Rosen criticized for same traits that made Eli great
NEW YORK — Eli Manning came from money out of Ole Miss back in 2004, with an arrest for public drunkenness on his record. He could be so mild-mannered and composed as to appear aloof in games, and he refused to play for the San Diego Chargers, influencing a draft-day trade just so the seemingly entitled QB could play for the Gi- ants.
No one holds Manning’s affluent background against him now, nor his minor slip-up with the law, nor his lack of a rah-rah demeanor, nor his kicking and screaming to make sure he’d play in New York. Instead, he has two Super Bowl rings and is praised for his steady demeanor, intelligence and remarkable example as a franchise QB.
Josh Rosen is Eli Manning — minus the arrest. Or at least the UCLA quarterback is the closest thing to the next Eli in this heralded 2018 QB draft class. And after a decade and a half of stability at the sport’s most important position under Manning, it’s fair to say the Giants’ search for a franchise QB this spring is essentially the hunt for Eli 2.0.
Rosen is that, from his perceived flaws to his strengths, and those who know him will do you one better: Rosen in some ways might be more like another Manning — Peyton.
“I don’t view Eli on the same intelligence level as Rosen,” one NFL scout told the Daily News this week. “I once heard they used to tape episodes of Seinfeld for Eli, while Peyton used to ask for advanced film on teams or background of GMs in NFL. I think (Eli and Rosen) are about the same athlete. Rosen throws a prettier ball and has a better arm.”
In fact, Chad Johnson, Rosen’s high school offensive coordinator and QB coach at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, Calif., told the News he and Rosen “modeled” the Braves’ “philosophy and offense” after Peyton’s Colts due to Rosen’s mental capacity as a QB.
“We wanted to make sure the defense was always wrong,” Johnson, now the head coach at Mission Viejo, said on the phone Thursday. “And Josh in eighth grade, we realized how smart he was, and we always worked on that, approached the offense by learning the defense. I remember telling Josh, ‘I don’t know if you’ll ever be Peyton, but you’re so smart and you understand the game so well, I think you could run this offense.’”
“Like Peyton, we’d try to get a three-play menu in each situation and he could get himself into the perfect play,” Johnson added. “And the best part about Josh — a lot of QBs I’ve had, they make the run checks but when it works and hits, they don’t get overly excited about it. But when Josh checked to a run play and it would hit, he would come over excited like he threw an 80-yard bomb, and all he did was check to a run play and hit for 60. He got it. He wasn’t all about throwing the ball. He got it. He loved the chess game of football so much.”
Rosen’s college coach Jim Mora has framed the quarterback’s intelligence and curiosity as negatives, telling The MMQB that Rosen “needs to be challenged intellectually so he doesn’t get bored.” But Johnson said Rosen, who visited the Giants this past Tuesday and Wednesday in East Rutherford, is misunderstood.
“He’s an outstanding kid. He didn’t have any problems with any of our kids at Bosco,” Johnson continued. “Josh is so smart. When he gets in conversation, he likes to debate, he likes the mental sparring. But maybe it’s different when you do it with the football team than with your friends in AP class? I don’t know. He’s probably learned over the years that he doesn’t have to make everyone feel he’s the smartest guy in the room.”
“I think Josh would flourish in New York,“he added. “Obviously with his background, he’s Jewish, I think it’s definitely a place he would be welcomed. The Jewish community in New York City is very strong. And Josh is going to give back, and that more than anything is going to win over a locker room.”