How can C.J. Stroud take his game to another level? Can Anthony Richardson stay on the field? Will Bryce Young and Will Levis take the next step?
Ben Solak joined ESPN in 2024 as a national NFL analyst. He previously covered the NFL at The Ringer, Bleeding Green Nation and The Draft Network.. Eight first-year passers started at least four games last season, which tied 2019 for the most in a single season. That included
Of course, there's another reason Young was compared to Curry; there aren't really good size and play-style comparisons for Young as an NFL quarterback. Young entered the league as a remarkable size outlier. At 204 pounds, he was the lightest quarterback selected in the first round since Jim McMahon in 1982. And at 5-10, he joinedTo be a good QB at this size, you simply have to be a preposterous outlier in other ways. Drew Brees won with nearly unprecedented accuracy from the pocket.
It's this mentality that made Stroud's rookie season not just impressive but truly sensational. Stroud was second in air yards per attempt last season and third in explosive play rate . On throws of at least 20 air yards, he was third in overall completion rate and fourth in completion rate over expectation, per NFL Next Gen Stats . He also didn't throw a pick on 55 pass attempts.
Schematically, the Texans' offense often welcomes pressure, too. Hard play-action fakes often leave tight ends blocking defensive ends; rollouts invite unblocked linebackers to pursue Stroud into the sideline. So should the Texans consider making schematic changes to protect Stroud from such dropbacks? Well, here's
These quick-game reps for Richardson are important, because coach Shane Steichen will insist on his success in the quick game as a run-pass option passer from the shotgun. It's tempting to assume an offense with Richardson, as big and mobile as he is, will be built on long dropbacks and deep throws. But his 2.74-second time to throw last season was just below league average, and 47% of his throws were out in under 2.5 seconds, better than league average.
While he regularly makes the right reads, his process needs to speed up from college tempo to NFL tempo. He's often just a tick late -- not very late, such that he ruins plays, or always late, such that he limits the offense that Steichen can call. But he must adjust to NFL game speed, which takes ... you guessed it ... reps. Richardson needs to stay on the field and accrue experience, and as he stacks days, he'll gradually smooth over those rough edges.
While Richardson's injuries have come on runs to this point, it is possible to be a dual-threat quarterback in this league and stay healthy.has over 100 rushing attempts in each of the past five seasons and has not missed a game with injury in that time., the only QB with more rushing attempts than Allen since 2019, has missed time with an ankle sprain and PCL sprain, but both injuries came on tackles behind the line of scrimmage as Jackson tried to escape pressure.
Levis' arm talent should translate to good intermediate throws, too. While we didn't get too many glimpses of this last season, we can extrapolate from Levis' college career. In 2021 at Kentucky, Levis was coached by Liam Coen, a Sean McVay disciple now calling offense forin Tampa Bay. In that pro-style offense, Levis regularly delivered to the middle of the field with anticipation, zip and quality post-snap processing.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trae Young Trade Rumors: National Analyst Says Hawks Miscalculated Trae Young's Trade Market This OffseasonThe Hawks made a huge move this offseason by sending Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans and they officially broke up the backcourt of Murray and Trae Y
Read more »
Tennessee Titans' Will Levis Has Pieces for Second-Year LeapTennessee Titans quarterback is set for a breakout season.
Read more »
Tennessee Titans are AFC South Contenders Under One CircumstanceTennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis hopes to establish himself as a true starter in the NFL.
Read more »
Victoria Fuller Visits Boyfriend Will Levis at NFL Training CampAfter going public with their relationship earlier this week, ‘Bachelor’ alum Victoria Fuller visited boyfriend Will Levis at Tennessee Titans training camp to do a little ‘flirting’
Read more »
Tennessee Titans Rookie WR Impressing Will LevisThe Tennessee Titans wide receiver has shined at training camp.
Read more »
Ben Higgins Jokes He Doesn’t ‘Like’ Victoria Fuller’s New BF Will LevisBen Higgins is taking issue with Victoria Fuller’s new boyfriend, Will Levis, for one specific reason
Read more »