Rest assured after that incredible performance by Clemson to upset might Alabama in the national championship, the Deshaun Watson
Chicago Bears talk is going to be rampant. After all they need a quarterback and hold the #3 pick in the upcoming NFL draft. He just proved he can beat a team stacked with pro-caliber talent. Could this young man be the future under center in navy blue and orange?
Well the great news is the team might get a prime opportunity to find out. Watson was given an invitation to attend the Reese's Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama later this month. John Fox and his staff will be at that event to coach the North team. It will be a huge chance to meet, talk with and watch Watson up close to see what makes him tick.
The question on the minds of Bears fans will be what exactly can they expect. A good way to explain is by doing a comprehensive breakdown of Watson from a scouting perspective. In this article his game will be examined from both a mental and physical perspective. At the end it may help answer some questions about whether the Bears should
write his name on the card when the draft begins in April.
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Deshaun Watson
- Age: 21
- Height: 6'2"
- Weight: 209 lbs
- School: Clemson
- Year: Junior
Arm Strength: B
Watson has an arm that would be classified under the category of "good but not great." That's to say he can put a little zip on it and take shots down the field in the right situations. At the same time he's not going to fit the ball into tight windows through several defenders and won't be able to fire 60-70 yard bombs through the air. This play reflects the most of what he can do.
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See that's not bad at all. When given a clean pocket Watson can easily get it 50 yards through the air. That may not be peak, rifle arm territory but it's enough to keep most of the playbook open. Put him under pressure though and that's when his ability outdistance the top of the secondary really shows up.
Accuracy: B
As with most quarterbacks, the accuracy level for Watson comes down to how much pressure is getting in his face. When he has a clear line of sight and isn't being hit constantly, he can throw some absolute dimes at any level of the field. This example in the national championship game reflects that ability.
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The Tigers roll Watson to the right in order to keep the defensive line out of his vision. Without that concern he's able to confidently let it rip down the field to his receiver despite double coverage. It's right on the money for a touchdown. Where the big concern comes up for Watson is in his ball placement. At times he struggles to hit receivers in stride, often throwing too far ahead or behind them. That can lead to trouble.
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There are two problems with this throw. First the pass doesn't have enough velocity on it, allowing the defender time to close on the ball. Second is the placement. It's clearly behind the receiver. With the corner in such good position it leads to a big interception. If Watson just leads his target a little more that's a sure touchdown. Little things like that are what starting quarterbacks must do in the NFL.
Decision-making: B
Having lived through eight seasons of
Jay Cutler, one can bet Bears fans will hold decision-making to a higher standard than most other teams. This is a category that centers around whether or not the quarterback makes smart or poor decisions with the football. When he sees every receiver covered on first down does he throw into tight coverage or does he throw it away and live to fight on the next play?
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This can be one of the frustrating things about Watson. Even though he doesn't have elite arm strength he still feels he can fit the ball into tight windows down the field. It's 2nd and 3. His team doesn't need a big play. The last thing they can afford is a turnover in their own territory. Instead of checking the ball down for a first down, he tries to thread the needle down the sideline between two Alabama defenders in coverage. The results are predictable.
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At the same time Watson is a smart kid who understands advanced intricacies of playing against top level defenses. This play isn't a big one but it's a perfect example. Watson examines the field and sees it's man coverage. He finds two Ohio State defenders poised for a possible blitz from the left side. Common wisdom is to throw the ball on a hot read to a receiver in the face of the blitz. That's exactly what Watson does. The receiver is wide open and it's converted for a first down. Textbook.
Mobility: A
This is not one of the more essential parts of a pro quarterback but it's certainly a luxury that every team hopes to have. Watching what Aaron Rodgers can do buying time and picking up first downs with his legs proves that much. Same goes for Russell Wilson. Defenses just have to work harder when they're dealing with a mobile quarterback. It can have really detrimental effects on their energy as games grow later.
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There is no question that Deshaun Watson is an athlete. He's got quickness, agility and considerable speed to spare. His knack for running was a huge part of the offensive success at Clemson. All told he ran for 1, 929 yards and 26 touchdowns for the Tigers. That's outstanding production for some running backs, let alone a quarterback. A creative offensive coordinator will find plenty of ways to use that.
Clutch: A
The mark that often separates good quarterbacks from common ones is how they perform when the pressure is the highest. His team is trailing. Seconds remain on the clock. They need perfect execution on the play to keep the game and the season alive. Can he make it happen? Great ones like Brady and Wilson live for those moment. Based on his 2016 run, it's obvious that Watson does as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRBlyMbMUg8
This was a primetime matchup against the red hot Louisville Cardinals. By late in the fourth quarter his team was trailing 36-34. Watson had already thrown three interceptions and was under duress a lot. Still he was able to keep his poise in the this situation with under four minutes left. Realizing he has a free play he waits for his man to come open and hits him in stride. The tight end then becomes the athlete he is and rumbles the remaining distance for game-winning touchdown.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doyUcovwy5M
It may not have been a magnificent throw down the field but the mark of a good quarterback is recognizing his team is in the right play and then executing it flawlessly. Don't forget there were six seconds left on the clock. If Watson hesitated even a little and misfired there is a chance Clemson doesn't even get a chance to tie the game with a field goal. True to form he deliver the throw right on target with one second left to clinch a national championship.
Leadership: A+
Last but certainly not least is the Big L-word. Leadership is something that is so difficult to measure in a quarterback because it can't be measured. It can only be seen on the field and heard about in locker rooms. Only the coaches and teammates can attest to whether a quarterback is a true leader or a follower in a figurehead position. Chicago knows they need somebody who can assume that mantle, grab this team by the collar and pull them off the mat.
Is Watson that guy? Here's his wide receiver Hunter Renfrow from last year, the same man who would catch the winning touchdown to clinch the title. When asked what makes Watson so special, the first thing he mentions is the leadership.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0eP4V6k3eg
They say the devil is always in the details. It is not easy for a quarterback to convince people to not only listen to his words but also play hard for them. A certain amount of not just intelligence but wisdom and charisma are required. Deshaun Watson seems to have that in abundance and it's reflected in both how he performs on the field and how he's viewed off it. From that perspective this is exactly the kind of quarterback the Chicago Bears would want as the face of their franchise.