Bryce Young’s role as the starting quarterback for the No. 1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide means the 20-year-old will always be under the microscope. It’s part of the gig when you play under college football’s most demanding coach, and Young has led Nick Saban’s squad to a 3-0 start to the 2021 season.
On Thursday, Paul Finebaum weighed in on a semi-debate revolving around Young following Saturday’s 31-29 Alabama win at No. 11 Florida (2-1).
“I know he’s come under some criticism by people who feel like he’s not taking too many chances,” Finebaum told host Mark Heim on “The Opening Kickoff” radio show in Mobile on Thursday. “I think he’s been very wise so far. He’s still starting. He’s not hurt.
“And, quite frankly, that’s not a problem Alabama fans want to be dealing with.”
Young was getting at least some criticism after the UF game for a decision (or decisions) to pass downfield rather than running for a first down.
“There was one occasion where (Young) decided to take a shot and throw it and might have been able to run for a first down,” said Nick Saban at his press conference this week. “But I think overall he’s done a really good job.”
The California native addressed the subject, kind of, earlier this week on his show, “The Bryce Young Podcast.”
“There was always, I felt like, a big misconception about, like, quarterbacks, especially quarterbacks who are described as mobile,” Young said. “Especially back when I was younger. There was a big narrative, one about mobile quarterbacks and especially about African-American quarterbacks that are mobile. One about just wanting to run, and just wanting to not be able to go through reads, or whatever it was.
“You’re always going to be assumed you’re just a runner, that you can’t throw. So that was always something I stressed, was to make sure that I kept my eyes downfield whenever I was out of the pocket, kind of scrambling, moving, making sure I always remained a passer.”
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