What type of personality makes a successful quarterback? Bill O'Brien wants players who work hard and possess several intangibles. Here's how the top quarterbacks matched up with the Texans head coach's wish list.
1. A quarterback who "eats, breathes, and sleeps football."
Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater used those same words in his press conference when asked about being obsessed with football.
"Yes. I eat, sleep and breathe football," Bridgewater said on Friday. "There's not a moment that goes by that I'm not thinking about football whether it's I'm playing a game, practicing, watching film, even on the video game."
"A lot of people ask me what do I do on the video game. I call it taking virtual reps. Each day, I'm trying to get better. I'm trying to outwork my opponent, outsmart my opponent and just try to be the best quarterback that I can be."
As a junior in 2013, Bridgewater threw 31 touchdowns and was picked off just four times. He didn't throw or run the 40-yard dash at the Combine, but will do so at his Pro Day.
2. A quarterback who is also a good teammate.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Johnny Manziel's charisma and personality drew players to him. During
throwing drills, the 2012 Heisman winner from Texas A&M was surrounded by fellow quarterbacks Derek Carr, Bridgewater, Jimmy Garoppolo, Aaron Murray and Blake Bortles. Players couldn't say enough nice things about him.
Bridgewater called him his guy.
Bortles enjoyed meeting Manziel and said he was "a great kid."
Carr described Manziel as humble, genuine, and kind and hoped for him "to have the greatest career he can have."
3. A player who understands that when he leaves the building, he represents the organization
Bortles made a point to say he wouldn't make any bad decisions and that he was a "trustworthy guy, a trustworthy player."
"I think making the right decisions on and off the field, not embarrassing the franchise or your last name I think is huge, especially when you're playing quarterback in the National Football League," the Central Florida signal-caller said on Friday.
Which player fulfills these requirements and fits the Texans new system? Or do the Texans go a different direction towards erasing the painful memories of a 2-14 campaign in 2013. Those are key questions leading up to Draft day.
