JetPack Galileo
Jan 24, 2023
Height: 5'5"
Weight: 180
Projected 40 time: 4.6
Strength: Escapability + Vision
Weakness: He's short, you know
The overall picture for quarterbacks starts with upside. What a quarterback CAN do is much more important than what he DOESN'T do. Quarterbacks grow more than any other position because a majority of the game is won between the ears. A good environment is critical to the development of a rookie QB. Some young passers need more structure and support than others. Bryce Young's environment changed significantly with his top 3 receivers, Jameson Williams, John Metchie, Slade Bolden all going to the NFL for the 2022 season. Despite the complete overhaul of Alabama's receiver corps, Bryce was able to put together another efficient season and drop some truly iconic plays.
Although Bryce posted very similar efficiency numbers (2021: 8.9 yards per attempt, 66.9% completion | 2022: 8.8 ypa, 64.5% comp), the Crimson Tide offense was a bit off throughout the 2022 season. The receivers were legitimately bad. The big receivers had difficulty separating. The quick receivers kept dropping the ball. Timing was frequently off-schedule. It was not the humming machine that fans have come to expect from Alabama.
Bryce was imperfect. He had a few misses on gimme throws throughout the year.
The receivers were often worthy of blame. Ex: Ja'Corey Brooks needs to establish position here.
Others were entirely on Bryce - 4th down last chance against Tennessee and he backpedals himself out of a good opportunity with Burton (I'm sure the backpedal is coached, he just goes too far and misses his chance to win the game).
While Alabama's season didn't go the way they hoped, Bryce's ability to produce similar efficiency and avoid an increase in turnovers is a testament to his overall value. He anchored the team and kept them in every game. The 2021 Heisman year was filled with deep shot wins to Jameson and Metchie. 2022 was marked by intelligent problem-solving and weaponizing his running backs. Not that anyone was worried, but Bryce proved he was more than just a distributor for elite receivers.
Bryce throws a great deep ball. He has plenty of arm talent. His height is irrelevant. It did not affect his ability to see the field. It was not a factor with batted balls. His power is plenty adequate. For the majority of the year, Bryce was putting the ball where it needed to be.
Bryce throwing 48 yards opposite hash with pressure in face (2021 SEC Championship). If someone wants to actually catch the ball, you can win some big games with this arm.
Good quarterbacks anticipate windows. They make the right reads. They get the ball out on time. They execute the play.
Great quarterbacks improvise. They create new opportunities for their teammates. They solve problems on the run. They execute the defense.
Bryce Young satisfies the qualifications for both tiers. He manages the structure well AND he excels at creating downfield opportunities.
Bryce's pocket evasiveness is special. He's uniquely violent as he runs around behind the line, tweaking and twerking between defenders. But he's not looking to escape. He wants to throw.
His rollout is a fake. His hand goes to the ground to catch himself from the turf-tearing cut. But his eyes? They stay up.
Always scanning.
Bryce hits the same move here against Tennessee. Extends the rollout to clear space to make a clean throw.
Even got the eyes outside to sell it.
When he does actually escape, he's got shake that matches his pocket elusiveness. He carries his awareness with him downfield. Here he steals extra yards by moving a defender out position with a 2 step rocker. Though he won't be a big time fantasy point earner on the ground, he will extend drives and punish defenses that don't account for his legs.
We LIKE Bryce Young because he does all the good QB things well, and we LOVE Bryce Young for all the great things he proves are possible. He can slip & zip out of the pocket, but big picture mastery allows him to be most lethal from behind the line of scrimmage. His ability to extend plays as he gathers optimal airstrike intel will be a signature of his career.
Whichever team trades up to take him will be getting a versatile problem-solver: an athlete who can maximize your best weapons and a leader who can create solutions with a varying levels of supporting cast talent. There might be a temptation to look at the exciting tools of the other quarterbacks in this class and think of Bryce Young as the "safe" pick. Bryce is "safe" because he's awesome. He's going to turn a franchise around.