Panthers' Josh McCown addresses Bryce Young size concerns

Add quarterbacks coach Josh McCown to the list of individuals associated with the Carolina Panthers unconcerned about the size of rookie quarterback Bryce Young.

"When you turn on the tape, you don’t feel that," McCown said while addressing Young's size, per Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer (h/t Yahoo Sports). "You never felt it. You look at all the studies and the balls being thrown over the middle, especially — that’s where you get into some issues (typically) — and his (completion) percentages are as high or higher than others in taller quarterbacks when we make several different comparisons with different players. So, at the end of the day, that really never entered into the evaluation as a critical factor, because it didn’t show up on the tape." 

Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer offered similar comments about Young's ability to complete passes over the middle of the field shortly after the executive used the first overall pick of this year's draft to select the signal-caller who stands at 5-foot-10 1/8 and weighed 204 pounds at the combine. Earlier this week, Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown insisted Young's lack of ideal size for playing the position "was never an issue" in his eyes. 

Last week, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales discussed working on concepts where a shorter quarterback such as Baker Mayfield has "better vision" to make plays. It sounds like McCown and company trust Young to help with that process and to make what McCown referred to as "off-schedule" plays he may need to execute to make up for his diminutive frame. 

"Every time we step into a meeting with him, it’s clear that he’s taken the material — whatever was presented to him the day before — he’s taken that and spent time with it at home, and he’s digested it and he comes with questions — and that’s what a pro does," McCown explained. "He comes with questions — he’s got great questions, very insightful — a lot of times well beyond just what a rookie would ask, so that’s encouraging." 

Free-agency signing Andy Dalton remains Carolina's temporary QB1 as Young looks to catch up to veterans. While McCown said the Panthers will bring Young "along the right way," the retired NFL quarterback seems just about ready to hand the keys to the team's offense over to the 21-year-old for preseason action.