Bryce isn’t a lost case…at least not yet.

[BrianS]

Scheme is a flea on the back of the monster.  Bryce's problems are coming from weak mechanics, especially waist down.  This is not a problem he showed in college.  Anyone can go out and find his film from this year.  Do so.  Watch him from the waist down.  Any game this season.

What I see is a guy who is moving very slowly and tentatively.  He is NEVER set with a good base to throw from.  When he gets to the top of his drop, he starts to look very twitchy.  These are deadly problems to a guy who doesn't have a great arm.

Now, conversely, go watch the film below.  Watch his feet.  Purposeful, concise, solid.  He OFTEN throws with an excellent base and subsequently is able to make the most of his arm.  Several solid downfield throws.  Particularly watch the velocity of the ball when he sets with good base.

The only thing we don't know is WHY his mechanics have devolved to this point.  Is he thinking too much?  Possibly.  Is he having trouble seeing downfield?  Possibly.  Does he have trust issues with his line?  Possibly.  The most likely situation is that it's combination of all three.

I can safely and surely say that until these mechanical problems are fixed, he will never be a consistently good NFL QB.  Scheme won't matter.  Good NFL QB's have consistent, repeatable, solid mechanics in the pocket. 

Even the "creators" like Mahomes plays with a good base from the pocket.  ESPECIALLY guys like Tua who don't have the biggest arm.  Watch his footwork and base.  Nice solid base, allows him to make the most of his arm.  When Tua comes up short on downfield passes, it's nearly always his base that lets him down.

[Camp Fodder]

12 hours ago, SCO96 said:

I actually agree with you. I don't see him ever being elite. But, he can be a lot better than he is now. I think strong coaching and a better supporting cast would at least help him reach his peak.

NFL scout/commentator Bucky Brooks put it best. There are two types  of QBs in the NFL

1) QBs that pull the wagon most of the time 

2) QBs that need the wagon to pull them a lot of the time

True franchise quarterbacks fall in the first category. 

But, we've seen level 2 guys win championships on solid teams (Jim McMahon, Mark Rypien, Jeff Hostetler, Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson, Joe Flacco)

 

Yea those guys had top 5 all time defenses. 

Edited November 8, 2023 by Camp Fodder
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[SCO96]

3 minutes ago, PootieNunu said:

4 minutes ago, PootieNunu said:

I really dont think we have the next 2-3 seasons, We have next season if Bryce is still terrible we will be looking for a QB in the draft again.

I was looking at it from a contractual standpoint. 3 more years plus the 5th year. I think we have to make a decision on the option after his 3 season (2025)

 

5 minutes ago, PootieNunu said:

I dont ever see BY lining up under center for a significant amount of snaps. He cannot do it or we would be doing it by now with half of the season gone. 

It doesnt get much easier than throwing most of your passes 5 yards or less. Most bootlegs. and roll outs require you to be under center as well.

You may be correct on that. I think it would still be worth a try if we had a better offensive line and passing concepts to build on.

 

7 minutes ago, PootieNunu said:

The Alabama playbook poo sounds like Mac Jones, how is that working out?

 

I meant the Panthers should find a set of passing plays that Bryce was really comfortable with in college and work them into the game plan. Something was obviously working at BAMA...He did win the Heisman trophy.

 

[Khyber53]

13 hours ago, CamWhoaaCam said:

Love Bryce the person, but cmon bro he's not reading the field at all. That was supposed to be his biggest strength. If he's struggling with that part then he has nothing else to rely on as he lacks arm strength.

 

I've seen enough to confidently say he won't ever be a "franchise QB". Those guys usually show you signs right away. Bryce at best will be middle of the pack. This is coming from one of his main supporters during the draft. Sometimes you just have to tell the truth.

He's not having a problem reading the field, I think he is really struggling to get to the spot where he can read the field. That not being able to see over the line thing is real. 

I hope he proves me wrong, but whew, he just plays so passively.

[SCO96]

18 minutes ago, BrianS said:

What I see is a guy who is moving very slowly and tentatively.  He is NEVER set with a good base to throw from.  When he gets to the top of his drop, he starts to look very twitchy.  These are deadly problems to a guy who doesn't have a great arm.

Now, conversely, go watch the film below.  Watch his feet.  Purposeful, concise, solid.  He OFTEN throws with an excellent base and subsequently is able to make the most of his arm.  Several solid downfield throws.  Particularly watch the velocity of the ball when he sets with good base.

Good post. At times the Bryce throwing passes at BAMA looks like a totally different guy than the Bryce throwing passes with the Panthers. Something HAS CHANGED. When I started this thread I began by saying his throwing mechanics are terrible. They weren't at Alabama. He would have never won a Heisman or gone in the first round of the 2023 draft if his game tape in college looked like his game tape in this NFL season.

[jamos14]

1 hour ago, SCO96 said:

 Something HAS CHANGED. 

It's David Carr syndrome.  He is being hit repeatedly and has no faith in his line.  His internal clock is sped up, he is rushing throws in anticipation of being hit.   He was pressured on ~47% of dropbacks on Sunday.  That's crazy.

He has a of personal blame here but I put most of this on the Reich, Brown , and the OL.

We hardly utilize play action or roll the pocket to get him on the move.  He just has to stay in the pocket and eat hit after hit.  Of course it will screw up his mechanics.

 

It needs to be fixed before he becomes permanently broken.

[WhamBamTYCam]

We all have to stop.  Bryce is not a #1 pick.  Might not be a bust but not worth what the Panthers gave up to take him at 1.  He does not have an NFL arm and never will.   Its evident when he throws the ball and has to have leverage to do it when others in his class just flick it down the field.  And i am not sure his processor brain is as good as everyone thought and if it is his arm is just that much worse. Panthers made a huge mistake and will cost us years to recover.  I don't care where he goes or what team, he isn't worth what we gave up to draft him.  If we drafted him the 3rd round then maybe but he would be benched for Dalton if that was the case. 

[SmokinwithWilly]

2 hours ago, Khyber53 said:

He's not having a problem reading the field, I think he is really struggling to get to the spot where he can read the field. That not being able to see over the line thing is real. 

I hope he proves me wrong, but whew, he just plays so passively.

I've been saying this for a while. He has to have windows or he can't see the field. The shortest guy on our line is 6'4". Stand behind someone that's 7 inches taller than you and try to see around them. Then add pads and a helmet. His field vision is obscured. He needs the windows to see the field. Unfortunately our line isn't holding long enough to do that. To keep those lanes open, it requires our linemen to be more 1 on 1 so he can see through the gaps. They can't just shove guys into the middle and make a huge clog of bodies. That's JMO, but I'll be damned if it doesn't make too much sense.