Now more than ever, Bryce Young appears to be the franchise quarterback the Panthers have been hoping for.
The Carolina Panthers rarely have had the luxury of enjoying a “Victory Monday,” but this week is an exception. The team secured their fourth win of the season on Sunday, spoiling the playoff hopes of the visiting Arizona Cardinals in a 36-30 overtime triumph.
Yesterday was also a good day, and quite a rebound, for quarterback Bryce Young—who bounced back from a four-turnover outing in Week 15. Young passed for 158 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a career-high 68 yards and another score.
So, let’s dive into the All-22 film to digest how the Panthers’ signal-caller performed outside of the box score and go over some extra notes on an undrafted free agent, head coach Dave Canales and much more . . .
The Film
We’re highlighting three plays from Young in Week 16. Let’s begin with the opening play from scrimmage in the first quarter.
Carolina comes out of 12 personnel (two wide receivers, two tight ends, one running back). Young motions tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders (No. 0) to the field side. Both tight ends run a levels concept with the No. 2 wide receiver inside running a post and Adam Thielen (No. 19) running a vertical nine route below the numbers.
As Young takes the snap, watch how quickly he moves his eyes inside-out. He also identifies Thielen in a favorable matchup on the outside cornerback. The veteran receiver wins quickly and Young showed intention in his drop, sets his feet and throw a beautiful touch pass into the proverbial bucket.
Unfortunately, it was a rare drop from Thielen. This has been the story of the Panthers’ skill players since Young returned to the lineup.
On this next play, the Panthers have first-and-10 from their own 40-yard line. They’re once more coming out of 12 personnel in the pistol formation. No one screams open with the Cardinals playing tight Cover 1 man against this deep play concept.
Credit should be given to the offensive line for allowing Young time to scan the field. This turns into a 34-yard scramble for the former Heisman Trophy winner. While he may not be the athlete his counterpart Kyler Murray was in this game, he does present enough quickness and elusiveness to evade defenders and pick chunk yards to put the offense in favorable positions.
This gain was also an example of what not to do against a creative quarterback such as Young. He is always going to be a pass-first quarterback before he makes himself a ball carrier, and you could see it for an instance as he began to move out of the pocket. This is another element defenses will begin to account for and attempt to slow down.
Did you ever think defenses may now have have to have a spy defender on Young?
Finally, we have the best throw of the game. The Panthers have second-and-7 at the Arizona 35-yard line. They come out in 11 personnel (1 tight end, 1 running back, 3 wide receivers). Tight end Tommy Tremble (No. 82) is the hot route on the crosser.
But there seems to be a miscommunication up front as center Brady Christensen starts pulling to the left side of the line, allowing a free rusher into Young’s face—literally.
However, Young does not panic and throws a dot as he is getting obliterated. The throw lands into the hands of Tremble with excellent anticipation. The Panthers would go on to score a touchdown to take a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter.
Young is beginning to show that he’s not afraid of the pressure and is trusting his receivers to make plays when he needs them to. Outside of the Cover 0 throw against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 12, this is one of the best throws of his young NFL career.
The Verdict
I’ve been remaining patient on making any declaration about Young’s future with the Panthers during his emergence as a quality starter in the last five or six weeks. Plus, his response to his giveaway day against the Dallas Cowboys was also an important one to monitor.
Well, it was one heck of a response after all. The box score showed us three touchdowns and no turnovers and the film also showed us a quarterback capable of making big-time throws in the face of pressure and contact.
Young, off what may have been the best performance of his pro tenure, should be declared the Panthers’ franchise quarterback. Every week since his return to the starting lineup, he’s displayed improvement, confidence, and unwavering toughness. He has put his undermanned team in positions to win on a handful of occasions—including against the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs and one of the NFC’s juggernauts in the Philadelphia Eagles.
The team is beginning to win games because of Young, not in spite of him. That is the sign of a franchise quarterback, one that can go toe-to-toe with the best of them.
Extra Notes from the All-22
- Linebacker Jacoby Windmon made his first career start Sunday. The undrafted free agent from Michigan State was signed off the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad back in October and made his debut with fellow rookie Trevin Wallace on injured reserve. Windmon led the team with eight tackles and a sack, displaying incredible effort and a relentless motor. He also showcased explosiveness downhill and quality athleticism to play sideline to sideline. Look for him to finish the season as the Panthers’ starting inside ‘backer next to Josey Jewell.
- Center Cade Mays was missed on Sunday. He was a late add to the injury report with an illness and was later inactive for the game—leading to Brady Christensen’s start. The former second-round pick was serviceable at best against the Cardinals, and whiffed on a few blocks in pass protection and the run game. While this isn’t to say Christensen shouldn’t be re-signed, Mays’ physicality in the trenches were absent at center.
- Left tackle Ikem Ekwonu has been incredible since returning from his ankle injury. He received a lot of flack for his struggles against the Cowboys, but his upside remains sky-high. His pass sets have become very consistent and the boneheaded penalties have died down. He is beginning to show the Panthers why he not only deserves to get his fifth-year option picked up this offseason, but a long-term extension as the team’s cornerstone blindside protector.
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