<b>Greg Cossell Talks NFL Draft on 790 AM</b>

 

LZ: Manziel, you're not sold?

GC: I don't do it based on who's gonna pick who. In a given draft, you have to draft who's in that draft and stack your board accordingly. I've studied 10/11 QBs really hard. There is no QB in this draft that is a number one pick in a draft. That doesn't mean it won't happen. We know that. ... If you're grading QBs as absolute, there are no QBs in this draft that would warrant being chosen in the top ten in the draft.

LZ: I see Manziel makes throws I like, I see him step into throws sometimes, sometimes he doesn't. The one thing that really does concern me is he doesn't anticipate windows (Cosell: Nope) and that's a big deal in the NFL. That's one thing that really does concern me.

GC: I look at attributes negative and positive. Then you have to weigh those issues. Decide where the balance is and what works. Then you have to think about team. It's always easy to make comparisons and look at Russell Wilson. He was on a team with a dominant run game and dominant defense. That gets factored into his performance. Manziel is a see it-throw it passer. He's not an anticipation thrower. He's not a patient pocket player. If he doesn't see it right away, he'll be gone. That's what he's done up to this point. That's what we have to judge. Then you have to judge if these random improvisational plays, which he's unbelievable at, you have to decide how many of those he can make in the NFL. Can you live on those plays in the NFL? You have to look at his overall play. I've watched 450 of his drop-backs, there is a wide variation in his play. The consistency issue will always be concerning for any evaluator. Even when he plays well, how is he playing well? Does that translate to the league? No question he makes throws from the pocket. He's not an anticipation thrower. Guys in college are wide open.

LZ: I see him make throws down..some Cover 2 throws that aren't easy. He can make those. No question I see some arm talent but anticipation is something that does concern me. Blake Bortles, you thought favorably about him? And thoughts on Bridgewater too.

GC: Bortles: The more I watch, the more I thought there were some positives. He's not a great thrower. I would say he doesn't drive the ball. A quirky delivery (he pushes the ball as opposed to driving it). He's for the most part a pocket passer but can execute boot action and extend plays outside of structure. He showed timing, some anticipation. He needs a lot of work on footwork in the pocket. He has a tendency to throw with poor balance. 

LZ: Bridgewater - he didn't run for as many yards but incredibly active outside the pocket when he decides to run. He can make things happen on the move. He can run with his feet. Not as a big as people think he'll be. (GS: No he's not) He'll be smaller than people believe. What is his number one obstacle at the next level?

Personally I think that...in fact I spoke to a coach that played against him and the coach told me, all said and done, he'll probably be 6'1 because he was right next to him. I think that his throwing skill set and movement will remind some of Russell Wilson. He throws the ball well. He has good feel. He's a guy who understands windows, timing, anticipation. You would say he has the arm strength to make all the necessary throws but doesn't have a gun. Not an extreme talent like "Wow, look at this kid throw the football." He has light feet, sets up quickly, asked to make decisions before the snap of the ball at the LOS and thought he did that extremely well. His delivery is compact. He showed pocket movement. For the most part, he was an efficient player.

AC: If not Manziel, do you take another QB, Clowney or trade back?

GC: I would personally take the person they have rated #1 on their board. You get into trouble when you reach and it's easy to do that at the QB position. There have been many, many teams have done that. Maybe the money doesn't kill you like it used to but if you draft a QB, and keep in mind, the days of sitting a guy are over, if the Texans hand the card to the commissioner and take Manziel, Bortles, whoever, that guy is the starter the second that card is handed in. You have to feel good about that. My sense is you build teams better when you draft the best player.

LZ: When I watch Clowney, I realized the conversation about his demise was greatly exaggerated (GC: I agree) and number two, I don't think it's close--I think he's the most talented player in this draft. I don't know he's my favorite player but is there anyone better than Clowney from a NFL traits/talent/skill set standpoint?

GC: You probably say no. I think that, I watched Clowney quite a bit, I need to do more work on him but I think that Clowney is a really, really talented kid. He got size, explosion, quickness, speed, balance, body control. The only thing I would say about him at this point and this can be taught: he's more of a great athlete rushing the QB than a natural pass rusher with bend and flexibility. There's a difference. As an everything, everything is a skill. He's more of an athlete who's a pass rusher than a pass rusher who understands how to do it. He can be taught that. He needs to learn how to use his hands. Almost every player coming into the NFL needs to learn how to use his hands.

AC: I know what Texans fans are immediately thinking when you say something like that, is that kind of a comparison to Mario Williams?

GC: Of course. And by the way, that turned out to be the right move, did it not?

LZ: He's much more skilled as a pass rusher than Williams. (GC: I agree) He has a swim move inside. I think he's a more fluid football player. Mario may have tested well but Clowney is a see QB, get QB. Mario was so involved with the man in front of him. I was talking with a pass rush specialist, and I asked him, "I always look for guys who don't see the man in front of him." He said "That's exactly right. We call that seeing through the QB. There are certain pass rushers where the man in front of him is a guy he barely pays attention to." You like that. Mario was always so involved with the tackle trying to block him. Clowney is not that kind of guy.

GC: No. And he has tremendous closing speed because he has great balance. A lot of guys can make that first initial move but it's what happens next. Clowney is really good at that because he has great balance and body control. He doesn't fall down or lose his balance after that first move. Any organization, I was having a great conversation with Sam R., former NFL coach, we were talking about team building and the big mistake you make is reaching for players because he's still in Cleveland and we were talking about the Browns, who have a lot of picks but the Texans with the number one pick, you have to draft a player who you have rated the best. If you reach, particularly at QB, even though the money isn't that big anymore, you're still ??? to that guy if you reach for him.

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