Panthers QB Bryce Young may have found his edge.
The Carolina Panthers, for the first time since 2022, have themselves a winning streak. And that recent success can be attributed, in part, to the recent resurgence of quarterback Bryce Young.
Young put forth a third straight encouraging performance in this past Sunday’s 20-17 win over the New York Giants. But his stat line—which reads for 15 completions on 25 attempts, 126 yards and a touchdown—doesn’t tell the full story. In this case, the film gives us a much better picture of how last year’s No. 1 overall pick is getting closer to living up to his billing.
Let’s take a look at some of Young’s best looks from the All-22, starting with the first play from scrimmage on Carolina’s second possession of the game . . .
The film
Young has a seven-man protection working from under center and play-action. This is a well-executed front, but notice the quarterback navigate, manipulate and anticipate.
As Young climbs the pocket, you can see the two deep-third defenders begin to bail to the post while the high-hole linebacker ever so slightly creeps towards the line of scrimmage, opening the second window to throw into.
The ability to distribute as a point guard of sorts, a strength we saw so often from the University of Alabama version of Young, hasn’t showed up consistently in the NFL. It did, however, show on the first touchdown of the contest.
At the top of his drop, he slips on the grass only to regain his balance to keep his eyes on moving targets. With nothing available, he works to open grass before quickly dumping the pass off to an open Ja’Tavion Sanders in the end zone to conclude their first 90-yard drive of the game.
Young continued to play and throw with great anticipation. At the start of Carolina’s second 90-yard scoring drive, the offense is facing second-and-6 deep in their own territory.
This is an instance of head coach Dave Canales finding the stable of what the Panthers passing game could be. In recent weeks, over routes and crossing patterns against high safety and low linebackers have generated second-window anticipation throws for the quarterback for early down wins and chunk plays. This is one of those plays.
Standout rookie receiver Jalen Coker is running an over route, seemingly looking for the void in the high hole. Young places this ball over Coker’s frame, an accurate throw above the linebacker.
The toss is another high-level anticipatory pass—because if you pause the video of when Young is about to begin his throwing motion, Coker is just behind the linebacker on the field side.
One of the biggest improvements from Young since returning to the starting lineup is his composure and poise in tough situations. The Young of old would’ve likely made an indecisive decision on this play, a second-and-11 after back-to-back penalties negated a touchdown.
Instead, Canales calls an almost identical play from a week ago, where running back Chuba Hubbard hits a flat to the sideline while wideout David Moore has an inside dig, or short post. Again, this is another anticipation throw in a tough down and distance inside the red zone.
The Giants are playing off-man Cover 1—and as the linebacker attempts to cover Hubbard in the flat, he collides with Moore. Generally, Young has shown to get spooked by this disruption in the past. Instead, he shows trust in his receiver to make the play.
By the time Moore gets his head around, the ball is already out and away from the defender—allowing him to convert and help set up Hubbard’s rushing touchdown. This is sound execution from the quarterback and wide receiver.
The verdict
Young should be the starting quarterback for Carolina moving forward. This should not be a week-to-week evaluation from the head coach.
His month-long benching may have been a blessing in disguise. He looks a lot more confident as a passer and is playing soundly with composure and poise.
Young did miss some throws and had a few others dropped, but the tape showed a second-year quarterback who has possibly found his edge again. I didn’t find a single turnover-worthy pass, which shows how clean of a game he had.
Canales should not be toying or messing around with the most important position on the team. It’s hard to say if he still believes in Young with the way he has voiced and worded his thoughts on both signal-callers.
Whether it’s an odd attempt at gamesmanship or trying to keep the quarterback room competitive, it is starting to get old fast. If Canales and his staff are so adamant about being a development group, then Young is the obvious choice to be the starter—regardless of how he performs week in and week out.
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