CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A popular storyline this week has centered on what Bryce Young learned from watching Andy Dalton last week when the Carolina Panthers rookie quarterback was out with an ankle injury.
But some things you just have to learn by doing. And when Young returned to practice Wednesday, the Panthers’ offensive coaches gave him a directive: Bring more energy and increase the tempo when getting into and out of the huddle.
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The No. 1 pick took heed.
Before a meeting Thursday morning at Bank of America Stadium, offensive coordinator Thomas Brown told Young he thought Wednesday was his best practice.
“He’s been really good when it comes to understanding the offense and being a fast processor,” Brown said. “But the energy, the enthusiasm, stepping into a huddle, calling a play with conviction, coaching his guys up from a receiver standpoint, O-line. Just kind of being the maestro, if you will, when it comes to the offense.”
From the moment Young arrived in April carrying the hopes of a restless fan base, the Panthers talked about his steady demeanor. Brown more than once described the 2021 Heisman winner as “calm, cool and collected.”
But with the Panthers (0-3) off to their worst three-game start since 2010, Frank Reich, Brown and others understood it was time to pick up the pace. That’s not limited to the quarterback. But it begins with him.
“We talked about increasing our energy and our tempo,” Young said Thursday. “That’s something that’s been a point of emphasis, so I definitely did take it to heart.”
The Panthers are one of four remaining teams without a win. In a scheduling quirk, it will be a battle royal of NFL O-fers on Sunday when the Panthers host the Minnesota Vikings while the Denver Broncos visit the Chicago Bears.
Two of those teams are coached by first-year coaches — the Broncos’ Sean Payton and Reich, who set the tone for the week when he said: “We’re urgent, we’re not desperate.”
The Panthers’ offense played with more urgency last week at Seattle, where veteran Andy Dalton completed 34 of a career-high 58 pass attempts for 361 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-27 loss. Dalton completed five passes of 20 yards or longer — four more than Young had in his two games combined.
Some of that can be attributed to Reich abandoning the running game to go after a Seahawks defense that is among the league’s worst against the pass. But Dalton also wasn’t bashful about airing the ball out on a couple of deep shots, whereas Young at times has looked hesitant to pull the trigger.
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Maybe watching Dalton have success will be beneficial to Young, who was a full participant again Thursday and is expected to start Sunday against the Vikings. It could be fortuitous timing for the 22-year-old: Minnesota is ranked in the bottom seven of the league in total defense (382.3 yards per game), pass defense (261.7 ypg) and scoring defense (27.3 ppg).
On the other hand, Young’s much-discussed processing skills will be put to the test by Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. In Minnesota’s 28-24 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers last week, Flores blitzed on 82 percent of Justin Herbert’s dropbacks, the second-highest percentage since ESPN began tracking the stat in 2006, according to Kevin Seifert.
So it makes sense the Panthers would want a good tempo Sunday, giving Young time to survey the Vikings’ defense and check to blitz-beating plays as needed.
“I think it starts with — no matter who your quarterback is — how you step into a huddle, how you deliver a play, looking guys in the eyes, having great communication,” Brown said. “The urgency you bring, it’s natural to raise everybody else’s level as well.”
It’s important to remember that — no matter his draft status, S2 Cognition test score or his track record in high school and college — Young had never gone through an NFL regular-season week until three weeks ago.
“For Bryce, especially once you get into the regular season and once you start playing games, the flow of the week, it’s all new to him. He’s just trying to find his way,” Dalton said. “And there’s some things you don’t know that you don’t know.”
The losing also is new for Young, who never lost two games in a row at Mater Dei High in southern California or Alabama. But it’s not unique to him — or No. 1 picks.
Of the 29 quarterbacks who have gone first overall since 1967, Andrew Luck is the only one to win more than half his games his rookie season, according to ESPN. A year after Cam Newton went 6-10 as a rookie with the Panthers in 2011, Luck guided the Indianapolis Colts to an 11-5 record and playoff berth in 2012.
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And while Dalton had a 9-7 record as a rookie starter after the Cincinnati Bengals drafted him in the second round in 2011, it was still more losing than Dalton was used to at TCU or anywhere else.
“I was in the same boat. Before I got to the NFL, I never lost two games in a row in any sport in any part of my life. So I would assume that for Bryce it’s been the exact same way,” Dalton said. “Especially coming from a program like Alabama where if you lose a game it’s kind of the end of the world.”
(Dalton actually lost two consecutive games early in his freshman year — road games at Texas and Air Force. But the point stands.)
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Young will forever be compared to the two quarterbacks drafted just behind him — C.J. Stroud, who went to the Houston Texans at No. 2, and Anthony Richardson (No. 4, Colts). Stroud was named the offensive rookie of the month for September after completing 64.5 percent of his passes for 906 yards and four touchdowns, without an interception.
Young is the NFL’s 32nd-ranked passer (ahead of Joe Burrow and Zach Wilson) among qualified quarterbacks and is 28th with a 59.2 completion percentage.
But the Panthers are confident the honors will come for Young. He’s played two games … on a team with a makeshift offensive line and so-so skill-position players.
“It’s a long season. It’s early in his career. It’s just the beginning. You just kind of find your way, figure things out,” Dalton said. “As much as we’d all love to have success overnight, sometimes it’s not that way. You look at some of the best quarterbacks in this league and you look at their rookie year and what they did to where they ended up, it’s a drastic difference. Not saying it’s going to be that way. But there’s both sides of it.”
For now, Young and the Panthers will settle for a win. Perhaps Wednesday’s practice will serve as a springboard.
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“If it’s a good practice, it’s great. But that doesn’t mean anything. It doesn’t entitle you to anything and you can’t hang your hat off a good practice,” Young said. “You have to keep building.”
(Top photo of Bryce Young and Andy Dalton: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
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