Real Mid-Season Development at QB: Bo Nix

[Bear Hands]

I know most of this place doesn't favor Bryce, so I'm preaching to the choir. Also - screw the Broncos and Peyton.  

Okay, with that being said...

Seeing what Nix has done this season is something we should all tune into.  Why?  His first two games were, well bad would be putting it lightly.  He looked in over his head, pro-level shocked, you could see the anxiousness.  He needed to settle down in the pocket and adjust to the game.  And you know what? He did just that.    

And as the season has progressed, he has got better and better each week. All this through OL injuries and weapons like Sutton, Vele (who?), Lil'Jordan Humphrey (who?) & Mims, he has managed to ascend and bring himself into ROTY contention over Jayden Daniels & Brock Bowers.  

And he's making advanced throws, layering in the second level, put them in position to beat KC the other week until the ST unit lost it.

The short version of my point - Bryce's recent "progression" is relative.  This is the type of progression you would like to see as a season goes on and a kid gets adjusted to the pace of the NFL.

Bo Nix

Notable 2024 Stats (Through 11 games):

19 TDs (14 pass, 4 rush, 1 rec), 6 INTs, 2,275 pass yards, 295 rushing, 65.5% comp, 6.4 YPA

Last 5 games: 10 TD, 1 INT, 1,193 pass yards, 115 rushing, 70.6% comp, 7.4 YPA 

 

[Shocker]

[kungfoodude]

I still don't necessarily buy into Nix, although he has improved substantially against low end competition. His only two above average passing performances have been against us and the Falcons. Those are also the only two 250+ yard passing performances he has had all season.

I am not sure this is an example of a guy that I would be calling a success just yet. Maybe. Also, maybe not.

[PleaseCutStewart]

Progressively improving each game of his rookie season (Nix) looks a lot better than being an absolute turd sandwich every game but a fluke one last year against the Packers (our favorite midget)

[Bear Hands]

17 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

I still don't necessarily buy into Nix, although he has improved substantially against low end competition. His only two above average passing performances have been against us and the Falcons. Those are also the only two 250+ yard passing performances he has had all season.

I am not sure this is an example of a guy that I would be calling a success just yet. Maybe. Also, maybe not.

Speaking to progression and not the final product or stat lines.  Those were statistically his two big games, but he has been making some great throws and it's been a steady increase of those over time. He's getting better and being coached up.  

It's not just the two inflated games, he's been getting a hang of things really nicely.  Not to mention, having some burners has helped him as well.  

[thennek]

Payton is not a likable person but he is an outstanding coach. 

[CRA]

22 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

I still don't necessarily buy into Nix, although he has improved substantially against low end competition. His only two above average passing performances have been against us and the Falcons. Those are also the only two 250+ yard passing performances he has had all season.

I am not sure this is an example of a guy that I would be calling a success just yet. Maybe. Also, maybe not.

I mean, if Bryce Young had games like Nix did even vs Tampa, LV, etc......we would be throwing a party talking about how maybe the pick was worth it. 

Nix vs Young simplified. 

One QB meets all the physical qualities you look for, one had tons of college experience, one is paired up w/ a top tier NFL O mind. 

the other guy lacks a lot of the qualities you look for, played on the best roster in college football, is paired with meh O folks that have changed and changed (3 playcallers already). 

Doesn't really matter it's Young or Nix.  That setup is largely going to play out the way it has. 

[PadresPanthersFan]

Man our qb situation is so dire we have threads on other rookie qbs that applaud how not terrible they are.

I wonder if kc and Buffalo have threads like " drake may can throw a football and doesn't totally suck!"

[mav1234]

Nix has definitely been improving, no doubt about that. I think you can see it when you watch him play. He's also older than Bryce by a year, and I think that has helped him to some extent adapt quicker. 

Bryce's last three games have been better but are still pretty bad, lol. He's had a bunch of nice throws at least but at some point we need to see more consistency in that across an entire game, vs one or two drives. Real big test against KC this week... I think we all know how it's going to go, lol 

[CRA]

24 minutes ago, mav1234 said:

Nix has definitely been improving, no doubt about that. I think you can see it when you watch him play. He's also older than Bryce by a year, and I think that has helped him to some extent adapt quicker. 

Bryce's last three games have been better but are still pretty bad, lol. He's had a bunch of nice throws at least but at some point we need to see more consistency in that across an entire game, vs one or two drives. Real big test against KC this week... I think we all know how it's going to go, lol 

and while it will change in the NIL era, Bryce is from the Bama/OSU/UGA issue era.  Those QBs played on the best rosters in all of college football.  Bama essentially being the best.  And the gap is MASSIVE vs other teams.   It's why there has been such consistency with how those QBs faired once they wren't protected/masked by such a massive talent gap in the competition. 

[countryboi]

Few things, I don't care about what happens to Bryce as long as we win. However, During the two years Bo Nix was with Oregon, they were among the best teams in the country. Also, Bo really only had one year of elite production. For most of his career, he was an average, almost undrafted-level talent. Had he entered the 2022 draft, he likely would have been a second or third-day pick, despite being older than Bryce.

 

[strato]

What I take away from this is we need to find a Nix to develop. Period. I mean, it has nothing to do with Young who is about as developed as he'll ever be.

Edited Friday at 03:21 PM by strato

[NAS]

Kind of what happens when you can place a QB in a good situation with a balanced roster and a good coach. Bo Nix has surprised me, he looked terrible early on, kudos to him and Broncos 

[raleigh-panther]

2 hours ago, Bear Hands said:

I know most of this place doesn't favor Bryce, so I'm preaching to the choir. Also - screw the Broncos and Peyton.  

Okay, with that being said...

Seeing what Nix has done this season is something we should all tune into.  Why?  His first two games were, well bad would be putting it lightly.  He looked in over his head, pro-level shocked, you could see the anxiousness.  He needed to settle down in the pocket and adjust to the game.  And you know what? He did just that.    

And as the season has progressed, he has got better and better each week. All this through OL injuries and weapons like Sutton, Vele (who?), Lil'Jordan Humphrey (who?) & Mims, he has managed to ascend and bring himself into ROTY contention over Jayden Daniels & Brock Bowers.  

And he's making advanced throws, layering in the second level, put them in position to beat KC the other week until the ST unit lost it.

The short version of my point - Bryce's recent "progression" is relative.  This is the type of progression you would like to see as a season goes on and a kid gets adjusted to the pace of the NFL.

Bo Nix

Notable 2024 Stats (Through 11 games):

19 TDs (14 pass, 4 rush, 1 rec), 6 INTs, 2,275 pass yards, 295 rushing, 65.5% comp, 6.4 YPA

Last 5 games: 10 TD, 1 INT, 1,193 pass yards, 115 rushing, 70.6% comp, 7.4 YPA 

 

Like him or not, Payton can coach