NFL Notebook, Week 10: Game of the year, sleeping Titans, awards and more
By Zach Cohen
Draft Spotlight
Every week, I’ll dissect a college football player who recently grabbed the spotlight and what his future holds in the NFL. This week, I’ll be looking at the potential first quarterback selected.
Who: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
What Works
- Anticipation
- Keeping eyes downfield
- Mobility
- Patience
- Play-action
- Pocket awareness
- Poise
- Quick throwing motion
- Short-intermediate accuracy
- Size (6’3, 215)
- Throws under pressure
- Touch
- Toughness
What Needs Work
- Average arm strength
- Consistent footwork
- Okay athleticism
- “One-Year Wonder” concerns
The Scout’s Opinion
"He has all the tools to be an elite NFL quarterback, from size to accuracy and touch to athleticism. What I like most about Burrow is that he’s ultra-competitive while staying calm and collected. He didn’t blink against a loaded Crimson Tide defense. I’ve made the comparison to Tony Romo before, and I’m sticking with it. Throw out Burrow’s numbers from last season and focus on the improvement in 2019. This is a great quarterback prospect. – Mel Kiper, ESPN"
Outlook: No one’s draft stock has risen more than Burrow’s. While he won’t wow you with an elite trait, Burrow does everything else well. He’s a different type of quarterback than Tua Tagovailoa.
Early Projection: Top-10 Pick
Awards
Uniform of the Week: Los Angeles Chargers
The second I saw the Chargers-Raiders game on Thursday Night Football, I knew we had an all-time uniform matchup on our hands. While I may be the biggest supporter of the Chargers’ powder-blue uniforms (the best in the NFL), I have to acknowledge the Raiders simple uniforms. The silver numbers outlined by black are so clean but not as beautiful as those powder blues.
Hands of the Week: Jacob Hollister
Larry Fitzgerald and Kyle Rudolph both made good cases to win this award, though it ultimately goes to Jacob Hollister. While falling down, Hollister managed to snag the touchdown with one hand. He then pinned the ball on his helmet before hitting the ground with the ball in two hands. This was a sensational grab by the emerging tight end.
https://twitter.com/Seahawks/status/1194094563411087363
Dirtiest Spin Cycle: Lamar Jackson
Instead of more Lamar Jackson praise, can I interest you in a tease of next week’s notebook? Hint: Jackson might not be as good a passer as you think. Oh well, at least he pulled off the run of the year, featuring the smoothest spin move I’ve ever seen.
https://twitter.com/Ravens/status/1194013682423889920?s=20
Tim Tebow Award: Patrick Mahomes
To even compare Tebow and Mahomes would be ludicrous, right? Not if I’m talking about Tebow’s famous jump-pass while at the University of Florida. It seems like Mahomes, a former baseball player, picked up a thing or two from Tebow, a (technically) current baseball player.
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1193628073591132160
No Hands of the Week: Maxx Wiliams
Down four on fourth-and-one, this was more than a pivotal play. This was a chance for the lead and potentially the win. Unfortunately, Williams forgot to pack his hands to Tampa and dropped a catch so wide-open, he could have taken a nap before Bucs’ defenders caught up to him.
As bad a drop as you will ever see pic.twitter.com/gSKVT0ynOP
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) November 10, 2019
Articles of the Week
Like I said earlier, it was a wacky week in football. For even more weirdness, check out the Salem Brothers’ post about who was exposed this week.
The Cowboys were so close to beating the Vikings, if not for head coach Jason Garrett’s incompetencies. Randy Gurzi wonders if maybe it’s time for Dallas to hop on the Tank Train, too?