Chicago Bears: 3 key things to know about John DeFilippo
By Ryan Heckman
1. DeFilippo has coached and elevated several average quarterbacks
2015: Josh McCown, Johnny Manziel and Austin Davis, Cleveland Browns
Were the 2015 Browns any good? Absolutely not. That team went 3-13. However, DeFilippo hardly had much to work with that year. His collection of Josh McCown, Johnny Manziel and Austin Davis made up all 16 starts as a group, and when you look at the overall passing numbers, they weren’t bad.
In total, the Browns quarterbacks threw 20 touchdowns to 12 interceptions while passing for over 4,100 yards. McCown, individually, threw 12 of those touchdowns and only four picks in eight starts.
2016-2017: Carson Wentz, Backup Nick Foles, Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles
This was the season where Carson Wentz was an MVP candidate before getting injured and lost for the year. Wentz had 33 touchdown passes and only seven interceptions through his 13 starts during the Eagles’ Super Bowl season.
When Nick Foles took over, no one was really sure what they’d have in him. Foles wasn’t spectacular by any means, but after becoming the starter and thrown into a playoff scenario, he helped lead Philly to a championship. He did just enough to keep the Eagles competitive, and that’s what they were looking for.
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2019: Rookie 6th Round Pick Gardner Minshew, Jacksonville Jaguars
It seems wherever DeFilippo has gone, there are inevitably going to be injuries to his quarterback room — and Foles has had a hand in a couple of those scenarios. Last year, after the Jaguars paid Foles a large sum of money, he proceeded to get hurt in Week 1. Thus, rookie Gardner Minshew had to take over and be baptized by fire.
The Jags’ offense was underwhelming at times, but there were also flashes of brilliance from Minshew. He developed a strong connection with young wideout D.J. Chark and turned him into one of the better receivers in football.
As a rookie, Minshew passed for 3,271 yards in 14 games while throwing 21 touchdowns to a mere six interceptions.