Lions’ Darrell Bevell explains why he prefers more mobile backup quarterbacks

Week 14: Lions-Packers

Detroit Lions quarterback Chase Daniel scrambles during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)AP

ALLEN PARK -- Matthew Stafford is known for his superior ball placement and making tight-window throws with the best the NFL has to offer, skills hard to find in backup quarterbacks.

Stafford is also known for not missing much time despite a laundry list of injuries throughout his 12 years in Detroit. The Lions quarterback missed eight games last year and is in jeopardy of missing this weekend’s game in Tennessee due to a rib cartilage injury, though. Chase Daniel has replaced Stafford two different times this season.

Darrell Bevell, Lions offensive coordinator and interim head coach, has proven to prefer a more mobile backup quarterback than a tight-window thrower closer to Stafford’s style. Josh Johnson started last year as the primary backup, and it was Jeff Driskel to get the first crack at replacing Stafford in 2019. Driskel enjoyed some moments in his three starts last year, running for 151 yards and one touchdown. He converted 10 first downs when scrambling or extending plays out of the pocket with his legs.

David Blough isn’t known for his wheels, and Daniel certainly isn’t free-wheeling like he was during his days at Missouri. Still, fueling that thought process is the team’s addition of quarterback Jordan Ta’amu to the practice squad in the aftermath of Stafford’s injury. Bevell was asked if he preferred having a mobile backup, saying it opens up different areas of the game plan while simplifying things in certain spots.

“Some things can be a little bit, I guess, simplified when you have a little bit more of a mobile quarterback,” Bevell said. “You can do different things, and you can simplify the game in certain ways for him because you can obviously always save the play with your feet. That doesn’t take anything away from Matthew (Stafford), he does a phenomenal job, and he does everything that we would ever want him to do. But just at that position, you’re going to get minimal reps, so you’re not going to be able to be as dialed in on some of the progressions and reads, and being mobile enables you to kind of give you that second chance opportunity on a play.”

It’s worth noting it sounds like Stafford will do everything he can to play this weekend, with the team giving him through the weekend to see how he progresses.

Related: Matthew Stafford trying to gut out cartilage damage: ‘I just need to be able to function, you know?’

For what it’s worth, Daniel was able to wiggle out of the pocket and score on a scramble in relief last weekend. A holding call wiped the points off the board, but the play admittedly gave the veteran a confidence boost.

“Yeah, I didn’t know I still had that sort of speed around the edge, so that gave me a little bit of confidence, knowing that at 34, I still could scoot just a little bit,” Daniel said. “But it was all for nothing. But, it was, yeah, it would have been nice to score that drive, you know, seven, I know we kicked a field goal. My mindset was just like, ‘hey, like, probably going to get two drives here, we got to score on both of them.’ The third-and-14 was pretty safe with the throw to Hock over the middle because I knew we needed an onside kick regardless of what we did. For the most part, I felt pretty happy. Coach was pretty happy with what I was able to do, driving down and then we got the big return from Ag(new). That definitely helps. I was hoping for another chance, that’s for sure.”

One thing worth remembering is that Daniel has taken on an enhanced role in practice in recent weeks due to Stafford battling an injury to his throwing hand’s thumb. Those first-team reps could come in handy this weekend, but Stafford isn’t counting himself out just yet.

Related: With Matthew Stafford ailing, Detroit Lions add fourth QB Jordan Ta’amu to practice squad

Daniel, one of the highest-paid backup quarterbacks in league history, has started five games in 11 seasons. He’s completed 11 of 19 attempts for 123 yards with one touchdown and one interception in two appearances this year. He’s not going to let the ball rip downfield like Stafford, especially with star receiver Kenny Golladay looking unlikely to return this weekend. Daniel said he would use his legs when needed, but he doesn’t enjoy running and is looking to “pass the football like a quarterback does.”

“Not really, because I get tired, and I’m not in as good as shape as I used to be,” Daniel said when asked if he enjoys running. “(I’m in) pretty good shape, but I prefer to pass the football like a quarterback does. But, definitely, when stuff breaks down, I can use my legs a little bit.

“Listen, I’m just going to go through my reads. If a play breaks down, just like any other quarterback, going to try and get out of trouble and find the open guy.”


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