Sam Darnold 'can just play and make plays' former USC coach John Robinson says

Former USC head coach John Robinson, in town to talk to the local NFL Alumni, is a huge fan of Sam Darnold, the most recent Trojan quarterback.

Expected to be one of the top players chosen in the upcoming NFL draft, perhaps even the top pick, Darnold, says Robinson, will be a success – even if picked by the Browns.

“He’s a jock, a guy who can just play and make plays,” said Robinson. “He probably only wears sweats, has maybe two or three pair. Likely he’ll wear them in the NFL too.”

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If I told you that one NFL franchise has had three head coaches since 1969 and another has had 18, which of those two would you think has had more success?

Naturally, most of us would choose the former, stability and continuity being valued in any business. And you would be right. The Pittsburgh Steelers have had only three coaches in the past 49 years – Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin. During that time, they have won five Super Bowls and have been playoff regulars.

The Cleveland Browns, on the other hand, have gone through 18 head coaches during that span. They made the playoffs once in the last 20 seasons and have not gotten close to the Super Bowl.

Teams like the Browns are always searching for THE guy. The one who can lead them to the promised land. They search everywhere, try everything. Hot shot assistant, college winner, re-cycled NFL coach. None worked.

The Steelers obviously have the formula – hire a defensive coordinator from a successful franchise – Noll came from the Colts, Cowher from the Chiefs and Tomlin from the Vikings.

The Browns are still looking.

More: USC's Lynn Swann dishes on NCAA probe, paying players and Sam Darnold in the NFL

More: Todd Marinovich back in jail after arrest in Orange County; ex-football star had been rehabbing in desert

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Quickie Quiz: Who was the last Cleveland Browns head coach before the franchise moved to Baltimore?

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There will be at least a dozen quarterbacks on new teams this year – either veterans who signed as free agents or were traded or rookies with their first teams. The Vikings lost three quarterbacks – Case Keenum to Denver, Sam Bradford to Arizona and Teddy Bridgewater to the Jets – and signed one in Kirk Cousins, who left the Redskins for a record $86 million contract in Minnesota. The Redskins had already signed Alex Smith (from Kansas City) to be their quarterback, the Bills traded their starter, Tyrod Taylor, to the Browns, who might well draft Darnold! And here comes the draft....

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The top 10 players in this year’s NFL Draft – quarterbacks Darnold, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen, Baker Mayfield, running Bbck Saquon Barkley, defensive end Bradley Chubb, offensive guard Quenton Nelson, cornerback Denzel Ward and safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick, Derwin James.

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Quiz answer: Bill Belichick was the head coach of the Browns from 1991 to 1995 and his record was 36-44.

Pete Donovan is a Palm Desert resident and former Los Angeles Times sports reporter. He can be reached at pwdonovan22@yahoo.com