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6. Bryce Young helped himself more than C.J. Stroud in their pro days last week, from the sound of it. A rep of a team that will likely draft a quarterback this year told me Sunday: “If you watch Bryce Young, and you didn’t know he was 5’10”, you wouldn’t think about his height. It was a disadvantage from the tape I watched.” This team has Young as its top quarterback, for what it’s worth. I’d been told previously that Young, in not getting many passes batted down at the line, has a sense of playing bigger than he is. It’s just one of the factors that has to be weighing on Carolina as the Panthers consider what to do at number one—take Young, or take the quarterback five inches taller in Stroud. As of Sunday night, no team here had been in contact with the Panthers about trading the top pick, and it’d likely be a useless venture, at least now. Carolina has no interest in moving the pick.
8. Re the other rules proposals. I give the proposal to have a third QB active as an extra player on gamedays—call it The Brock Purdy Rule—a good shot to pass if the league can figure out a way to make it ironclad that only emergency QBs will be used as the third player. I am not optimistic about passage for the Rams’ proposal to make roughing-the-quarterback reviewable by replay. Solid point by Rams COO Kevin Demoff Sunday: “We’re not increasing the number of challenges per team, which stays at two. This is a call that often swings momentum in the game. I don’t understand why making it reviewable is so controversial.” He’s right, but too many teams in the league are against any expansion of replay.
Quotes of the Week
I.
— Longtime Detroit News football writer and columnist Jerry Green, on many occasions, on the prospects of living to see his hometown Lions make the Super Bowl. Green died Thursday at 94.
I.
I don’t think I’ll last that long.
— Longtime Detroit News football writer and columnist Jerry Green, on many occasions, on the prospects of living to see his hometown Lions make the Super Bowl. Green died Thursday at 94.
3. I think these are three excellent nuggets from Kiper, and imagine the words coming out from him in that staccato, Kiperian, lightning-fast way:
- “I’m looking at 35 to 40 corners that I think will play in the league out of this draft,” Kiper said the other day. “Deepest position in the draft.” Think about that. About 85 percent of draftees make practice squads or active rosters coming out of camps. So imagine 220 rookies make a team or a practice squad this year. And imagine 38 corners are in that group. That would mean 17 percent of the rookies who make it out of camp are corners—for a position that produces three of 23 “starters,” if you consider the nickel corner a starter. That’s 17 percent of the make-it rookies for three spots.
- Kiper’s very bullish on Ole Miss corner Emmanuel Forbes. “Fourteen career interceptions, six pick-sixes—one off Will Levis this year. He’s 6’1”, ran a 4.35 at the combine, missed only one game in his career and it wasn’t for an injury.” Where do I sign? Only problem is, Forbes is thin as a rail, 166 pounds.
- Kiper on Florida QB Anthony Richardson: “He was superman against Utah, just incredible. And then the next week against Kentucky, he completes 40 percent of his passes, throws a couple picks. There were times this year where he flashed it again, but there were times this year where he’s missing layups. Then he’s missing throws in the middle of the field. He’s missing throws deep. Missing throws to all levels. Missing, like I said, bubble screens. He’s bouncing it to the left, bouncing it to the right. Low with the throw, high. That’s the inconsistency with accuracy that bothers you … I think the time he needs will be provided by a team like Seattle, a team that can allow him time. He’s only got 13 career starts. That’s it! That’s a red flag. Again, the inexperience is a factor against him. But if you can let him, I say let him sit, watch and learn. People say, ‘Ah, you can’t do that!’ Well, you have done it. Patrick Mahomes sat for a year. K? He’s still young. He’s only 21 years of age. I think Seattle would be perfect, with Geno Smith there. If Geno continues to be great, then Anthony Richardson waits. If Geno’s just a one-year wonder, then you got Anthony developing. It’s kind of a win-win. It’s a bonus pick for Seattle in the Russell Wilson trade. I think Seattle, to me, on paper, logically, thinking it out, would be the perfect spot for him.”
5. I think I won’t be surprised, unless Seattle takes him at five, if Jalen Carter drops out of the top 10. I view Seattle as a team that isn’t as scared off by players with character concerns as some other teams are. I asked the coach of a team outside the top 10 who is very interested in Carter and has researched him. The issue with Carter’s alleged involvement in speeding in connection with the accident that killed two people from the Georgia program is worrying, he said, and his team is still looking into that. “There are concerns there,” this coach said, “and I don’t know where we’ll end up on that. But as far as football goes, I don’t view the concerns there that would prevent us from drafting him. I’ve heard about him not practicing hard. I understand, and that could be an issue. But he’s such a freak of nature.” The point: talent shrinks big issues.
8. I think you might be surprised at the answer to the question about touchdowns scored by NFL coaches. The most is by linebacker/special-teamer/very-occasional-tight end Mike Vrabel. The list:
- LB Mike Vrabel, 13 (12 receiving, 1 pick-six)
- TE Dan Campbell, 11 (receiving)
- LB DeMeco Ryans, 1 (fumble return)
- LB Ron Rivera, 1 (fumble return)
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