New Panthers Head Coach Dave Canales Opens Up About Crimson Tide Product Bryce Young
Former Alabama Crimson Tide standout quarterback Bryce Young had a subpar rookie year with the Carolina Panthers this past season as the team finished with a league-worst 2-15 record.
The first overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft ended his first season completing 59.8 percent of his throws for 2,877, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 16 games. Nevertheless, Carolina struggled at practically every position on both sides of the ball and it resulted in head coach Frank Reich being fired in Week 12.
After an extremely successful year as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator, the Panthers organization believed Dave Canales was the best fit for the team's next head coach as he was hired on Jan. 25. The 42-year-old opened up about Young on the first day of the 2024 NFL Combine, stating that there's "no plan to fix" the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner but rather strengthen the group around him.
"For me, it's about building an offense that we can be proud of," Canales said on Tuesday. "(We want an offense) that is tough, smart and takes care of the football. We have to create more explosives and then of course we have to minimize damage with exotic pressures. I think elevating the whole group and just asking Bryce to do his part."
As for Young individually, Canales is really looking forward to working with his new quarterback ahead of next season.
"I've had a lot more chances to really dive into film since the last time we talked, so I have a specific plan," Canales said. "I can't wait to put that into play, but again we're not talking about a guy that there's a big fix for. You're looking at an accurate and smart player who's aware of what's happening and we have to build the whole offense around him as something that we can really say 'this is our identity.'"
In his two seasons as the starter at Alabama (27 games), Young completed a total of 611-of-927 attempts for (66 percent) for 8,200 yards, 79 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
