Arise Fair Rosen

Everyone knows what Josh Rosen’s problem is.

It’s himself.

Rosen himself has admitted that no one is harder on himself than himself.

Apparently this is what SI writer Robert Klemko witnessed a couple of days ago at the Cardinals’ practice.

Starting QB Sam Bradford had been given a veteran’s day off and Rosen was champing at the bit to take his reps with the 1st team and to find the quickest antidote for what was an inauspicious debut.

Of the 5 QBs taken in the first round, Rosen’s performance was the most lackluster. He didn’t get a lot of help from his teammates, but he didn’t rally them either. Certainly that did not sit well with Rosen—-after all, he was the overlooked one who insisted he should have been the first player taken in the draft and then vowed he would make nine teams regret they ever dared to pass him up.

However, things were not going well for Rosen in this practice and he was visibly exasperated to the point of kicking the dirt a few times.

Funny that Klemko noticed the disparity in Rosen’s demeanor versus Chad Kanoff’s.

Didn’t you do the same last Saturday night?

Rosen looked and played like he was ailing. He was grimacing inside his facemask between plays. He stood there awaiting each play call from the sidelines looking conspicuously alone and writhing in his own brooding.

Moments later—-in gallops 4th string QB Chad Kanoff. Kanoff looks loose—-he’s yucking it up with the guys—-he’s explaining the plays and the assignments—-he’s pointing guys in the right direction.

There was a tangible energy boost and level of enthusiasm.

With the Cardinals suddenly behind—-and with all the momentum squarely on the Chargers’ side—-it appeared the Cardinals’ mix of 2nd and 3rd stringers would roll over and “go gentle into that good night.”

Except that Chad Kanoff and his fired-up teammates “rage raged against the dying of the light.”

Kanoff was looking like a choreographer, telling teammates, you do this, you do that. Suddenly Kanoff threw a 45 yard strike to fellow small school, undrafted rookie Jaylen Tolliver. The by then stagnant Red Sea was now swirling, welling and swelling. The Cardinals were now in field goal range where they could at least tie the game.

But, Kanoff had other ideas.

We could see him in animated fashion coaching up a play in the huddle—-and what a play it was. A perfectly executed play action TD pass to 3rd string TE Bryce Williams.

Does personality matter?

Does outward appearance matter?

Yes and yes.

Because leadership matters.

Sure, while in his tent before battle Achilles could be seen brooding and lost in himself.

But, when the battle horn sounded, he was up and out and leading the charge.

Achilles gave his men confidence. He showed them how to win, by example and by enthusiastic instruction.

Therefore, arise fair Rosen.

Leave your brooding in the tent.

Get outside of yourself. That’s what great leadership requires. Be the leader, the galvanizer, the spark, the catalyst.

Brotherhood and victories await.