Nick Caserio Scouting Report on Bryce Young Ahead of Houston Texans' Week 8 Matchup
In a flashback to 2015, when Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston and Tennessee Titans passer Marcus Mariota faced off in Week 1 after being selected first and second overall that April, Sunday will see a similar stage set.
The Carolina Panthers made quarterback Bryce Young the No. 1 pick mere months ago. Minutes later, the Houston Texans chose C.J. Stroud to be their franchise quarterback. In Week 8, they’ll face off against each other, acting as a measuring stick for their rookie-year performances.
Bryce Young (left) and C.J. Stroud (right) went first and second overall, respectively, this past April.
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Carolina fans may still feel uncertain about their team’s future, but Houston is all in, and rightfully so. The Texans are 3-3 and Stroud looks the part. He’s thrown nine touchdowns with just one interception and is throwing for more than 275 yards per game. The rookie ranks 10th amongst quarterbacks in expected points added per play and 16th in success rate, despite injuries up front and no running game to speak of.
We’ll never really know if Young would have been Houston’s pick had Stroud gone first, but perhaps no one is more qualified to speak on the two than Texans general manager Nick Caserio.
He spoke about Young’s game ahead of the Week 8 matchup.
“Bryce is a really instinctive player,” Caserio said. “He has a good understanding of space and where to go with the football, and his ability to really maneuver within the pocket is probably a bit underrated. He’s accurate, he’s anticipatory.”
It’s strong praise for Young, who has shown flashes but by many accounts seems overwhelmed. His poise is part of what earned Carolina’s confidence, and he hasn’t exactly been put in a position to succeed.
The Panthers are yet to win a game. Young ranks 31st and 29th, respectively, in the two advanced metrics Stroud has excelled in. Across five games, he has thrown six touchdowns to four interceptions and is averaging fewer than 200 yards per game. His unimposing frame is showing up and creating durability concerns, too.
Even so, Caserio seemed impressed by the young passer.
“I’d say Bryce is playing pretty similarly to what he’s shown at Alabama,” Caserio said. “He’s starting to take a little bit better care of the football, which is always a big thing, especially for younger players.”
Houston’s pass rush is yet to get rolling, but Carolina’s offensive line isn’t very impressive. A strong outing from No. 3 pick (and Young’s college teammate) Will Anderson Jr. could help the Texans get back over .500.
Stroud has separated himself enough from the rest of the rookie pack to avoid the narrative consequences that would come with a loss, but a big day from Young could add intrigue not only to Sunday’s game -- but the rest of the Panthers’ season, too. Caserio’s words make it feel like a growing possibility.
“Bryce is going to be a good player for a long period of time,” Caserio concluded.
