Broncos Journal: Evaluating Draft-Eligible Quarterbacks “Not the Same” As 15 Years Ago by Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post April 21, 2019
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Broncos Journal: Evaluating draft-eligible quarterbacks “not the same” as 15 years ago By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post April 21, 2019 The question for Broncos offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello after Wednesday’s minicamp practice: During the pre-draft quarterback visits, how do you challenge their football knowledge? “I can tell you some of that,” Scangarello said with a laugh. And he did … kind of, illustrating the challenge for coaches, scouts and executives entering this week’s NFL Draft. Assessing the quarterback position is more difficult than ever because of the schemes college teams run and the skills possessed by said passers. “I think this: My background in college has really helped me in the evaluation process just because the college and NFL games have gone two different directions,” Scangarello said. “I don’t think you can do it the way it was done 15 years ago. I just believe you’re not evaluating the same thing.” Scangarello’s entire NFL experience before joining the Broncos in January was working for Kyle Shanahan, one year in Atlanta and two years in San Francisco. He said he was “proud” to have learned from Shanahan. “Kyle had a lot of success (evaluating quarterbacks) and (he) showed me some things that I use in the evaluation process,” Scangarello said. “It’s a tough position to evaluate. You just get them in (the meeting room) and you try and find out what you can about them.” The Broncos have the 10th pick in Thursday’s first round and a quarterback could be on their radar. Has the direction of the college game forced more projecting on the part of NFL teams? Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins started for one year. Other quarterbacks who will go high in the draft rarely played under center, which is required in the Broncos’ offense. “You’ve got to evaluate some physical and mental qualities that you may not be able to evaluate on tape,” Scangarello said. “You have to just get creative on how you can get to the bottom of those things.” Draft memories. Two Broncos players were recently asked to recall their draft weekend experiences. Defensive end Derek Wolfe (second round in 2012): “I never even talked to the Broncos. Every team I thought I was going to go to, they just went the complete opposite direction. I was just like, ‘I don’t know what the (heck) is going on here.’ And then I get a call from (general manager) John Elway and I was like, ‘All right, cool, I’m going to Denver.’ I had no clue I was going to come here. I’m glad I did.” Center Connor McGovern (fifth round in 2016): “The teams I had the most contact with were Seattle and the (New England) Patriots. Dallas was my only top-30 visit. (The Broncos’ interest) kind of came out of nowhere. In my draft year, what I think happened was I had to play left tackle (at Missouri) and I wasn’t built to play tackle. I hadn’t played guard or center in a year. I got hurt in the first Senior Bowl practice so teams were really questionable (about me) and I went down (the board) a little bit. But it worked out.” About the schedule. Five thoughts on the NFL schedule … 1. The Broncos play three games against teams with long rest: Chicago in Week 2 and Jacksonville in Week 4 play the previous Thursday and the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 13 will be returning from their bye. The Broncos will have the rest advantage when they play at Indianapolis (Week 8, after a Thursday night game) and at Minnesota (Week 10, following a bye), 2. The Broncos play Cleveland, Houston and Kansas City (second meeting) a week after those teams play New England. 3. Easy travel: The New York Jets don’t play a game outside the Eastern time zone. Tough travel: Oakland and the Chargers make six trips apiece to the Central/Eastern time zones and trips to London and Mexico City, respectively. 4. Easy schedule: New England’s first game against a 2018 playoff team isn’t until Week 9 (at Baltimore). Tough schedule: Washington plays at Philadelphia and is home to Dallas, Chicago and New England in the first five weeks. 5. Seven NFC teams have the maximum five prime-time appearances, but only three AFC teams (Patriots, Chiefs and Steelers). Roster room. As of Friday, the Broncos had 64 players under contract, leaving 26 open roster spots for the draft and undrafted free agency. According to the NFLPA’s website, only the Los Angeles Rams (60) and New Orleans (61) had fewer signed players. Risner’s status. Kansas State offensive lineman Dalton Risner, a native of Wiggins who visited the Broncos earlier this month, will be an interesting name to watch on Thursday-Friday. Is he a right tackle or a center? “I have him in the early second-round range,” NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. “I have him (as) a right tackle. Some teams want him to go back and play center. I think you talk to some teams, they have him in the second round, some teams have him in the fourth round.” Donatell talks Harris. Broncos defensive coordinator Ed Donatell, who will be heavily involved coaching the secondary, has no concerns that cornerback Chris Harris is falling behind by not participating in the offseason program. “He’s really easy to fit (into) 11-on-11 football because he’s so competitive and tough,” Donatell said. The next key date on the Harris Watch is May 13 for the start of organized team activities. Learning the roster. Coach Vic Fangio said last month he hadn’t watched much Broncos 2018 tape, choosing to wait for the on-field workouts. What about Donatell? “We went through it just to see the players and get acquainted,” he said. “(Fangio) likes to just come in, get a fresh start with guys, see them move around and make (his) own choices with our teaching.” Broncos Draft: Why — and why not — four prospects make sense with 10th pick By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post April 21, 2019 If they stay at No. 10 in the first round of Thursday’s NFL Draft, the Broncos will be on the clock around 7:45 p.m. Quarterback Joe Flacco won’t be watching. “Honestly, I’m probably going to be on a flight back to Philadelphia … I don’t really pay much attention to the draft,” he said. Coach Vic Fangio’s recent focus has admittedly been on the players already in his locker room. “I feel good about where we’re at (with the draft) and the decisions that we can make,” he said. But outside linebacker Von Miller will be monitoring the festivities. “I just want to get the best available (player),” he said. It will be up to general manager John Elway, running his ninth Broncos draft, to decide if Flacco’s replacement will be selected or a new defensive starter for Fangio to call plays for and Miller to play alongside will be added. If the Broncos stay at No. 10, they can rule out Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray, Alabama defensive lineman Quinnen Williams, edge rushers Nick Bosa (Ohio State) and Josh Allen (Kentucky) and LSU linebacker Devin White. Here is a look at four possibilities for the Broncos: Dwayne Haskins Position: Quarterback. College: Ohio State. Height/weight: 6-foot-3/231 pounds. Key information: Turns 22 on May 3. … Started one year at Ohio State (13-1 record) and led FBS in passing yards (4,831) and touchdowns (50, also a Big Ten record). … Nine 300-yard games. … Completed 70 percent of this pass attempts. … Declared for draft after redshirt sophomore season. … Will become only the second Ohio State quarterback chosen in the first round since 1970 (Art Schlichter to Baltimore in 1982). … “I think he’s a good player,” Elway said. “He had a great year last year and did a lot of good things.” Why he makes sense: If the Broncos win even one more game this next season to finish 7-9, they will have played themselves out of position for any of next year’s top quarterbacks in the 2020 draft. Haskins has a similar game — drop-back, big arm, stays in the pocket — as Flacco so it would be the perfect learning situation. Why he doesn’t make sense: If he has to play quickly, Haskins may not be ready. Since 1973, only three of the 100 first-round quarterbacks started fewer than 15 college games (Mark Sanchez, Cam Newton and Mitchell Trubisky). Plus, the acquisition of Flacco should indicate a desire to avoid rebuilding and therefore, an instant starter should be the choice at No. 10. Quote: “You look at his progression from the beginning of (last) year to the end of the year, it’s a clear trend line that he’s going in the right direction,” NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. “And he moved around a little bit better in his Pro Day than I anticipated so that helps him. I think Dwayne is the No. 1 or No. 2 guy with most teams. I would not rule out Denver.” Devin Bush Position: Linebacker. College: Michigan. Height/weight: 5-foot-11/234 pounds. Key information: Turns 21 on July 18. … Declared for draft as a third-year junior. … Totaled 194 tackles (182 in last two years) in 38 career games. … Posted 10 sacks among his 19 1/2 tackles for lost yardage.