Become The Smartest Football Mind In The Room

Cover 3 is a digital newsletter brought to you by NFL QB Consultant and Founder of QB Summit, Jordan Palmer.

Each Thursday, an email will land in your inbox that covers 3 different stories around football each week that will help you be the smartest football mind in the room.

Our goal is not only to give you the stories you won’t get anywhere else - but another perspective that can help you build your relationship with the game, your family, and all the people you enjoy sharing it with.

5 Stars But Only One Ring, Who Pays The Price For Change, And What’s Going On In Columbus

In today’s email:

As someone who's seen the rise of many young gunslingers, I can tell you, nothing – not the five stars, not the hyped invites to the Elite 11 – shines brighter than leading your team to state victory.

Let's huddle up and talk about the NFL's high-stakes game that doesn't happen on the turf but definitely decides what happens on it: the coaching carousel.

It's been a head-scratcher of a week with current QB1 of Ohio State's Kyle McCord hitting the transfer portal and then, out of left field, announcing a leap to Syracuse.

🔥 NEW: At the bottom of this week’s newsletter, we’ve got a question for YOU. 🔥

5 Stars. 1 Ring.

In the high-stakes game of high school football, where rankings and stars set the stage, there's a crown that only a few can claim – that of a state champion.

As someone who's seen the rise of many young gunslingers, I can tell you, nothing – not the five stars, not the hyped invites to the Elite 11 – shines brighter than leading your team to state victory.

The Break Down

Every year, the Elite 11 becomes a proving ground where quarterbacks, ranked and starred by people with opinions, compete in all phases of the position. It’s a unique fraternity that all young QBs aspire to join, and alumni carry with them forever.

But there’s typically a deeper competition going on throughout the event that lingers into the season. It's about who can carry that weight of expectation onto their high school field and turn it into a championship run.

The Stats

Take a glance at the stats, and you'll see patterns emerge. For instance, this year's Elite 11 had its share of four and five-star quarterbacks who transcended the hype to become legends in their own rights.

Out in Texas, the TCU commit  Hauss Hejny  –showed that his athleticism is not great, but elite; and his reputation for being clutch wasn’t formed because he showed up in a big game, but he showed up in every big game.

Or Elijah Brown from Mater Dei, who not only commanded his team with precision but also posted a 70% completion rate during their championship game.

From Utah, a state that's quietly churning out quarterback talent, we saw Isaac Wilson, who showed consistent accuracy, big play creativity and the ability to rip off some big runs when available.  

And we can't overlook Jaden Davis from North Carolina, whose on-field IQ and athleticism brought home the title with an impressive 30 touchdown passes to his name.

The Bigger Picture

The road from star recruit to Elite 11 invitee is well-trodden, but it's the journey from there to state champion that truly tests a quarterback. It's one thing to spin it in drills, quite another to replicate that under Friday night lights with the game, and perhaps a season, on the line.

And let's talk about the bigger picture. In a cultural moment where personal accolades often overshadow team success, these quarterbacks remind us what the sport is really about. Beyond their individual stats, beyond their star rankings, they led their teams to the ultimate prize. 

For Hejny, Brown, Wilson, and Davis, and all the other young champions out there, they've not only left a legacy behind but also written a blue print for how to win when they get to the next level.

Here's to the true champions, the ones who remind us that at the heart of the game is the relentless pursuit of greatness, together as one team.

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Coaching Carousel: Who Pays the Price for Change?

Let's huddle up and talk about the NFL's high-stakes game that doesn't happen on the turf but definitely decides what happens on it: the coaching carousel.

It’s that time of year again when organizations press the reset button, and this season's shuffle kicked off with the Panthers parting ways with Frank Reich, followed by the Chargers saying goodbye to Brandon Staley and GM Tom Telesco

A Fresh Start

Now, don't be caught off-guard if this is just the tip of the iceberg. The real play is just beginning, and it's not only about which coach gets the pink slip but also about the selling game—how teams pitch a fresh start to their fan base and, more crucially, to prospective head coaches.

But snagging your number one target for a head coach isn't as simple as simply offering your top choice of big names. It's a financial tango. Teams that fire coaches mid-contract are left juggling the payout of old deals while trying to identify the new direction of their franchise and who should lead it. It’s potentially extra sticky for a team like the Chargers, who do not have a history of overpaying.

The Talent

As names like Bill Belichick and Jim Harbaugh start making rounds in the rumor mill, we have to ask: Is the big-name, and bigger price tag HC even on the table? The sheer chance of working with Justin Herbert will make every coach available, stop and evaluate the option at a minimum.

The stability on Defense with players like Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, and Derwin James is a siren call as well. But big names come with big demands. Who knows what those would be. 

The Right Fit, Timing, & Investment

Let's not forget, the Chargers pulled the trigger on hiring Staley when Brian Daboll was still in the postseason hunt with the Bills and set to interview next.

Fast forward a year, and Daboll's clinching Coach of the Year honors while Staley is given one more season. Sometimes the best play is patience, waiting for the right coach at the right time in his career.

Since the beginning of the league, teams just sometimes have the wrong coach for the job, or the right coach but at the wrong time in his career. Too early or too late will have even the biggest name coaches fail.

As the carousel picks up speed, and we hear the clamor of coaches entering and exiting the revolving doors, remember this: it's not just about the right fit, but also about the right timing and the right investment.

A team has to match a coach's ambition with the dollars to back it, and that's a play that can be just as pivotal as any game-day decision.

So, as we watch the coaching saga unfold, strap in. It’s a wild ride, with more at stake than just wins and losses. It's about building a future, and that comes with a price tag—a price that teams will have to be willing to pay if they're serious about changing their fortunes.

As for the Chargers and other teams in the hunt, only time will tell if they're willing to ante up for the next chapter of their football story.

What’s Going On in Columbus?

There’s drama unfolding in Columbus, Ohio. It's been a head-scratcher of a week with current QB1 of Ohio State's Kyle McCord hitting the transfer portal and then, out of left field, announcing a leap to Syracuse.

Now, I’ve been chopping it up with quarterback coaches both on the sidelines and in private circles, and the consensus is clear—we're all scratching our heads on this one. 

For a QB looking to punch his ticket to the NFL and vie for a national title, Ohio State's setup is more like a quarterback's paradise. Glance back over the past decade and you'll see a conveyor belt of elite receivers who’ve worn the scarlet and gray—all the way from Michael Thomas to the current phenom, Marvin Harrison Jr.

The Million Dollar Question

So, what could prompt a starting signal-caller to leave such a goldmine? That's the million-dollar question as we navigate this wild new world of the QB transfer portal. My first move? I scouted out who's left in the Buckeyes' arsenal.

Enter Devin Brown and Air Nolan. Devin's been marinating in Ohio State's system, absorbing the playbook, and impressing enough in practice to stir up some serious buzz. But the battle for QB1 isn't a one-horse race. Fresh out of Texas, Air Nolan will be enrolling early and is prepping for spring ball with a skill set that’s as electric as it gets. 

The only reason Coach Ryan Day would feel comfortable letting McCord walk is if he’s got full confidence in his remaining QB room. And from what I'm seeing, Buckeye fans have every reason to be pumped about Brown and Nolan—they're a duo ripe with potential and ready to take the reins.

Not Just Reloading

So, as we all puzzle over McCord's departure, it's clear Ohio State isn't sweating it. They've got a couple of aces up their sleeve. With the consistency of churning out NFL-caliber receivers, the Buckeyes' coaching staff might just be sitting on a secret we're all yet to discover. Keep your eyes on Columbus, because the Buckeyes aren’t just reloading—they’re redefining the game.

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