What were some major observations from Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young's second week of training camp practice?
After a smooth integration over the opening few days of training camp, quarterback Bryce Young faced a new set of challenges throughout Week 2. The Carolina Panthers strapped on the pads and allowed their players an extra level of physicality to practices, which sped things up across the board at an important stage of the preparation period.
Young was never going to have things all his own way. It's easy to forget that this is a rookie signal-caller with the weight of the world on his shoulders - thanks to his seamless transition and demeanor more befitting of a seasoned veteran - so cutting the former Alabama star some slack would be the best course of action considering he's still working out how best to succeed.
There is not much time for Young to reflect on his opening fortnight. Joint practices with the New York Jets are on the immediate horizon this week, with Frank Reich also stating his No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft will start their preseason opener on Saturday.
How many snaps the signal-caller gets remains to be seen. But here are three major observations from Young's second week at Carolina's training camp in 2023.
Bryce Young was challenged
This is probably the first time since Bryce Young joined the Carolina Panthers that he's looked challenged in any way. Obviously, early workouts and the opening of training camp aren't necessarily the most intense in terms of defensive quality, but watching how the quarterback coped with a higher tempo was enthralling throughout the second week.
There were good times and bad, but Young never wavered. His ability to move on from one play to the next effortlessly without looking back is something that's stood out so far and is getting teammates onside for good measure.
The Panthers' defense is a proud unit that didn't plan on making Young's life a bed of roses at Wofford College. But the coaching staff can feel confident in the first-rounder's response overall.
Bryce Young relying on tape to get better
One of the things that set Bryce Young apart from other prospects during the Carolina Panthers' pre-draft evaluations was his ability to prepare efficiently using film as his guide. The quarterback is an elite processor and knows exactly what to pick up on tape - whether it's for opposition preparations or working out flaws in his game.
This is something Young is leaning upon heavily throughout camp. Perhaps more so last week considering the struggles Carolina's offense went through going up against Ejiro Evero's progressive defensive unit.
It hasn't been perfect. In fact, it's been pretty disjointed over recent days.
However, Young is not deviating from the methods that got him here in the first place. Something he elaborated on further after Saturday's woeful offensive display via the team's website.
"There are only two options at a certain point. Are you going to let it dwell? Or are you going to let it affect you the next play? Or are you going to move on and get better? And the only thing you can do is focus on the next rep. So, you know, when that next rep comes, and you know, it's pretty quick, you know, you got to whatever it is you do with it, and then you learn from that play, taking what happened that snap, and then you've got to go to the next. So you're constantly turning the page and turning the page. And, you know, we're all still trying to improve in that, myself included."Bryce Young via Panthers.com
Young is going through a learning curve and is still enhancing chemistry with his primary playmakers. Not overreacting one way or another and focusing on getting better gradually remains the goal - which is mission accomplished to a large extent over the first fortnight of camp.
Testing week will sharpen Bryce Young
There are times when Bryce Young looks like an absolute world-beater. But we are still in the early stages of his NFL journey and expecting perfection from the Heisman Trophy winner is too much.
Young's been largely accurate aside from a few interceptions that some around the media tried to make something out of. The timing is sometimes off with his playmakers, but that improves the more familiar they become with one another more often than not.
The Carolina Panthers have an athletic defense capable of wreaking havoc. This is the best possible preparation Young can receive before the campaign and there might not be many better units he comes up against as a rookie if Ejiro Evero's men reach expectations.
It was a testing week and it's not going to get any easier when the New York Jets come to town. Robert Saleh's group is dynamic and led by influential figures such as All-Pro duo Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner, so this will be a tremendous measuring stick for Young and the offense overall over the two days.
Everything seems to be going according to plan aside from the odd blip. Young has captured the imagination of the entire franchise and holds himself to the highest standards - something that continues to draw rave reviews from players and coaches alike.
How Young fares battling next to Aaron Rodgers - a man he's studied endlessly on the way up - will tell us plenty about what to expect when Week 1 at the Atlanta Falcons arrives. Although for the player, he'll take it in his stride like everything else.