Bryce Young was Never THAT Guy

Edition #158 NFL Features #2

INTRO #1:

It’s about that time. The MLB is getting to the postseason. The NBA is about to start. The NFL is in full swing.

I have so many topic ideas for each sport, but with limited time on my end, I would like to focus on one for now and move on.

Please, please, please, answer the survey below and let me know where I should take this newsletter in the next few weeks. I want to work on things that y’all will actually want to read.

Intro:

Well, the Panthers were hit with another unfortunate thing.

First Cam Newton and now Bryce Young, the Panthers continue their search for a QB. Bryce Young was good but never was he that guy. Unfortunately for the Panthers, they put all their assets into Bryce Young by trading their 2024 1st round pick as well (which turned out to be the first pick). Imagine Caleb Williams on the Panthers.

We’re going to talk about that and also why I think that Bryce Young was Never THAT Guy. (JUST SO YOU KNOW: I knew from the start that Bryce Young wasn’t the way to go.)

Bryce Young:

I guess some of the blame should be given to the Panthers O-Line because the offensive line is absolutely disgusting. If you give Bryce Young the Eagles OL or the 49ers OL, then maybe Bryce Young could’ve been a really good QB. Plus, the Texans want to win. That’s why they went and acquired Stefon Diggs and even signed Dalton Schultz in free agency.

Panthers coach Dave Canales said that the reason for the switch of QBs is because Bryce Young posted a career-low 6.4 QBR rating. Bryce Young is now the first QB in history to be benched for non-injury reasons. Absolute BUST.

Here’s a quote from Dave Canales from his press conference, where he announced Andy Dalton as the starting quarterback.

"Certainly a lot of parties involved there, and ultimately this comes on me,'' said Canales, who was hired earlier this year for his reputation for turning around quarterbacks such as Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield. "My No. 1 responsibility is to help the Panthers win, and so this move puts us in the best chance to do that."

-Dave Canales

Bryce Young actually didn't know of this until the news broke out to all of us. He said “I'm very blessed. I'm grateful for this challenge. Not an ideal start, but God does everything for a reason. I have faith in that."

While QBs like Derek Carr have scored 91 points this season, Bryce Young only has 244 yards with no TDs and 3 interceptions. In all honesty, I really thought Bryce Young was going to improve this season. I never thought he was going to become playoff-caliber, but instead improve. That didn't happen.

Andy Dalton, the replacement QB for Bryce Young, is very happy about his opportunity, but also sad about how things went with Bryce Young.

“When I came here, I wasn't sure if I was going to get another opportunity to start again. And so I'm really looking forward to it. I'm excited about what's ahead. It's a tough situation. I've been on both sides of it, and it's hard on everybody. But for me, I mean, I'm looking forward to it.''

-Andy Dalton

Andy Dalton is a fairly decent QB with 38,511 total yards in his career with a 62.5 career completion percentage. Here’s another reminder. Dalton was a starter in his first 9 years as an NFL player with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Forget about all that though. Here’s why I think Bryce Young was never that guy. (On a side note: Look at the man. Do you think that kinda guy would be an NFL QB?)

I want to just look at the basic stats. Here’s a chart below comparing Bryce Young, Caleb Williams, and C.J. Stroud’s CFB stats.

I don’t have to explain everything. The stats show it all.

Look, I get that his CPOE was high, but we can see what Bryce Young was meant to be looking at the basic stats.

Who knows? Maybe Bryce Young might become the next Sam Darnold? Or he might become the next JaMarcus Russell. For now, Bryce Young is a backup, and with the Panthers at 0-2, the playoff hopes look slim. However, the NFC South is unpredictable, and anything could happen.

Conclusion: