has been displaying an accuracy that enables him to place passes in tight home windows, a velocity that has made it powerful for defenders to get their arms on his passes and a contact that has seen defensive backs greedy flat-footed when Murray lofts a cross simply out of attain, placing it the place solely the receiver could make a play.

When Murray has pulled the ball right down to run or had a designed run, he has proven quickness and velocity that ought to make him a dynamic quarterback. He appears to seek out an additional gear when he hits the nook, permitting him to elude linebackers who’re left greedy for air as he flies by. Then there’s Murray’s poise, which begets a maturity on the sector far past his years. That stems from his intimate understanding of what first-year Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury is making an attempt to do on offense. Murray has been working the scheme since he was within the eighth grade. He rapidly started calling audibles and lining up gamers on the onset of camp, serving to veterans resembling Larry Fitzgerald.

To have fun 100 years of professional soccer, Peyton Manning travels the nation to see the folks and locations that made the NFL the NFL.
Watch on ESPN+ » Extra »

Wants work: Murray has not struggled a lot early in camp. Positive, there are passes which can be too excessive or too large, however they’ve been uncommon. The largest challenge that is noticeable is how he begins 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 intervals slowly, whether or not which means lacking usually throughout his first few passes or throwing an interception. He often calms down rapidly, and when he does, he is lethal correct, rattling off typically 10 or extra consecutive completions. His gradual begins are worrisome solely as a result of they elevate the likelihood that he may begin video games the identical means. One interception early within the first quarter could possibly be a game-changer.

Quote: “Early on, I actually favored what I’ve seen as a result of I believe he can test plenty of these packing containers. And, me, as an correct quarterback after I performed, I search for accuracy. And what does that imply? The largest factor is, are most balls inside the realm of what their receiver’s doing? It doesn’t suggest you full each cross. It doesn’t suggest each 45-yard cross is ideal on the cash, however you do not see him overthrow guys by 10 yards. You do not see him throw balls into the filth. Every part is within the neighborhood of his receiver. And that, to me, bodes nicely that he is acquired an opportunity to be a extremely correct quarterback.” — Corridor of Fame quarterback and NFL Community analyst Kurt Warner

Daniel Jones, Giants

play

1:48

Dan Orlovsky and Booger McFarland share expectations for Giants rookie Daniel Jones and a possible timeline for him to start out at QB over Eli Manning.

Highlights: Jones has skilled the usual rookie ups and downs, however what has stood out is his capability to throw the deep ball and his willingness to tug the set off. There appears to be no worry within the No. 6 total decide to make a mistake downfield, and his deep-ball accuracy has been spectacular. He appears to finish one daily, whether or not it is to veteran Russell Shepard or the inexperienced Alonzo Russell. “He will throw it. He will throw it, man,” Shepard mentioned. “He throws a extremely good deep ball. One of many higher deep balls I’ve seen, particularly at this level of his profession.”

• What you might want to know from each camp »
• Camp preview, roster projections for each crew »
• Gamers who’re holding out »

Jones has labored completely with the second crew. Coach Pat Shurmur mentioned lately that first-team snaps “may occur” in some unspecified time in the future this summer season. Regardless, it will take one thing loopy for Jones to be the Week 1 starter. He is the backup, and the Giants would like to comply with the Patrick Mahomes-Chiefs mannequin and maintain him behind Manning this season.

Nonetheless, the early returns at camp have been constructive. Jones drove his unit down for a rating in his solely shot at a two-minute drill at Wednesday’s follow, and the Giants love the way in which he works, processes data and learns from his errors. The rookie got here in on his off day to review movie, put together for the next day’s follow and sneak in a lightweight exercise. Shurmur described his new quarterback as “pissed” when he threw his first interception 5 practices into camp. That is precisely what you need to see — and what the Giants anticipated — from a younger quarterback.

Wants work: Jones admitted that the most important problem has been that there’s “loads I have not seen earlier than” by way of defensive seems to be. This might clarify why he has been up and down the previous few days. Just some favorable bounces and success prevented him from throwing just a few extra interceptions.

Clay: Gamers who will rating much less in 2019

Clay: Gamers who will rating extra in 2019

Yates: Second-year breakout candidates

Nation: Prime comeback candidates

However that is considerably anticipated from a rookie quarterback. There can be struggles throughout camp. The bottom line is seeing these new seems to be, studying from them and enhancing the following time. Warner lately instructed a narrative he heard about Peyton Manning as a rookie. Manning tried to make a throw on a particular play, and it was intercepted. He instructed working again Marshall Faulk it was a throw he may make. Subsequent time — identical play, identical end result. Manning was nonetheless assured he may make that throw on the NFL stage. Then got here the conclusion. “Ultimately he goes [to Faulk]: I can not make that throw on this league,” Warner mentioned with a smile.

It is true. The NFL is a special beast. In that sense, Jones is a protracted methods from Duke. This can be a huge leap in competitors, and the rookie is feeling his means by way of camp. The defensive gamers are greater and higher, and the schemes are extra complicated. For instance, Jones has had a handful of passes batted down on the line of scrimmage early in camp. It is not possible one thing to be apprehensive about long run. “I do not see a development there,” Shurmur mentioned. It is one of many many minor particulars he must iron out.

Quote: “Positively he is in all probability had among the finest deep balls at OTAs and camp of all of the quarterbacks. He is executed a very good job, man.” — Shepard

Dwayne Haskins, Redskins

Dwayne Haskins has proven the Redskins glimpses of greatness in coaching camp. Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire

Highlights: Redskins offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell mentioned that daily there is a throw on which the coaches say, “no, no, no … good throw.” They think about Haskins to have “particular arm expertise,” and that is true, particularly when he is snug with the pre-snap learn.

• Assessing the first-round QBs after first week
• How Thomas lives as much as ‘Cannot Guard’ rep
• Cooper’s deal with play, not contract
• How Darnold advantages from Kalil addition
• Bears’ Pagano embraces lofty expectations
• 55 consultants construct an NFL crew with 10 gamers

Generally his finest throws do not lead to something — working again Byron Marshall dropped an ideal ball from him on a wheel route the opposite day, for instance. The fourth day of camp was his finest, when he did not flip it over and was extra correct. On one crimson zone play, he recognized a blitzer on his proper aspect, backed away from middle and pointed it out. Then Haskins stepped underneath middle, and because the blitzer got here, he threw to the opposite aspect for a rating. It was a glimpse, the Redskins hope, of what is to return.

On the identical day, he threw a pleasant slot fade to receiver Trey Quinn towards cornerback Josh Norman, placing it the place solely Quinn had a shot on the ball. Haskins has proven contact, too.

There are occasions when he may take an additional hitch on his throw, however due to his arm, he nonetheless will get the throw off on time. They like his willingness to hear and be taught. He missed a throw early in camp to receiver Josh Doctson, throwing the ball earlier than Doctson broke. After the play, coach Jay Gruden pulled Haskins apart and went over the play. Haskins later instructed the media that he wanted to take one little hitch earlier than throwing, permitting the receiver time to get open on this feature route. Haskins will enhance if he continues to heed their phrases.

Wants work: Gruden mentioned the Redskins are centered on having Haskins have the ability to name the performs within the huddle extra rapidly, permitting him to get to the road quicker and giving him extra time to learn the protection. As Haskins continues to be taught, he is usually taking extra time within the huddle than coaches would really like. He wears a wristband to assist with the lengthy playcalls, however there are nonetheless instances when he goes to the road making an attempt to recollect all that goes right into a play relatively than considering freely and taking part in naturally.

Haskins has struggled in two-minute conditions. In a single follow, he was intercepted twice whereas working this drill. On the second, he was underneath duress and couldn’t step into the throw. However he rapidly realized: In that state of affairs, he should not throw to the flat, which is the place nook Jimmy Moreland stepped in entrance of the receiver for a straightforward decide. A day later, the protection compelled Haskins into an errant throw by disguising the protection nicely. The one-high security sprinted as much as the center on the snap. The opposite security sprinted from the opposite aspect and changed him. It wasn’t a decide, however he was fooled.

He additionally wants work towards the blitz — figuring out it, adjusting protections and figuring out the place to throw. He may in all probability checkdown extra, however the different facets are what matter most to the Redskins. As a result of Haskins is a pocket passer, they need him extra snug in all aspects, figuring out that in contrast to Murray, his legs won’t bail him out of performs.

Quote: “The largest hurdle for him is the restricted time we now have from the time we drafted him, simply getting acclimated to our system … and the way we are able to coach him to anticipate issues, perceive what he is seeing earlier than it occurs. And as soon as all that occurs, if he exhibits he can go within the classroom, hear some data and apply it to the offense he is already mastered, then you need to begin considering of him as a big-time choice for us.” — Kevin O’Connell, Redskins offensive coordinator