What were some critical observations from Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young's preseason performance against the New York Jets?
After a smooth integration, Bryce Young took the field in a game-day setting for the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday. The No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft wasn't expected to play much, with those in power focusing their warmup commitments on seeing what they have in second-year-pro Matt Corral.
It was a hot and humid day in Charlotte, which was made worse by the 4 p.m. kickoff time. Television trumps all where the NFL is concerned, so the Panthers and Young just had to get on with it.
Young didn't do anything to suggest he wasn't worthy of being the top pick in the draft. But what were some critical observations from the player's preseason performance during Carolina's shutout loss versus the New York Jets on home soil?
Bryce Young looked poised
One of the big things that set Bryce Young apart from the other contenders atop the draft was poise. Nothing seems to fluster the signal-caller and even though some remain concerned about his durability, he seems to navigate every challenge to the utmost effect with very little wasted movements.
It was a small sample size, but Young put this poise on full display during his brief NFL debut. The former Alabama star completed four of six passes for 21 yards and a 72.2 passer rating, showing good accuracy over short to intermediate routes that will be important for the Carolina Panthers and their quest to generate yards after the catch.
There also seemed to be a nice rhythm to his play when there was a pocket to work with. This brings me to my next point…
Bryce Young got hit too much
The Carolina Panthers have to keep Bryce Young clean in the pocket for this monumental gamble to pay off. His size and weight are an outlier compared to the more traditionally-successful quarterbacks around the league, which brings major durability concerns that became a hot topic of debate during the pre-draft process.
Carolina's offensive line was abysmal against the New York Jets, to put it mildly. Young was under constant duress when on the field, got hit way too much, and was even sacked once for a loss of nine yards.
Not good enough - a sentiment echoed by veteran Cam Erving based on his comments via the team's website after the contest. There was also a furious meeting with offensive line coach James Campen thrown in as a further method of displeasure.
"Top to bottom, it doesn't matter if it was preseason, regular season, or offseason. The s--- was not good enough at any level, from any position, myself included, especially myself. All we can do is come back, try to regroup, and f---ing fix it. We know we did not play to our standard. So all that needed to be said was that s---'s not good enough. It's not about who's in it or who's called it; it just needed to be said and was said."Cam Erving via Panthers.com
Young stood his ground in the pocket and got up quickly following each hit. But the Panthers missed Austin Corbett badly and this has to change at the earliest possible opportunity.
Bryce Young's elite processing as advertised
It was only 11 snaps for Bryce Young on his Carolina Panthers debut, but the elite-level processing that made him such a highly touted quarterback prospect was there for all to see. This is a signal-caller in complete command of the huddle, recognizing defensive schemes pre-snap and communicating well to his teammates for good measure.
Young also goes through his reads with extreme efficiency. Something that served him well as pressure arrived almost instantly on passing plays.
Couple this with the impressive accuracy, and it's not hard to see why hopes are so high for Young. But what's important for the Carolina Panthers is others not fluffing their lines as the team looks to make immediate strides under Frank Reich and his all-star coaching staff.
This was a decent cameo for Young and he'll have gained a lot from it. The Panthers didn't score any points during the game, so it's clear there is a lot of hard work ahead before they take the field in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons.
As for Young, he'll get straight back into the film study and work on chemistry with his teammates. If he can get a little extra time in the pocket, all signs point to the Heisman Trophy winner's processing being the catalyst behind moving the chains quickly.