Last week, I profiled players in this 2018 NFL Draft class who are my guys—prospects with skills that appeal to me more than others because they match my analytic and emotional sensibilities for the game. Think of it as football-related psychological imprinting.
Here's a partial list of those traits:
- Comfort with physicality - I value players who can give and take physical play. They don't have to win the confrontation but they don't shrink away from the conflict.
- Effort - Often described as a "high motor," I seek players who play until the whistle and don't give up on plays. Even players with good motors will unintentionally give up on a player because they sense a lull on the action. However, players with high motors have learned to train themselves to remain vigilant until the whistle.
- Being the aggressor - Jamaal Charles is not a physical player, but he initiated the first contact as a runner or blocker in his prime. Whether it's ball-carrying, route-running, or pass-protecting, an aggressor with technique and a plan is a stiff challenge for most opponents.
- Physical and mental flexibility - I believe that flexible players are less susceptible to certain types of injuries and more capable of winning one-on-one battles when they're forced to overcome a temporary disadvantage with leverage. Flexibility can sometimes adequately compensate for a lack of strength. Among other things, mental flexibility helps players make smooth adjustments when a strategy isn't working. It naturally leads us to a related trait...
- Emotional intelligence - The majority of existing football leadership are Baby Boomers. I'm not a huge proponent of generational analysis, but these men grew up and built their careers on specific player prototypes with traits they could measure effectively such as book intelligence, athletic ability, and fundamental techniques of the position. Although important skills, football is a performance sport that requires its employees to deal with pressure, unplanned circumstances, and making adjustments to the stimuli around them. This requires the integration of every trait in a player's toolbox and that integrating factor is that intuitive-emotional IQ-flexibility that separates the stars from the good -- but not quite good enough -- options. This remains the least explored territory in NFL evaluation because it is difficult to quantify and teach. However, once a player has established that he has the baseline tangibles, emotional intelligence is the most valuable of traits.
- Attention to technical details - A player doesn't require technical mastery of his position before he enters the NFL, but I want to see refined detail with what he knows. I'd rather see a player display near-mastery with 1-2 techniques than be sloppy with 4-5.
The more of these skills a player has, the more I'm likely to admire their game. However, there's also a downside to our imprinting, because we're also inadvertently drawn to qualities that aren't successful. More often than I'd like as a fantasy owner, I like trouble—including immature on- and off-field behavior, criminal behavior, or some unusual physical, emotional, or social condition of that player.
Some of these "issues" shouldn't be a big deal, but the NFL power structure and media magnifies them into problems. Regardless of where one stands on the seriousness of some of these issues, it's the current reality of the league and it means this occasional part of my imprinting makes it an unfortunate and unintentional by-product with some of the players that I like.
Here are four talented prospects—for reasons benign, bad, and ugly—who don't easily fit the NFL's mold of on-field robots:
QB Josh Rosen (UCLA)
The most refined quarterback prospect in this draft class, Rosen has a history of immature and arrogant behavior.
While in high school, Rosen took lawn are and posed them in sexually suggestive positions in a person's yard. During an Elite 11 classroom session with Trent Dilfer, Rosen's disagreement with Dilfer about the theoretical execution of a play on a whiteboard led to a heated argument. And during the final on-campus meeting with the staff at Stanford—the team he dreamed of playing for, Rosen said something so off-putting that Stanford pulled its scholarship offer.
Combine these three moments and Rosen sneaking a hot tub into his UCLA dorm room and there's no question that Rosen was at times an arrogant, know-it-all kid. None of it would have earned serious scrutiny if Rosen didn't wear a hat that cursed the President of the United States while conducting an interview on a golf course.
The hat may be the tipping point between Rosen's selection as one of the first two quarterbacks in the 2018 NFL Draft and falling to the second half of the first round. The hat also made it more reasonable for teams and media to conflate Rosen's past behavior with his behavior inside and outside of the UCLA team facility.
Everything about Rosen's character and personality has become fair game. Some of the criticisms have merit; others are silly. A few are a sad reflection of the state of NFL leadership.
Rosen's high school behavior was boorish. He owned up to his side of the Dilfer argument and the meeting that cost him the scholarship to Stanford. Dilfer recently told Rich Eisen that Rosen put his differences with Dilfer aside and returned to the Elite 11 camp as a counselor. Dilfer believes Rosen's personality and intellectual capacity for the game are similar to those of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL.
The neighborhood lawn and hot tub incidents are silly.
However, the hat incident allowed teams to bring up the number of assistant coaches that Rosen went through early on at UCLA, his intellectual curiosity, his politics, his intelligence, the socio-economic status of his parents, and tie it all together as reasons why he's a questionable leader who isn't a safe early pick.
Rosen challenges coaches in the classroom, but Dilfer maintains that Rosen's curiosity is the driving force. A quarterback coach told me a few years ago that Rosen's curiosity, intelligence, and willingness to challenge people delivering information without a depth of knowledge was the reason why UCLA ran through staffers early in Rosen's tenure.
The coach said that blaming Rosen was too simple of an answer because the highest levels of football coaching are filled with individuals who have too much ego attachment to their plans and not enough skill as teachers. This combination also encourages coaches to fake the possession of knowledge that they lack. Rosen's curiosity and willingness to debate or question something in a classroom threatens some coaches who aren't comfortable with their authority unless it's unquestioned.
Dilfer equated Rosen's intensity for knowledge and behind the scenes behavior to that of Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, and Tom Brady, and told Eisen that a lot of those guys aren't nearly as pleasant to be around as their media personas suggest. Rosen, like Rodgers, opened the door to reasonable and unreasonable analysis about his leadership before the draft.
It's possible that Rosen's behavior is more boorish than intellectually curious but based on what I've been hearing, Rosen is the example of a worker that every executive says it wants on its team but most don't know how to manage when they actually get him. Matched with a coaching staff that encourages questions and feedback, Rosen has a strong chance of becoming a Pro Bowl player.
He's one of the most technically-sound quarterbacks that I've evaluated. He has smooth, precise footwork when dropping from center, and he executes an arsenal of believable play-action fakes, boots, rollouts, and sprints with the accuracy of a professional. Rosen's precise upper and lower body mechanics make him a strong rhythm thrower in an outside the pocket in all ranges of the field.
Rosen is a good decision-maker who should only get better with experience. He's an aggressive quarterback with a good blend of patience and decisive execution. He has a fast processor, which leads him to act on what he sees with little hesitation. This is important in the NFL where man-to-man coverage is tighter and zone coverage reacts faster.
Because the technical aspects of Rosen's quarterbacks are so sharp, it heightens the potential for him to excel on the conceptual side. He already displays moments of excellence against underneath coverage, which is often the most difficult area of the field for young passers. Unlike Josh Allen, whose occasional positive moments with decision-making and pocket play are more cherry-picked than consistent, Rosen has a sound and informed plan, and he's good at setting up defenses with his play.
When Rosen makes mental mistakes, they are most often a product of hubris—believing that he can make a difficult throw in a tight ballgame despite knowing the potential risks. In contrast, Allen has repeatedly shown difficulty recognizing pre-snap and early post-snap solutions and compounding his mistakes.
Rosen reminds me of Matt Ryan with a better vertical game. The only way Rosen's career implodes is injury or he's paired with a head coach with a Nurse Ratched mentality.
QB Lamar Jackson (Louisville)
There's nothing questionable about Jackson's character. However, he qualifies as trouble because of the way that many in the league may potentially regard him. A fantastic runner, there's a significant danger that a team will use Jackson as a caricature of his actual quarterbacking potential—ignoring that he is the most poised pocket passer in this class with a college career leading a pro-style offense.
Although initial studies indicate that pocket passers get hurt more often than running quarterbacks, I'm less concerned about the wear-and-tear than I am about a team stunting Jackson's growth as a full-field pocket passer. Jackson has become this quarterback during the past two years at Louisville but it's easy to presume otherwise when listening to some of the big media analysts mischaracterize his game.
After studying Jackson and Josh Allen, you'd think the big media analysts who like Allen and think Jackson is a non-QB have it backwards—especially when examining their poise in the pocket.
If Jackson lands in New Orleans, it will be the best possible destination because Sean Payton will develop Jackson into a complete player. Drew Brees values the way Marty Schottenheimer and Doug Flutie contributed to his NFL development, and he'll also be an active presence.
Jackson's feel for the pocket, skill for reading the defense, and capacity to access tight windows makes him a player that Michael Vick never became. He's already much closer than Vick ever was...
If Jackson lands on a team with a defensive-minded head coach, an insecure offensive mind, or a weak leader kowtowed by ownership, there's a higher risk that Jackson is forced into a Robert Griffin-like role that stunts his development.
WR Jordan Lasley (UCLA)
There's a perception that Lasley is an immature individual who could hold his own development back. He was suspended during his UCLA career and, based on conversations with those connected to the program; the school paper speculated that Lasley violated a policy on social media.
The publication also interviewed Lasley's high school coach who described Lasley as an intelligent, big-hearted guy with emotional lapses that weren't major red flags. The L.A. Times detailed Lasley's behavior in a more clinical manner:
But Lasley was also suspended for four games this season for unspecified reasons and engaged in a variety of transgressions over his four years on campus. He scuffled with a teammate during spring practice in 2015 and missed a team bus befroe a game against Arizona in 2016, leading to his suspension against the Wildcats.
Lasley also was arrested twice in 2016, according to the Los Angeles city attorney's office. The first arrest was for possession of alcohol as a minor; the second was for presenting a fake ID at a Hollywood club.
Lasley satisfied all oblications in the former matter through a diversion program and no chargers were filed in the latter incident. Lasley recently acknowledged the need for self-improvement. He'll have to make the next strides outside of Westwood.
There's also immature behavior on tape. In one game, I watched Lasley score his second touchdown of the contest, get in the face of the cornerback, and call the defender a name, incurring a personal foul.
As Lasley talked trash, Josh Rosen was staring at the defender and smiling. Both were classless and immature in this instance but it's also behavior that is reasonably common in the NFL—common enough that teams feel the need to ask inappropriate interview questions at the NFL Combine to see if prospects get rattled easily (there are more sophisticated ways to gauge this behavior without risking the reputation of the league).
That said, I'm not concerned about Lasley's trash talk, the fight during practice, or even the alcohol possession and fake ID. I'm more concerned about the behaviors when grouped together because it indicates a pattern of immaturity.
As my friend Ryan Riddle told me about his experiences with four different NFL teams, one of the biggest sins a professional can commit is being
late to a meeting or practice. According to Riddle, it was pretty well known among players around the league that Bill Belichick got rid of Randy Moss for being late to a team meeting because of a snowstorm. The Patriots expected its players to be prepared professionals and it included checking the weather and planning accordingly.
While some teams will bench a player for those types of infractions, it’s almost universally the end of a player’s tenure with a team if he misses a flight. It won’t matter if Lasley flashes brilliance in the preseason or as a rookie during the regular season, if he pulls this kind of behavior in the NFL, he’ll be a
distant memory in the eyes of his soon-to-be former team.
If Lasley has convinced a team that he’s well beyond this behavior, his on-field play is on par with a Day 2 pick. On the field, he’s one of my favorite receivers in this class.
Lasley played inside and both perimeter spots in the UCLA offense. He was occasionally moved around the formation to generate mismatches. If not jammed, Lasley is quick enough to earn consistent separation within the first 3-5 yards of the line of scrimmage and the deep speed to win the go,
the post, and the deep cross.
Although he has a higher drop rate than desired for a player of his promise, Lasley makes a lot of good catches. He can track the ball in stride over his
shoulder on vertical routes. On short and intermediate routes breaking inside or outside, Lasley displays strong burst to the ball through the catch point.
His after-the-catch game is strong. Lasley is quick enough to turn away from a safety only a yard away over top and beat the man downfield for another 7-10 yards. This is the skill that James Washington needs to hone.
Lasley also runs through wraps to his lower legs and bounces off collisions with defensive backs. If wrapped above the chest, he’ll also pull through it. He’ll even push some smaller outside linebackers downfield when he drops the pads into them. His stiff-arm is strong, quick, and active. He consistently wards off reaches and knocks defenders to the ground with it.
Lasley’s skills remind me of a mix of DeAndre Hopkins and Stevie Johnson. His hands aren’t nearly as consistent as Hopkins, but he’s a physical player
with a lot of promising technical skills and flashes the tight coverage prowess that Hopkins elevates to an All-Pro level. Johnson is a closer fit. he was a rugged player after the catch who often bedeviled good cover corners.
WR Deon Cain (Clemson)
Cain is another prospect who won’t be this high on most boards because of production and off-field concerns. Cain had failed a drug test and had some disciplinary issues early in his college career while he was stuck in a rotation behind starter Mike Williams.
When he straightened up his act and earned the starting job this year, Deshaun Watson was gone and there was a significant drop in quarterback production. Despite these factors, Cain is one of the stronger talents in this receiver class and another potential value. His calling cards are speed, skill after the catch, and winning the ball in the air.
Cain doesn’t wilt against physical play. He’s comfortable with hand fighting after the break as he’s tracking the ball. This type of contact doesn’t break Cain’s concentration, and he’ll often use his back arm to frame/maintain separation just before the ball arrives overhead.
If opponents don’t get their hands on Cain, he has enough speed to run by them. Although his metric profile won’t wow anyone, he’s quick in and out of
breaks. Cain keeps his pads down into the break as he reaches the top of his stem and gets his head around fast to locate the ball.
Cain catches the ball easily. He tracks the ball easily with his back to the quarterback. When he highpoints the ball he displays a quick snatch and
retraction of the ball with late hands that won’t tip off his opponent.
The back-shoulder fade is one of Cain’s more promising routes, and I think he’ll see a steadier diet of these in the NFL. He can turn a little early on the
break but his ability to sell the deeper routes combined with his boundary awareness and execution make this a route he’ll likely master soon.
Whether it’s a back-shoulder fade, a dime over his head near the end line or an acrobatic play in a tight spot, Cain’s boundary work is effortless. Contact doesn’t faze him while he’s running down the target and he’s adept at extending for the ball on low throws. He has the flexibility to extend on the run and catch the ball low and away with his fingertips.
Cain is a dangerous runner after the catch. He’s a speedy, patient runner with a sudden change of direction. This makes Cain an excellent target on
screen passes and crossing routes. He can cut back at full speed and take away the pursuit angles of defensive backs. Cain’s feel for backside pursuit is a testament to his vision. He’ll make cuts in succession to work past defenders who appear to be on the periphery of his sightlines.
If Cain falls past the fourth round on draft day, it will be less about skill and more about his past behavior and concerns about his maturation. Martavis Bryant’s behavior in college generated concerns. Despite some compelling stories that indicated he had moved beyond his bad behavior, he was still viewed as a work in progress.
While sharing the same school background, same position, and disciplinary concerns remember that Cain and Bryant are individuals with their own
specific stories. Regardless of draft stock, Cain has starter talent and, for the reasons stated above, he reminds me of Davante Adams. Cain is taller, has better deep speed and change of direction quickness. Adams is 10 pounds heavier, a better leaper, and has better acceleration.
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