Greg Cosell’s Review: How Wentz, Goff and Lynch fit (Podcast)
Before the draft, we talked a lot about scheme fits for many of the prospects, and now we get to see how the draftees fit with their new teams.
In the latest episode of our podcast, “The Shutdown,” we discussed many of the players and how they fit in with their new teams. We talked about why Joey Bosa fits well in the San Diego Chargers’ 3-4 defense, how the Jacksonville Jaguars defense will change with all their offseason acquisitions including Jalen Ramsey and Myles Jack, and the new-look Houston Texans’ offense. Here’s the podcast:
The most interesting discussions are how the highly drafted quarterbacks fit with their new teams. We talked about many quarterbacks in the podcast, and here’s some of the discussion on the three quarterbacks who were taken in the first round:
Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams
I thought Carson Wentz was the best quarterback prospect in this draft, and I thought he was a better fit for the Rams’ run-first offense than Goff. We talked about that before the draft, and you can find that discussion here.
That’s not to say I think Goff was a bad pick. The Rams obviously preferred him to Wentz and really liked him to trade multiple picks to move up to first overall to take him. There’s no right or wrong here until we see how it plays out. But I think, with what the Rams want to do offensively in a run-first attack, it demands a quarterback play under center, demands a quarterback be good in the drop-back pass game and the play-action pass game. Also, when you’re a running team, your quarterback has to make run checks at the line or scrimmage based on the strength of the defense. You saw all that with Wentz. Goff could do these things over time, but there are layers of learning for him because he was mostly a shotgun quarterback at Cal.
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Clearly, Goff has positive traits as a quarterback. He’s good in the pocket, he’s accurate, he’s got a compact delivery and he has a live arm (not a great arm, but a live arm). He’s smart and the Rams clearly feel over time he’ll learn the things he’ll need to do in the offense and be efficient. And when you start with the run game as a foundation, your reads are defined and that helps a quarterback. The run game sets up a lot, because the defense often has eight defenders in the box and uses coverages that aren’t as difficult to decipher in normal down-and-distance situations.
There’s a lot to like about Goff, and obviously the Rams liked him more than Wentz.
Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles
I think the transition for Wentz will be comfortable. Eagles coach Doug Pederson will want to incorporate the quarterback in the run game. We saw him do that in Kansas City when he was the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator with Alex Smith, and that’s something Wentz gives you. Goff doesn’t give you that.
I think they see Wentz as a better fit in how they want to run their offense, with the quarterback involved in the run game. Also, one thing Wentz theoretically gives you is that even in the play-action pass game you have to be much more concerned about the back side with Wentz, because he can move. His ability to run affects a defense.
I said before the draft that you can build a multiple run game with Wentz involved, like the Carolina Panthers do with Cam Newton. I think the Eagles will design runs for Wentz. I think that will be clearly part of the Eagles’ offense, because of Wentz’s strength as a runner.
Paxton Lynch, Denver Broncos
I really like the way Lynch fits in the Broncos’ offense. It makes a lot of sense and could help him early in his career.
Gary Kubiak’s offense is very straightforward. It’s schemed. It’s built off the run game, it’s built off play action and it’s built off defined reads. When you have a young quarterback, that’s exactly what you want to have him do until he learns.
I think the style and design of that offense for Lynch, because it’s A-to-B-to-C without the quarterback having a lot of options, I think that works for a young quarterback, and Lynch in particular because he was in a spread offense at Memphis.
The Broncos will start with the run game and have a great defense, and that reminds me of Joe Flacco when he started as a rookie with the Baltimore Ravens. We don’t know when Lynch will play, but you don’t want him dropping back 40 times a game as a rookie. And a major part of the Kubiak offense is designed movement by the quarterback, which Lynch does well. It also defines the reads, because it cuts the field in half. That helps a young quarterback as well. Lynch landed in a good spot.
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NFL analyst and NFL Films senior producer Greg Cosell watches as much NFL game film as anyone. Throughout the season, Cosell will join Shutdown Corner to share his observations on the teams, schemes and personnel from around the league.
