Opposite Direction
Jeff Dickerson of ESPN talked with former NFL player and current college football analyst Brock Huard about the upcoming quarterback class. The focus was on what each big name brings to the table and whether they might fit with the Bears or not. What he said about Watson was fascinating, and he even used a surprising example to hammer home how it would be in Chicago.
“Deshaun is NFL ready. He is phenomenal off the field. He’s the anti-Jay Cutler. He would be a breath of fresh air for the Bears. He would come into that organization and people would just gravitate towards him. He’s a lot longer and more athletic than people think. He’s very gifted athletically, and I think he’s a smooth passer that makes every NFL throw. There will be a transition from their scheme at Clemson to the NFL level, but when Nick Saban says that preparing for Watson was as difficult as preparing for Cam Newton, people take notice.”
Skeptics will immediately come back with their wisecracks. About Watson not being Cutler in that he’s not overly big and doesn’t have an elite arm. Let them. What he means is Watson is a leader of men and example for a program in every way that Cutler was not and has not been. He carries himself with a confidence and degree of expectation on the field. Teammates have told stories of his efforts off the field to build unity.
Nitpicking
The complaint about Cutler from former teammates was always “he just rubbed me the wrong way.” That has never been the case with Watson. It’s impossible to find a player or coach with a bad word to say about him. Combine that with his solid arm, elite athleticism and ability to form in the clutch? Sounds like an NFL starting quarterback.
sonofthebronx: DeShaun Watson-to-Hunter Renfrow game-winning touchdown … ESPN SportsCenter … https://t.co/bUSQFQ4eoT pic.twitter.com/dLZXmamkB3
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) January 10, 2017
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Everything positive about him sounds like something this Bears regime would love. He has a spotless background, a tireless work ethic, high leadership qualities, changes games with his athleticism and above all is a winner. All of those traits make up the culture that John Fox and Ryan Pace have struggled to establish over the past two years. Sometimes the worst mistake a team can make in evaluating a player is overthinking it.
There are no guarantees in an NFL draft, even with the guys who look like them. So if it feels like Watson would do plenty of good for the Bears, on and off the field, then it’s not a crime to pick him early.
