Week in Review: NFL Quarterbacking 501
Quincy Avery breaks down the QB position for an hour. Lions ass-kickers share their best stories. Sam Darnold has the hot hand. Daniel Jones heads to the Dawg Pound. All links are inside.
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Here are our columns, features and podcasts from the week.
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Our new show — “How the NFL Works” — debuts with a close look at the most important position in sports, all through the eyes of one of the best quarterback whisperers going. The game’s best turn to Quincy Avery in the offseason. Audio and video is available here for subscribers.
How the NFL Works, S1 E1: Building the 2024 Quarterback with Quincy Avery
The position is an art. But it's also rooted in "confidence." Avery dissects modern quarterbacking with plenty of analysis and opinion on players today, from Sam Darnold to Bryce Young to Deshaun Watson and Geno Smith.
The Q&A transcript of our conversation is here. Quincy Avery worked with Geno Smith closely through the quarterback’s Seattle revival. How did Smith turn his career around? Also, why is Sam Darnold playing lights out while Bryce Young bottomed out? In a word: “Confidence.” Avery details.
Q&A: Quincy Avery on the art of quarterbacking in today's NFL
Welcome to our new show at Go Long — “How the NFL Works.” Episode 1 is live. In addition to the audio and video posted earlier, the written Q&A transcript with NFL quarterbacks coach Quincy Avery is below.
Fancy doesn’t fly this season. You’ve got to win mano a mano. Lions players all know exactly when they fell in love with the sport’s cruelty. Now, they're bringing Dan Campbell's words to life. Graham Glasgow, D.J. Reader, Carlton Davis, Terrion Arnold and Penei Sewell trace this team’s ass-kicking back to high school ball.
Ass-kicking Origins: Why the Detroit Lions are built for 2024 football
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — On Jan. 21, 2021, the day he was introduced as head coach, Dan Campbell put his philosophy in plain (cannibalistic) English. What will his Detroit Lions resemble? Simple. “Knock us down,” Campbell famously opined, “we’re going to get up, and on the way up we’re going to bite the kneecap off.” Knock the Lions down …
Resurgent Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold draws high praise from one NFC personnel man. Is everything scouts loved about the USC quarterback finally bubbling to the surface? Bob McGinn’s series continues. He talks to scouts across the league. It’s taken seven years, but maybe Darnold finally found the right fit with Kevin O’Connell.
'I don’t think he’s playing with any fear right now'
Will the real Sam Darnold please stand up? (The Minnesota Vikings will gladly take this all season long.)
The Vikings stun the San Francisco 49ers… and this may be a formula that can sustain itself. Brian Flores’ defense is humming. Also, the Packers find a way to win with Malik Willis, the Lions fall to Tampa Bay, and how concerned should Bears fans be about No. 1 pick Caleb Williams two games in? The “Ty & Bod Pod,” with Hall of Famer Bob McGinn, analyzes the NFC North in-depth.
Ty & Bob Pod: The Minnesota Vikings stunned the 49ers... can this last?
Two games in, the Minnesota Vikings think it’s a damn fight. First, Kevin O’Connell’s crew clobbered the Giants. Next, they stunned the defending NFC Champions.
Not every coach gets the quarterback of his dreams. But teams must also navigate the intersection of hope and delusion. The New York Giants and Cleveland Browns now meet a pivotal game for both teams. Daniel Jones played better in Washington. Next up, he’s got to win vs. Jim Schwartz’s defense.
Quarterback Roulette enters its moment of truth
The quarterback evaded right and stuck the football right on his wide receiver’s hands. Two minutes and 4 seconds remained when the New York Giants faced fourth and 4 from the Washington 22-yard line. The game was tied at 18 but without a kicker, they had no choice but to go for it.
What happened to Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila? One dogged reporter, Kalyn Kahler, made it her mission to find out. Turns out the Packers pass rusher wasn’t alone, either. We discuss on the podcast.
Kalyn Kahler discusses 'Spiraled,' her new investigative podcast on KGB
You may remember Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila sacking quarterbacks at will with the Green Bay Packers at the turn of the century. His get-off speed was rare. Only Clay Matthews has sacked the quarterback more as a Packer.
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