Huard: There’s one trait that will give Gardner Minshew a long NFL career
Sep 18, 2019, 11:34 AM | Updated: 12:29 pm
Gardner Minshew has averaged a 77 completion percentage through two weeks. (Getty)
(Getty)
Former Washington State Cougars quarterback Gardner Minshew stepped in for an injured Nick Foles in the first quarter of a Jaguars’ game two weeks ago, and ever since then he’s been able to win over fans in and out of Jacksonville.
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Locker room jokes and bold style choices are part of that, sure. But Minshew has also managed to complete an average of 77 percent of his pass attempts across two outings. In fact, his 88 completion percentage against Kansas City in Week 1 is the highest completion percentage by any quarterback in his debut (with a minimum of 15 attempts) and his 13 straight completions to start his career also set an NFL record.
According to 710 ESPN Seattle’s Brock Huard, it’s that trait that can set Minshew apart.
“He’s seventh in this league with a quarterback rating of 111.8, and the trait that he has that travels is accuracy,” Huard said during his Blue 42 segment on Wednesday’s Brock and Salk show.
“Damon Huard played 12 years in the NFL,” Huard continued, using his brother as an example. “He’s got two Super Bowl rings. He had a year when he was the second-rated quarterback in all the NFL, when Trent Green got knocked out Damon came in for 11 weeks. Why? Because he has accuracy; he has feel. Gardner Minshew is a very accurate guy at the intermediate to short passing game. And that is where a lot of this NFL has gone… you can play this game if you’re accurate from 20 yards in, like he is. You can play it at a high level.
“I think Minshew will continue to have a very efficient year. I don’t think he’s going to end the year at a 111.8. I don’t know if anyone is going to deem him, “Oh yeah, that’s my franchise guy,” or the Jags won’t be looking in the draft for somebody. But I think he will survive in this league a long time because he’s innately accurate.”
Huard was also asked questions about Washington quarterback Jacob Eason and Seahawks wide receiver David Moore. Listen to Wednesday’s full Blue 42 segment in the audio clip embedded above.
Follow 710 ESPN Seattle’s Brock Huard on Twitter.
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