{"id":52844,"date":"2017-11-17T05:24:46","date_gmt":"2017-11-17T05:24:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=52844"},"modified":"2017-11-17T05:24:46","modified_gmt":"2017-11-17T05:24:46","slug":"darnold-rosen-matchup-one-nfl-scouts-books","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/sports\/darnold-rosen-matchup-one-nfl-scouts-books.html","title":{"rendered":"Darnold-Rosen matchup is one for the NFL scouts’ books"},"content":{"rendered":"

Darnold-Rosen matchup is one for the NFL scouts’ books<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Darnold-Rosen matchup is one for the NFL scouts’ books:-Scouts representing 20 NFL teams will line the second row of the Coliseum press box Saturday for the UCLA-USC game. They\u2019ll have their laptops open, colored pens at the ready, and binoculars held to their faces. They won\u2019t be watching like typical spectators; these scouts are focused on nuance, gathering information on body language, how the players interact with their teammates, and how they act if their team falls behind.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe aren\u2019t going to be writing down, \u2018Five-yard gain,\u2019\u201d one explained this week. \u201cWe want to see what we can\u2019t see on the film.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This year, that means zeroing in on the quarterbacks, who are center stage. UCLA\u2019s Josh Rosen and USC\u2019s Sam Darnold are both potential top-10 draft picks. Only once in the past 50 years have quarterbacks from UCLA and USC been selected in the same draft \u2014 in 1989, the Bruins\u2019 Troy Aikman was taken No. 1 overall by Dallas, and the Trojans\u2019 Rodney Peete went in the sixth round to Detroit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Typically, NFL scouts are secretive about their observations and evaluations. It\u2019s a highly competitive business, so information is guarded closely. However, as has been the case for more than a decade, three team evaluators \u2014 identified as scouts 1, 2 and 3 \u2014 agreed to anonymously share their opinions on the potential NFL players in this annual crosstown showdown.<\/span><\/p>\n

The quarterbacks differ greatly in their skills and personalities.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not as strong a quarterback class as people thought at first,\u201d Scout 1 said. \u201cBut when you look at the Chargers, Pittsburgh, Arizona \u2014 and those aren\u2019t even the obvious ones \u2014 there are probably 10 teams that are going to need a quarterback. It\u2019s going to be crazy. Guys are going to get over-drafted like they do every year. This year is going to be a seller\u2019s market.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Each player has his distinct selling points. Rosen, a junior, has rare polish and accuracy as a passer. The way some evaluators put it, he makes Sunday throws on Saturday. He\u2019s smart, talented, and \u2014 in the eyes of many scouts \u2014 has a bloated ego.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s got a cocky swagger to him, like, \u2018Hey, I can make this throw,\u2019\u201d Scout 2 said. \u201cAnd that\u2019s what gets him in trouble. That\u2019s why he\u2019s going to be intriguing after the season. You want to sit down and get to know him, because people don\u2019t know him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIs he just an immature 20-year-old kid who\u2019s going to be different when he\u2019s 25, 26, 27 and getting into his prime? You\u2019ll have him for five years if you draft him in the first round, and then maybe he hits his prime in his second contract.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The game video scouts watch shows plays in quick succession, alternating sideline and end-zone views. The extraneous footage is removed. That\u2019s one reason being at the game is so valuable for these evaluators.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFirst, when you\u2019re gauging arm strength, you can\u2019t tell on tape all the time,\u201d Scout 2 said. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to see someone\u2019s arm live in pregame and during games. You want to see how they carry themselves on the field. Do they have a confidence about them, a poise on the field? How do they interact with their teammates on the sideline? What\u2019s the communication like at the line of scrimmage? The stuff you can\u2019t see on tape.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe body language on Josh Rosen, he may not know that, but that\u2019s what scouts are looking for. The way he acts on the sideline. The way he carries himself. If they fall behind, is he over there working with his teammates trying to keep them in the game, or is he going over to sit on the bench by himself?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The third scout said this is a unique opportunity for the people in his line of work.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow many franchise quarterbacks are there \u2014 10, 12?\u201d Scout 3 said. \u201cYou\u2019re looking at two guys on the same field, on the same Saturday, that a lot of people believe will be in that group, in that top 12. If you have one of them, you\u2019re like, \u2018Hey, we\u2019ve got a chance every week.\u2019 If you don\u2019t have one, you\u2019re looking.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a special, exciting situation. It\u2019s got some buzz in the scouting community, for sure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

For the most part, evaluators are enamored with Darnold\u2019s attitude and leadership. But they\u2019re quick to acknowledge he doesn\u2019t have Rosen\u2019s arm talent.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s got good enough talent but a winding release,\u201d Scout 1 said. \u201cHe\u2019s not real comfortable in the pocket all the time. He\u2019s most dangerous making off-schedule throws, on the move. He\u2019s unique in his ability to create and find open receivers on the move. You do question his ability to sit in the pocket and work through the progressions patiently. He\u2019s so hoppy and jumpy in the pocket.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Although Darnold has 15 touchdowns and three interceptions in the past six games, he struggled early this season with the football winding up in the hands of defenders.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou question his field vision,\u201d Scout 1 said. \u201cHe\u2019ll lock on receivers. He\u2019s not protecting the ball the way he was last year. Too many negative plays.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Scout 2 said Darnold, a redshirt sophomore, \u201chas a decision to make,\u201d and should carefully weigh the pros and cons of leaving early for the 2018 draft, even though he figures to make millions.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019ll go in the first round almost certainly,\u201d Scout 2 said. \u201cBut I\u2019m not so sure he isn\u2019t better off staying in school for another year. The holes that he has in his game are decision-making, and that\u2019s something he can improve on with live game reps.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPractice speed is one thing \u2014 it\u2019s intense, we\u2019re going \u2014 but it\u2019s different in a game. You\u2019re under pressure. You\u2019re thinking, managing line calls. There\u2019s chaos everywhere, and you\u2019ve got to keep your level head and make quick decisions. He\u2019s not going to get that as a backup. We don\u2019t have NFL Europe anymore, so USC is about as good a place as you can get it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:-http:\/\/www.latimes.com\/sports\/nfl\/la-sp-darnold-rosen-nfl-20171116-story.html<\/span><\/p>\n

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