What are the reasons to be excited for the Carolina Panthers entering the upcoming 2023 season under Frank Reich?
The Carolina Panthers have not made the playoffs or finished above .500 since 2017. In spite of recent mediocrity, there are reasons for optimism heading into 2023 around the organization.
A majority of football media have positively looked at Carolina's off-season. Even though Super Bowl aspirations should be on hold for the moment, there is no doubt the Panthers will be a fun team to watch this season.
Everyone around the team - from the front office down to the players, coaches, and fans - can feel a gathered excitement around the team that has not been there for a while. With this in mind, here are three reasons to be excited about the Panthers as training camp approaches.
Carolina Panthers new coaching staff
After winning a Super Bowl as Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator and serving as the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, Frank Reich takes the helm for a team that needs success after the failures of the previous regime.
One of the significant reasons why the Carolina Panthers struggled mightily in recent years was the "leadership" of former head coach Matt Rhule. From the first day of his tenure in 2020 to its merciful end in 2022, he struggled to be anything more than a joke around the NFL and in the locker room.
In almost every game, Carolina looked outmatched and out-coached. Thankfully for the Panthers, they replaced Rhule with Reich, and he is someone with league-wide respect.
Two top coordinators in Thomas Brown and Ejiro Evero also joined the Panthers. Both bring new energy and voices to the offense and defense respectively.
Other notable assistants like Josh McCown and Duce Staley arrived. Simply put, Reich has built one of the best overall coaching staffs in the NFL.
The biggest difference with the Panthers going into 2023 is the cultural shift within the organization. Carolina was a walking joke over the past few years, but with Reich taking over at the helm, they are once again a serious team that fans can fully support.
And the difference on and off the field is going to be day and night.
Carolina Panthers redide in a wide-open NFC South
Despite the issues on the team last season, the Carolina Panthers came just one game short of winning the NFC South. This season they have a good chance of securing their first division title since 2015.
None of the other three teams within the division made significant improvements to jump ahead as preseason favorites. It is wide-open - all four teams have a legitimate chance to win it - and that is something for fans to get excited about.
All four teams in the division struggled in 2022 with their quarterback play. Once again, it seems like that problem will continue.
Derek Carr and Baker Mayfield are the two best quarterbacks in the division, but both have their inconsistencies and are susceptible to collapsing when their team needs them. Desmond Ridder is an unproven commodity that looked shaky in his time on the field last season.
It seems like right away Bryce Young can step in and be the best quarterback in the NFC South. At the very least, he will perform around the level of the division's other starters.
Over the past few years, a division title felt out of reach by mid-season, but Carolina will be contending for it this time around. They have a solid chance and down the stretch, the Panthers will compete in playoff-type games like Week 17 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022.
Nothing in the NFL is more exciting than watching your favorite team play must-win games. The Panthers will play in a few of them this season.
Carolina Panthers have Bryce Young
There was a lot of anticipation and nervousness surrounding the Carolina Panthers after their acquisition of the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The selection of Bryce Young as the franchise's new quarterback has switched that energy.
Watching rookie quarterbacks play their first few games in the NFL without knowing what kind of player they are is eye-catching. Especially when that signal-caller is a Heisman Trophy winner and the first player taken like Young.
Young has showcased his skills through social media clips in practice and drills. Many coaches around him have said he has one of the best football processors they have ever worked with.
The hype surrounding him is real. And his first home game in Charlotte will be electric.
Getting Young as the guy after having a quarterback carousel already brings the excitement level of the viewer way up. Watching all of the previous guys come and go through Carolina over the past few seasons was something to marvel at. You never knew what you were going to see.
That grabs your attention to see how bad it could get. But going from that to Young is a stark contrast. He will make the offense efficient and more enjoyable to watch.
The pressure of the entire Panthers organization sits on Young's shoulders. His performance and growth this season will be very telling as to how good he truly is. And if he has the potential to lead Carolina to success.