Panthers QB Bryce Young took another step forward in his triumphant start against the Saints.
The youngsters shined bright in Sunday’s thrilling upset win for the Carolina Panthers. But none, perhaps, shined brighter than the Youngster himself.
Quarterback Bryce Young helped lead the way in the team’s second victory of the 2024 season. The 23-22 triumph over the visiting New Orleans Saints not only snapped a five-game losing streak, but also showed even more encouraging signs for the progression of the second-year passer.
Young, if we’re being frank, looked like the NFL’s worst starting quarterback through the first two weeks of the campaign. He lacked confidence and poise, appearing to be a shell of his Heisman Trophy-winning self.
But now, after his second start in his second chance under center, it’s clear that we’re looking at a very different player.
Before we get into the goodness of the All-22 film of Young in Week 9, however, let’s get some of the bad out of the way.
This is one of them—and while it is a positive play, this is more so a negative repetition on the quarterback:
First, rookie wide receiver Jalen Coker (No. 18) runs a textbook stair crosser and offers good leverage and availability to the quarterback. As Young hitches, he has as clean of a pocket as you can get.
Yet, it feels like he’s hesitant, timid even, to let the ball rip and allow Coker to create after the catch. Instead, he floats the ball and forces his receiver to high-point the ball.
Young had some moments of hesitancy during this ball game, especially when he was working his progressions left to right or vice versa. He did have a tendency to stare down potential targets and he was forced off his spot, but those plays were far and few between.
I’m a fan of this third-down throw by Young in the first half:
Carolina is driving to put points on the board. This play offers a backside screen while the front side shows a two-man concept with a dig and quick “glance” out.
Young peeks at the flat corner to see if he takes the “glance,” which he does. This allows receiver David Moore (No. 83) to break inside somewhat freely. Young then throws this pass with assertion, placing it just behind the receiver, where it’s supposed to go.
There were moments of anticipation from Young, including this impressive play to tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders:
Left guard Damien Lewis is going to miss his block badly, allowing the defender to slam into the quarterback. This is high-level anticipation, because Sanders is seemingly doubled on the wheel route and not even looking back at the quarterback when the ball is let go.
Sure, it looks like Young is just throwing the ball up for grabs, but this is more about his understanding of the route concept and his target. He gives Sanders a chance, and the rookie pass catcher makes a terrific adjustment to the ball.
One thing that made me feel more confident about Young as a passer is his willingness to test the defense vertically while identifying favorable matchups. While these two throws resulted in an incompletion and an incredible interception, both were exceptionally thrown with timing, touch and placement.
I like the first throw from Young, as he illustrates patience and poise against pressure and identifies the single-high defender as the taker to the underneath crosser. That recognition allows for a favorable one-on-one on the overhead.
These are the type of throws that fans have been waiting to see for almost a year and a half. The accuracy, timing and touch of these passes are what made Young such an electric point guard at quarterback in college.
In Young’s three career victories, he has had a couple of clutch moments and passes to set up the winning score. This 26-yard completion to wideout Xavier Legette (No. 17) was the most important throw of the game, and it help set up Chuba Hubbard’s 16-yard game-winning touchdown two plays later.
For Young, this is another excellent anticipatory throw to the middle of the field. He plays this with superb timing and placement on top of great velocity to drive the ball downfield. He displays understanding of the concept and has the authority to rip and layer the ball with assertion.
Surprisingly, head coach Dave Canales has yet to commit to Young as the starter for Week 10 and beyond. Heck, he may even go back to veteran Andy Dalton.
But on Sunday, Young flashed signs as the quarterback this organization and their fans have been waiting on since he was selected atop the 2023 NFL draft.
[lawrence-related id=706382,706377,706257]
