What were some major observations from Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young's performance against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 11?
Bryce Young seems to be fighting a losing battle this season. The weapons around the No. 1 overall selection aren't good enough, the protection is suspect at best, the scheme is uninspired, and the quarterback's production is no doubt suffering as a result.
This is all about survival for Young rather than salvaging anything from the campaign, although he isn't without blame by any stretch of the imagination. With the Dallas Cowboys and its loyal fanbase invading Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, hopes weren't exactly high for the signal-caller to enjoy improved fortunes against one of the league's most opportunistic defenses.
As it turned out, it was another woeful effort all around as the Panthers fell to their ninth loss in 10 regular season games. Something that piles more pressure on those in positions of power.
With this in mind, here are four major observations from Young's performance against the Cowboys in Week 11.
Bryce Young's limited role
It didn't take long to realize Bryce Young wasn't going to get much joy. The Dallas Cowboys defensive front was trouncing the Carolina Panthers on passing downs, which led head coach Frank Reich to adopt a run-first scheme in pursuit of moving the chains.
This was the sensible call in tricky circumstances. It limited the damage done to Young and also represented the most successful method of gaining yards versus a team missing stud linebacker Leighton Vander Esch.
Miles Sanders and Chuba Hubbard ran the football well to the tune of 107 rushing yards from 21 carries. Young threw just 29 times for 123 passing yards, which might be the preferred method moving forward to ensure the No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft is kept out of harm's way until better reinforcements arrive.
Bryce Young's protection
It's getting pretty tiresome writing about the suspect protection in front of Bryce Young. The Carolina Panthers offensive line has gone from a progressive unit with high hopes to a complete joke, which was on full display yet again versus a Dallas Cowboys defensive front that had their way almost at will.
There weren't many occasions when Young had time to go through his progressions. The Cowboys were on top of him almost instantly, with Micah Parsons victimizing the interior tandem of Chandler Zavala and Bradley Bozeman throughout.
Parsons identified this duo as an area to exploit - something he managed on almost every down. Young was under extreme fire as a result, which was the big fear coming into the contest based on how things have unfolded up to now.
The fact Young made a few first-half completions was an accomplishment in the circumstances. Carolina got some joy running the football, but the pass protection was non-existent and completely negated the good elsewhere.
Calvin Throckmorton - their starting left guard - was the sacrificial lamb earlier this week in the hope of raising urgency. It did not have the desired effect, and Young is suffering untold hardship behind the worst offensive line in football.
Until this changes, nothing will. That's the long and short of it.
Bryce Young's one genuine connection
Much has been made about the Carolina Panthers' lack of weapons for quarterback Bryce Young in the passing game. This is making things more difficult than needed, but the signal-caller does have at least one good, genuine connection to call upon.
It'll come as no surprise to anyone who's watched the Panthers closely to see Young and Adam Thielen continue to demonstrate encouraging chemistry. If it wasn't going to the veteran wide receiver, the ball wasn't moving more often than not, which is a testament to his supreme consistency and Carolina having nobody else that can legitimately contribute.
Young might be looking for Thielen too much, but there is no confidence in anybody else. One only has to look at Jonathan Mingo's lousy effort on the pick-six to see that.
Thielen got 11 targets - eight of which he brought in successfully for 74 receiving yards. Compare that with Mingo, who had six balls thrown in his direction but caught just one for six receiving yards.
There is just no telling how bad things would look for Young without Thielen. It's not great right now, but there is at least one strong presence in the passing game whilst everything else around the Heisman Trophy winner crumbles.
Bryce Young is regressing
There's no getting away from it, Bryce Young has regressed in recent weeks. The encouraging growth over the early part of the campaign seems like a distant memory - replaced by bad habits, no confidence, and the No. 1 pick cutting a forlorn figure within a set-up that is doing him no favors whatsoever.
Young's development is being significantly mismanaged. The quarterback will be the first to admit his performances must be better no matter the circumstances, but there is just no telling what this is doing to the player's long-term hopes of becoming a franchise-caliber presence under center.
It's borderline irreparable. And that's a big problem.
Former Panthers tight end Greg Olsen stated during the FOX Sports broadcast that Young is a tough evaluation currently due to the situation. While that is true, the damage being done could be past the point of no return soon unless something drastic occurs in the coming weeks.
Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network said recently that Frank Reich's head coaching future is almost entirely dependent on Young's development. The Panthers are 1-9 through 10 games, but the former Alabama star's drop in performance levels might be enough for David Tepper to pull the plug when it's all said and done.
Carolina is ied to Young for the next 2-3 years after 2023 for good or bad. The investment made to move up to No. 1 overall dictates as much, but we can point back to this very moment if he doesn't meet the lofty expectations long-term.