Part of Lawrence’s success is due to Pederson surrounding the franchise face with a handful of coaches possessing extensive quarterbacking experience. Jacksonville’s QB-friendly coaching staff is in the process of maximizing the 2021 NFL Draft’s No. 1 overall pick. It’s a completely different story for the player selected one pick later.

Zach Wilson‘s first two NFL seasons certainly didn’t go as planned. The No. 2 overall pick in 2021 has struggled mightily, prompting the Jets to trade for Aaron Rodgers and put Wilson’s career on ice. During his SiriusXM NFL Radio rant, Smith pointed the finger at New York’s defensive-minded head coach.

“Yeah, Robert Saleh, you’re a great defensive mind and coordinator, but, like, you have no idea how to develop a quarterback. The coordinator you hired (Mike LaFleur) never called plays,” Smith said. “So that’s a completely different animal. And as much as you think you’re prepared to handle that development of a young kid, you’re just not.”

Smith’s comments struck a chord with me. On the Move The Sticks Podcast, Daniel Jeremiah and I routinely discuss the importance of “The Three Ps” when developing young quarterbacks: play-caller, protection and playmakers. The Jets failed in all three areas during Wilson’s rookie year, and while they upgraded the playmakers in Year 2, the other two Ps remained lacking. And Wilson’s failure (thus far) has provided the football world with another example furthering this broader narrative around defensive-minded head coaches.

Now, we have seen defensive-minded coaches help quarterbacks play well as young starters. Bill Belichick didn’t do too badly with a sixth-round pick by the name of Tom Brady. That said, Belichick’s work with first-rounder Mac Jones has been a tale of two seasons: In Year 1, Jones led the Patriots to the playoffs and made the Pro Bowl; but Year 2 was a nightmare, with Jones significantly regressing following Belichick’s strange decision to install the defensive-minded Matt Patricia as New England’s offensive play-caller. With Bill O’Brien retaking the reins as Pats offensive coordinator this year, maybe Jones will get back on track.

At the end of the day, the play of young quarterbacks is not necessarily determined by their head coaches’ background. But it’s absolutely crucial to nail the green signal-caller’s surroundings when it comes to play-caller, protection and playmakers. When the head man concentrates on the three Ps, his coaching background doesn’t have to be a crippling hindrance.