CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Bryce Younger over C.J. Stroud?
C.J. Stroud over Bryce Younger?
These are the questions dealing with the Carolina Panthers as they determine which quarterback they may take with the No. 1 choose within the NFL draft on April 27 (8 p.m. ET on ESPN, ABC, ESPN App).
Many within the league who had been interviewed consider will probably be Stroud, principally as a result of the previous Ohio State quarterback, at 6-foot-3 and 214 kilos, suits the bodily stature that first-year Carolina coach Frank Reich is accustomed to working with.
None of Reich’s quarterbacks the previous 17 years has been shorter than 6-2.
Many others interviewed consider Alabama’s Younger (5-10, 204) checks extra bins.
“Bryce is a greater participant regardless of his measurement,” stated one NFL govt, echoing the ideas of others talking on situation of anonymity.
Stated one other, “With Bryce, it is arduous to poke holes.”
Unknown is whether or not the early buzz that Reich would possibly favor the larger Stroud over Younger was a smokescreen or whether or not considerations over Younger’s measurement and sturdiness (regardless of beginning 27 of a potential 28 video games over the previous two seasons) actually would be the deciding issue for Carolina.
What is understood, in response to entrance workplace sources with data of the scenario, is the Panthers traded from No. 9 to No. 1 with the intent of drafting Younger or Stroud, regardless that publicly, staff officers have included Florida’s Anthony Richardson and Kentucky’s Will Levis within the combine. Common supervisor Scott Fitterer and Reich — and everybody else concerned within the Panthers’ course of — say they’re on the identical web page and do not anticipate a dispute with the ultimate choice.
Let’s take a better take a look at what separates Younger and Stroud as Carolina evaluates which standards will carry probably the most weight when making the ultimate name.
Management and character
These are two of the primary issues Reich mentions when requested what he is searching for in a quarterback.
“Marv Levy, once I used to play for him, he would all the time say, ‘Give me high-character gamers who’ve good soccer intelligence — and so they’re all the time going to determine get higher,”’ Reich stated of the previous Buffalo Payments coach.
Younger and Stroud are humble and assured. That got here off at their respective professional days once they declined to make an argument for being the No. 1 choose.
“I haven’t got any arguments [for why I should be the top pick],” Younger stated at his professional day. “I attempt to be myself. I need to current myself in the most effective mild. The place I am picked, who picks me, I will be pleased about no matter staff that takes an opportunity on me.”
Stated Stroud, “It isn’t my job [to make a case for being the top pick]. My job is to be as greatest as I can as myself. No matter occurs, occurs. It isn’t in my management.”
What they’re saying
Reich: “Totally different kinds of management, however each, actually good leaders. And one of many jobs as a pacesetter is to create moments. Not simply on the sphere. As a pacesetter, you’ll be able to’t manufacture these. It has to occur organically. And you must have that management intuition and sense to know when to grab the second, to know when to step up and create that second. These guys you’ll be able to see have that.”
Ohio State coach Ryan Day on Stroud: “He has the fitting make-up, simply by way of who he’s as an individual, his management and his means to deal with himself in an expert method.”
Unnamed NFL govt: “Bryce can be my choose simply watching them each play soccer, smarts, management.”
Pocket presence, escapability and playmaking
When it comes to dealing with strain, each excelled the previous two seasons, however Younger was considerably higher.
Throughout that stretch, in response to ESPN Stats & Info, Younger ranked first in passing yards (2,132), passing touchdowns (24) and completions of 20-plus yards (34) when below strain. Stroud ranked sixteenth in whole yards (1,364) and passing touchdowns (15), and was twentieth in completions of 20-plus yards (20).
The massive distinction is Stroud seldom needed to make performs exterior the pocket for the Buckeyes as a result of his safety was so good. He by no means had a recreation with greater than eight rushes in his profession.
What to know for the 2023 NFL draft
Ranks: Kiper | McShay | PositionalMocks: Kiper | McShay | Miller | Reid• Greatest wants » | Riddick’s favorites »• QB Sizzling Board » | First-round grades »• Scouting stories » | Order » | Extra »
Younger typically needed to ad-lib due to breakdowns behind a line that for Alabama was substandard, but his manufacturing did not endure.
In 2022, Alabama’s offensive line allowed a quarterback strain inside 2.5 seconds 9.9% of the time, which ranked twenty ninth within the nation. Ohio State’s line ranked seventeenth at 8%. Nonetheless, Alabama ranked eightieth in strain fee allowed at 29.2%, and OSU ranked twenty second at 23.4%.
However, partly due to Younger’s mobility and talent to keep away from sacks, Alabama had a decrease sack share: 7.5% to OSU’s 8.0%.
When it comes to manufacturing, Younger completed with the very best Complete QBR ranking exterior the pocket (95.7) of the 98 FBS quarterbacks who tried no less than 250 passes in 2022. Stroud ranked forty ninth at 69.0.
What they’re saying
Stroud: “After I want to increase performs, I can lengthen them simply so far as anyone else within the nation.”
Jim Nagy, CEO of the Senior Bowl and a longtime NFL scout: “[For] C.J., you are actually pointing in direction of the final couple of video games of the 12 months when he appeared to place all of it collectively. In case you take a look at the entire physique of labor, I may need some questions on a few of the out-of-pocket really feel and consciousness … issues Bryce does very well.”
Todd McShay, ESPN draft analyst: “With Bryce, you get a participant that may lengthen performs and create magic inside and outdoors the pocket.”
Jordan Reid, ESPN analyst and former school quarterback: “[Bryce] can kill you from contained in the pocket. He can beat you from exterior the pocket, nevertheless it’s his poise that I am so amazed with.”
Peyton Manning sees a little bit of @JoeyB in @AlabamaFTBL’s @_bryce_young. pic.twitter.com/tzmUALfmhW
— Omaha Productions (@OmahaProd) April 11, 2023
Means to course of and anticipate
Stroud accomplished 66.3% of his go makes an attempt for 85 touchdowns with 12 interceptions the previous two seasons. Younger accomplished 65.8% for 80 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
However their processing stands out probably the most when pressured or blitzed.
Since 2013, quarterbacks with a profession school Complete QBR above 30 when pressured embrace Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Kyler Murray, Trevor Lawrence and Mac Jones. In 2022, Stroud had a Complete QBR when pressured of 30.6 and 85.3 when blitzed. Younger’s Complete QBR was 30.1 when pressured and 89.9 when blitzed.
However this stands out as a lot as something stated through the course of: Each Saban and Fitterer stated Younger’s processing was “off the charts.”
As complimentary as Fitterer was about Stroud at his professional day, his remark with reference to Younger’s processing was telling.
What they’re saying
Saban on Younger: “He performs quarterback like a degree guard.”
Day on Stroud: “What I’ve shared with a few of the [Panthers’] personnel and a few of the people that I’ve met with right here is, you recognize, should you can deal with being the quarterback at Ohio State, you’ll be able to deal with being within the NFL.”
McShay: “With Bryce Younger, it is like watching Steph Curry in basketball. … All the things is so gradual in the best way they course of issues so shortly and see the entire subject or the entire courtroom is so comparable.”
Nagy: “Bryce simply, he performs the place with a relaxed that’s actually arduous to seek out. … He has numerous issues you’ll be able to’t coach [that Young knows] instinctively.”
What’s “processing”?
Study it on paper-feel it in a recreation!!@_bryce_young has BY FAR the most effective really feel on this class-to any spot on the sphere #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/l4B1aVoFgJ
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) April 12, 2023
Arm energy
There has by no means been a query about Stroud’s arm energy. He can throw deep and precisely with out a lot effort.
Fitterer left Alabama’s professional day saying Younger’s arm energy was higher than he thought. His efficiency on the professional day additionally confirmed that he can throw exceptionally effectively from completely different arm angles and keep velocity.
It is the accuracy that can carry extra weight, in response to those that know Reich, and each quarterbacks have proven that.
On throws of 21-plus yards in 2022, Stroud accomplished 50% of his makes an attempt, in comparison with 45% for Younger. However the place Younger had the sting was in off-target throws of 21-plus yards. He had an NCAA-best 25% off-target fee, whereas Stroud was at 32.7%.
When it comes to quick and intermediate throws in 2022, Younger was off course on only one.8% of his tries from 10 or fewer yards and 11.9% on throws from 11 to twenty yards. Stroud was at 6% and 17%.
“[Reich values] what all of us worth in quarterbacks … with the ability to throw with accuracy; with the ability to make good, fast selections; with the ability to lengthen performs and having arm energy ok to have the ability to pierce the wind,” Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni stated.
What they’re saying
McShay: “C.J. is the most effective pure pocket passer with a much bigger construct.”
Nagy on Younger: “He is obtained a dwell arm. I’ve seen him play a bunch over time. I’ve seen him in several camps throw it. Even [former Alabama quarterback] Mac Jones was popping out, and Bryce can be put into late video games, blowouts, there was an uptick within the ball velocity even in comparison with Mac.”
1:10
Why Riddick sees C.J. Stroud because the ‘gem’ of the 2023 QB class
Louis Riddick breaks down why C.J. Stroud is his favourite quarterback of the 2023 NFL draft.
Measurement/sturdiness
This a part of the analysis will likely be essential.
Reich has made it clear sturdiness is a much bigger concern than peak with Younger. How a lot he elements in peak is the thriller.
“That will be like giving out the proprietary system for Kentucky Fried Hen,” Reich stated when requested how a lot quarterback peak will likely be an element.
Top of NFL QBs coached by Frank Reich
PlayerHeightNick Foles6-6John Skelton6-6Peyton Manning6-5Kerry Collins6-5Dan Orlovsky6-5Phillip Rivers6-5Carson Wentz6-5Curtis Painter6-4Andrew Luck6-4Jacoby Brissett6-4Matt Ryan6-4Ryan Lindley6-2Sam Ehlinger6-2
He added there aren’t sufficient quarterbacks below 6 toes who’ve began within the NFL to have analytics on the harm danger of a 5-10 quarterback.
When requested about Younger’s sturdiness, Reich turned to Corridor of Fame receiver Marvin Harrison (6-0, 185) and operating again Barry Sanders (5-8, 203) for comparisons of small gamers at different positions who averted large accidents due to their means to keep away from large hits.
Reich additionally reminded he had a “very excessive grade” on Russell Wilson (5-11) when the Seattle Seahawks drafted him within the third spherical in 2011. Fitterer was a part of the manager staff that made that choose, so he is comfy with a smaller quarterback.
However measurement is why ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky, a 6-5 quarterback who performed for Reich in Indianapolis in 2011, and others interviewed consider Stroud could also be Carolina’s choose.
“The scale, simply candidly, it is simply the scale argument,” Orlovsky stated. “Once you go as much as No. 1, you are making an attempt to get a difference-maker. You are additionally making an attempt to be risk-averse in some facets. There may be extra danger of taking Bryce than C.J. due to the scale.”’
In nearly the identical breath, Orlovsky reminded that Reich has been across the recreation lengthy sufficient to understand fashionable NFL groups can succeed with smaller, extra cell quarterbacks, so peak will not essentially be a priority.
Begins by QBs 6-1 or shorter since 2013
SeasonStarts20221072021104202095201994201879201760201664201560201445201354
The variety of begins by NFL quarterbacks 6-1 or shorter has grown over the previous decade from 54 in 2013 to 107 in 2022.
Orlovsky made the identical argument for choosing Younger that he made for the Cincinnati Bengals to take LSU quarterback Joe Burrow (6-4) with the highest choose in 2020.
“You are taking Joe Burrow because the No. 1 choose as a result of he by no means panics,” he recalled. “When you’ve got the flexibility to not panic with the soccer, you’ve an opportunity to be a particular participant. And that is what Bryce is.”
What they’re saying
Saban on Younger: “There’s actually no negatives. The one actual damaging anyone might convey is his peak.”
Nagy on Younger: “Ideally, would you’re feeling higher if Bryce had been 6-2? In fact you’ll. However there’s sufficient compensating stuff with the instincts, the place he does not put himself in hurt’s means a bunch, that he is price it. With Bryce, it is troublesome to poke holes in his recreation past the scale factor.”
Backside line
The Panthers hope to get a long-term answer to a long-term quarterback problem whether or not they take Younger or Stroud.
“Bryce is the most effective choose; Stroud is the safer choose,” stated McShay, echoing what others stated. “On paper, C.J.’s constructed to last more within the NFL versus Younger, who can lengthen and create and has this presence and subject imaginative and prescient like no different on this class.
“If he was 6-2, 220 kilos, there can be no dialog. Bryce Younger would clearly be the No. 1 quarterback on this class.”
