Carson Strong – Quarterback – 22 years old – Redshirt Junior – Nevada
Cut : 1m90
Weight : 102kg
Estimated draft position: 3and round
Stats 2021: 12 games, 366/522 (70.1% completions), 4,175 yards, 36 touchdowns, 8 interceptions + 13 receptions, 89 yards, 1 touchdown
NFL Comparison: Philip Rivers
Strong points
– Template
– Arm power
– Game in the pocket
– Accuracy
– Anticipation
– Pre-snap playback
If prototypical height is a big factor with some scouts, then Carson Strong fulfills his end of the bargain. 1m90 for 102 kg, he has the ideal size for the position. It sits upright in its pocket and its size allows it to see past the line of scrimmage.
He also does a remarkable job of reading, which allows him to change the calls of play, modify the courses of his receivers or adjust the protection. He scans the whole field and remains patient on the first attempts, accepting to take what the opponent leaves him to advance. He also knows how to recognize blitzes and throw into free zones. The Nevada prospect is always looking to anticipate the paths of his receivers, releasing his ball before the separation. He wants to give his partners the best chance in one on one, both deep and in the red zone. And in those moments, he showed he could put more touch in order to adjust his passes.
Traditional pocket passer, his greatest asset remains the strength of his arm. Strong has sharp throwing mechanics, and can generate speed with ease. It maximizes that power with good upper-lower body leverage and flowing hips. However, pay attention to the placement of his feet, a little close to each other, and his post-snap ball holding a little low.
He can thus make all the throws that are asked of him and send the ball anywhere on the field. He is particularly precise on the short and intermediate zones, where he manages to place the leather for yards after reception. He has enough power to extend distance and find his targets deep, or velocity to pass in tight windows against zone coverage. His ball placement towards the touchline is also excellent.
The young man moves well in his pocket. Thanks to his footwork, he knows how to manipulate space and find passing lanes. He is not negligent in his movements, but remains calm and precise in his gestures. He also manages to throw on the move if he is forced to escape towards the edge of the field.
Weak points
– Athletic ability
– improvisation
– Medical background
– Game under pressure
– Risk taking
Although height has some relation to durability, its importance has paled in recent years compared to other physical characteristics like athleticism. On that note, a serious knee injury suffered in high school has significantly reduced his mobility. He lacks liveliness and is unable to gain time or ground. He is likely to concede sacks if the action drags on as his lack of agility and flexibility prevent him from dodging defenders.
When under pressure, Strong displays composure, but can sometimes freeze prematurely and make himself vulnerable. He has the unfortunate tendency to want to get rid of the ball when he is on bad support, which affects his precision and his power. As he is unable to improvise, he sometimes makes bad decisions by concentrating on a single defender, without seeing the anticipation of the safety who read in his eyes. These arise when he forces things into 3and and 4th attempt. This can pose a problem at the professional level with the complexity of the diagrams. In Nevada, the offensive system was based on quick reads and lots of screen passes.
Strong isn’t afraid to take risks, but there are times when he believes in his own arm too much. Quite precise launcher on each level, he can go wrong when he tries to force in depth. He then tries to place the ball in very narrow windows, which sometimes leads to loss of the ball.
The stats
29% uncatch passes over 10 yards in 2021 (PFF)
With this percentage, he was the 5and quarterback who experienced the least waste on this exercise during the 2021 season. He even ranks 2and behind Kenny Pickett (26%) among other players going for the draft this year. He precedes Bailey Zappe (16and overall with 32%), Matt Corral (22and with 34%), Sam Howell (34and with 36%), Desmond Ridder (50and with 38%) and Malik Willis (61and with 40%)
Possible destinations
New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Washington Commanders, Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarterback ratings change every year. Over the past decade, teams have begun to favor quarterbacks who can do more, both with their arm and with their athleticism. The concept of a pure pocket passer is slowly becoming outdated, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to fail.
Young quarterbacks always have flaws, and Carson Strong is no different. He’s more advanced than his age would suggest, but he’s not a finished product either. He must work on his readings and reduce his risk taking. NFL safeties could exploit his tendency to fix his targets during his early years. Nevertheless, thanks to its work in the pocket and its powerful arm, it can become a viable solution within a few years provided you have good protection.
In Washington, Carson Wentz has arrived, but will he ever regain the level of his early years? In the meantime, he leaves as the incumbent. If Strong lands in the federal capital, it would give him time to rectify his faults while getting familiar with the speed of NFL play, before why not getting his chance. 2022 may be Daniel Jones’ last year in charge of the New York attack. The Giants could be tempted to snap up the youngster in order to prepare for the future and give their new coach Brian Daboll a talent to shape. Same story in New Orleans where Jameis Winston looks more like a patch than a viable long-term solution. Pittsburgh has turned the page Ben Roethlisberger, but the various quarterbacks in the workforce do not breathe serenity. Strong still has some work to do, but he would give the Steelers the verticality in play that was lacking last year. He would thus join an attack made up of young talents who are just waiting to explode.
