Much was made of [autotag]Bryce Young’s[/autotag] size and stature leading up to the 2023 NFL draft, but the reality is, he can play ball. Yes, his size could pose a greater risk for injury, however, his understanding of the game can not be understated. Young makes the right decisions when it comes to reading defenses and delivering the ball to open targets, but he also knows when to throw the ball away and when to avoid contact.
In recent years, we have seen shorter quarterbacks such as Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray both thrive in the league despite standing under six feet tall, so what’s the cause for concern with Young? During his time with Alabama, Young played in the SEC, the best conference in football, and had no issues dissecting virtually every team he played, including the famous 2021 Georgia defense. Carolina Panthers running back, Miles Sanders, believes that Young’s height won’t really affect him based on the things he has seen from him so far.
The newly signed Sanders shared his thoughts of Young on the Rich Eisen show saying, “I look at him and he’s very sharp, and on it with everything. He’s there early, he leaves late. His decision making is smart. He doesn’t force anything really. His pocket presence is what really stands out to me. So, again, the height doesn’t matter at all—I hope nobody’s worried about the height. But I like him, and we got a bright future ahead… His pocket presence is amazing to me,” he added. “You think he’s gonna get sacked, you think he’s just lookin’, he’s lost in there. But no—he got his eyes downfield and his release is quick, too. He lets it go quick and it’s accurate.”
Sanders is coming off of a Super Bowl appearance with the Eagles this past season, so I certainly trust his judgement when it comes to understanding the game of football.
[lawrence-auto-related count=1]
[lawrence-auto-related count=1]
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.