2019 NFL Draft podcast: Daniel Jones could be a franchise quarterback
In the latest episode of the NFL Mocks podcast, Brooks Austin and Duke assistant coach Nate Leonard talk about a possible franchise QB, Daniel Jones.
On the latest episode of the NFL Mocks Podcast from FanSided, Duke assistant coach Nate Leonard talks about the 2019 NFL Draft and of course, a possible franchise quarterback in Daniel Jones.
After spending time climbing through the ranks of Texas high school football, Nate has found himself on a coaching staff with David Cutcliffe in a Power-5 conference. We cover a litany of topics with Nate from his go-to snacks to his take on the draft-eligible defensive lineman he helped game plan against in the ACC this past season.
But what stood out most in this interview with Leonard has to be his comments on Daniel Jones.
Freshman Walk-on Turned Starter
Most first or second round QB’s entering the draft come from a prominent college football program, with your occasional exceptions like Carson Wentz from North Dakota State or Joe Flacco from Delaware mixed in. Daniel Jones is no different in terms of Power-5 play.
However, most of those individuals weren’t walk-ons. In fact, the only schools that are even registered, in terms of recruiting Jones, are Duke and Princeton. And this isn’t your, “Oh he’s just a small guy that got overlooked,” kind of story like Baker Mayfield.
No, this is a 6’5″ prototypical passer that somehow slipped through the cracks.
But not for long. Jones redshirted his Freshman season at Duke, as most, if not all walk-ons do. And by the time the next fall rolled around, Jones was the starting QB for the Blue Devils.
Leader of Men
As Nate puts it, there are some people in life that you meet and you just know they are different. From the way he plays, the way he commands a film room, all the way down to the way he interacts with those around him in a daily setting, he’s just different.
Don’t Get Lost in The Numbers
In a college football world where teams are consumed with throwing the football, Duke is one of the last known pillars of balanced football. Last season they ran the ball 50 percent of the time, and they threw the ball 50 percent of the time. Dead even.
So, Jones isn’t going to put up Dwayne Haskins, Kyler Murray, or Drew Lock numbers.
So, he may not be as flashy. So, he may not always be the most gifted in the room. But of all these quarterbacks available in this draft, there’s no question Jones was doing the most with the least in terms of elite talent around him.
If you want to get consumed with one number from Daniel Jones’s last year at Duke here’s one for you: 38. That is the number of dropped passes the Duke receivers had this past season alone.
If you want to hear more of this interview with assistant O-line coach, Nate Leonard then check out the Podcast.
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