* - How well does his skill set carry over
to the fantasy game? For quarterbacks, a player needs to be a
realistic threat for 4,000 passing yards and 500 rushing yards
to be a candidate for a perfect grade. Positional scarcity at
the pro level is also a part of the equation.
Positives
Young possesses unusual poise and calm for a college quarterback.
One of his biggest strengths may be pocket presence, as he has a
great feel for when to climb the pocket or move laterally to avoid
inside pressure. While his football IQ repeatedly shows up in multiple
areas of his game, his love for the game may be even more obvious.
(Former OC Bill O'Brien has told the story of how he needed to have
adjustments to his initial game plan and blocking assignments for
the next opponent ready for his early-week meetings with Young because
the quarterback already had his own prepared.) Young is mostly content
to move around the pocket and typically avoids the "young quarterback
mistake" of running into pressure by drifting outside the tackle
box. At his best, Young can light up a defense downfield with precision
throws that hit his receiver in stride. While not exactly a staple
of his game, the California native also showed the ability to make
improvisational plays and throw accurately on the run. Young does
not run very often - one might call him apprehensive in this area
- but that can likely be attributed to him keeping his eyes downfield.
Alabama did not maximize his athleticism, however. Were the Crimson
Tide protecting him for their own sake (because of a lack of trust
in their other quarterback options) or out of fear that he might
not be able to take much punishment?
Negatives
Young's throwing motion is not exactly typical. As he stands in
the pocket, he often completes the arm motion before bringing his
right leg through - instead of using it to power his throw - which
can cause the ball to sail occasionally. While he does not exactly
throw off his back foot, Young repeatedly did not step into his
throws when he had the chance to do so. His feet will often not
line up with his target. These observations largely explain the
surprising number of inaccurate throws cited above, but it is a
concern that this is even a problem after working with a coach with
a pro background like O'Brien. Despite Young's gaudy college TD/INT
ratio (32:5 in 2022, 80:12 for his career), his decision-making
at times was befuddling. The 2021 Heisman Trophy winner deserves
credit for his poise and willingness to take a hit for his team
(often referred to as "looking down the gun barrel"),
but there were also too many instances of him holding the ball too
long. Young's slight frame - particularly his weight (204 pounds
at the Combine, likely around 190-195 during the season) - is another
cause for concern. Rich Gannon and Jake Plummer are probably the
most successful quarterbacks in recent memory who enjoyed a hint
of NFL success after entering the league with similar measurements.
Bottom Line
There is no question Young had more talent around him in 2021
(Jameson Williams, John Metchie III, etc.) than in 2022 (Jermaine
Burton and Ja'Corey Brooks were his top two wideouts). His overall
production dropped off significantly as a result. That is not the
most concerning part, as he attempted 167 fewer passes last season.
What is more concerning is potential future No. 1 overall picks
should be capable of putting the offense on their back. Did Young
do that? It is at least mildly disturbing that Young accounted for
21 touchdowns over the final eight games of his college career after
totaling 15 in his first four outings of the season - against the
likes of Utah State, Louisiana-Monroe and Vanderbilt.)
At the very least, an elite quarterback prospect should have
one or two traits that separate him from the pack if he is to
be drafted inside the top five or 10. What is Young's most discernible
trait(s)? Poise? Perhaps, but there is also a fine line between
not panicking in the pocket and holding the ball too long. Young
walks that line too often. Football IQ? That is a good one to
have, but it might not be enough. He will not strike fear into
the minds of NFL defensive coordinators consistently as a runner,
nor is he such a precise passer that he will threaten defensive
backs in the intermediate and deep passing game. His size - specifically
the likelihood that he will play at less than 200 pounds - means
he may not have the necessary natural shock absorption to handle
the rigors of playing quarterback in the NFL week after week and
year after year.
Young's best fit could very well be in a run-based offense that
relies heavily on play-action. This would make his height and
weight less of an issue because it would afford him more protection
and move his launch point further away from defensive linemen.
He possesses many of the tangible and intangible qualities to
play the position at the highest level, so it is not hard to imagine
Young ending his career as the unquestioned top quarterback prospect
in this draft class. Unfortunately, he also has the misfortune
of being short AND slight (with little chance of being able to
carry 15-20 more pounds) and lacks the insane athleticism of someone
like Kyler Murray to overcome it. (Murray is roughly 207 pounds
and has struggled to stay healthy himself.) The 2022 Sugar Bowl
MVP will almost certainly need a strong offensive line and maybe
even a dominant running game working in his favor if he hopes
to remain healthy year after year. He is unlikely to get that
anytime soon from a team picking at the top of this year's draft.
---
Predict the top ten picks of the NFL Draft for a chance
to win $100 and FFToday prizes. Enter
our NFL Draft Contest now. Doug Orth has written for FF Today since 2006 and been featured
in USA TODAY's Fantasy Football Preview magazine since 2010. He
is also a high-stakes player who often appears as a guest analyst
on a number of national sports radio shows, such as Sirius XM’s
“Fantasy Drive." Doug is also a member of the Fantasy
Sports Writers Association.
