How the NFL Works, S1 E1: Building the 2024 Quarterback with Quincy Avery

Good morning! And welcome to our new show: “How the NFL Works.”

The goal at Go Long is to always deliver pro football coverage in its realest, rawest form. We want to take you behind the curtain.

In that vein, every other week, I’ll chat with a unique guest who’ll zero in one fascinating aspect of the sport. Subscribers can access full audio (above), video (below), as well as the written transcript in a separate post. We’ll explore everything — from life as an area scout to constructing a roster to playing through unspeakable pain. Expect a wide range of players, coaches and scouts all season.

First up is the exceptional quarterbacks coach, Quincy Avery.

The man behind “QB Takeover” has worked with countless quarterbacks we all watch on Sundays: Geno Smith, Jalen Hurts, Deshaun Watson, Justin Fields, Jordan Love, C.J. Stroud, Malik Willis and Joshua Dobbs to name a few. So what exactly is the ideal modern quarterback in 2024?

You’ll love Avery’s analysis and honesty.

A few topics discussed:

* What makes the perfect quarterback in 2024. Avery ranks the attributes. No. 1? “Confidence.” You heard Avery say “confidence is a muscle” in our Browns story. He elaborates on this episode.

* Why Sam Darnold and Kevin O’Connell have been such a phenomenal fit in Minnesota… and why Bryce Young’s confidence has been shattered. Swap Young and Tua Tagovailoa and Avery thinks the results would be the same. He explains. (And he also offers one potential trade destination for Young.)

* Avery has worked closely with Watson, back to the QB’s Texans days. There’s a lot to unpack when it comes to the Cleveland Browns quarterback, on and off the field.

* Quarterbacks are running more than ever. Avery explains why this trend has revved into overdrive. And it all brings him back to his days as a volunteer coach at UCLA. (He once lived out of his car for 19 months.)

* His training methods. Avery details how he trains quarterbacks, offering a few specific trade secrets. Throwing off-platform is an art form — he knows how to simulate discomfort. He’ll bring a chess board right to the practice field.

* If Patrick Mahomes doesn’t land in Kansas City, what would’ve happened?

* Out of nowhere, Geno Smith not only saved his NFL career. Avery believes he’s a Top 5 quarterback. It takes a mental toughness to last nearly a decade as a backup.

* He’s never been a huge fan of Baker Mayfield, but Avery cannot ignore what the Bucs QB has done.

We learn a ton on this first episode of “How the NFL Works.”

Thank you, everyone, for your incredible support.

Unlike 99.9 percent of the podcasts out there, our shows will be completely independent. No ads. No sponsors. We’re proud to say Go Long is 100-percent fueled by you. We’d love it if you shared the word with a friend.

Full video is below.

Full Q&A transcript is here.

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