Newsletter: Will Howard Might Deserve More Attention, Mock Draft Monday, and Football Scheme Heaven

We react to a delightful National Championship game with quarterback, draft, and scheme thoughts for your entertainment.

(Photo - Getty)

Welcome to the start of the work week and let me tell you trudging down to my desk was not an easy task this morning. I will never not be annoyed the football world can’t find a way to make these late-starting Championship games happen on the weekend more often. We need our sleep but the TV Rating Gods do not care in the slightest. Alas.

Depending on how your fan allegiance stands this might be an annoying Newsletter or it might be the best. Not sure, but we have some things we cannot ignore from last night’s National Championship that turned into a really enjoyable game by two programs who clearly respect each other immensely. Ohio State was clearly the better team but Notre Dame has built a culture of grit that was on display in large chunks of the second half as they clawed back into the mix.

In the end an Ohio State roster, one that is set to have upward of 16 players drafted come April, was too much for the Irish to handle. Through some impressive performances and scheme wrinkles that will make you smile, let;s revisit the game and then talk about who your Cleveland Browns should be interested in drafting.

Look, I’m not saying Will Howard is a first round quarterback in three months but the performance last night, and for much of 2024, including the playoffs, is not getting the respect it deserves. Howard was dialed in last night and in total control of that game from the start. He consistently got the offense into the right plays, set protection, and processed out the best decision on a consistent bases.

The downfield throws were accurate outside of the second half miss to Carnell Tate in the end zone, and he layered the ball well in-between the first and second levels of the Notre Dame defense. The veteran quarterback put together several key runs off his pass drops when the defense dropped out into coverage and left him untracked off an upfield pass rush. Most of the runs were timely in nature for first downs.

He was also a key part of the Ohio State run plan as they dialed in quarterback power lead concepts where he was aggressive downhill fighting in short yardage but also read things out for timely cuts and a necessary bounce to the outside for a late first down the offense needed.

I’m not saying Howard is a Round 1 quarterback but there are some intriguing tools here for a player finally meshed with an effective coordinator and talent supporting him. The arm is good enough, the poise got better and better as the year wore on and he delivers an accurate and catchable football. Add in his ability to extend plays with athleticism and you can find some quarterbacks who thrive the same way in the NFL.

He had a select few downfield throws in pressure-packed third downs that stood out in the video above. The pre-draft process will tell scouts more about his ability to process, identify, and play with anticipation at the next level. He will need that. But the leadership traits are elite and he does enough well that I am very interested in how he would look paired with the Browns’ path to a consistent offense.

Don’t be surprised to see his name getting earlier and earlier buzz — especially if he has a strong week in Mobile later this month.

Let’s do our usual Monday Mock Draft where we focus on a few players from last night’s game and go big on the second overall pick.