There's a Different Feel in the Spartanburg Air

Something special is building in Carolina.

Don't be fooled, training camp in Spartanburg is still as hot, muggy, and sweaty as it has been for years. But this year in particular, there's something different about the feeling in the air on the campus of Wofford College. You can attribute that to a near-complete changeover in the coaching staff, the excitement surrounding No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, or perhaps the combination of both.

I don't like to compare the two staffs or really mention the previous regime since it's a thing of the past, but it's hard not to when you see the night and day difference in the day-to-day operation at camp. Things are getting done and for the most part, everyone knows where they are supposed to be and there's just very little wasted time. 

Frank Reich assembled a staff that has over 200 years of NFL coaching experience and it shows. It's a staff that knows what it wants done, works well together, and seemingly has answers for every question asked. But I guess that is to be expected when you've been around the block.

Couple that with the accelerated development of an intriguing young quarterback and all of a sudden, you get that feeling that this team is on the cusp of building something special for years to come. Young already has complete ownership of this offense and more importantly, his voice is heard and respected in the huddle as center Bradley Bozeman noted following Wednesday's practice.

"Just even-keeled and confident. I mean, when he steps in the huddle, everybody shuts up and looks. That tells you a lot. There's a lot of huddles I've been in where some people are talking side conversations about the play that happened before. When he steps in, it's silent."

For a team to not have to allocate so much time in helping a rookie quarterback with his transition to the league, it expedites the entire process - the installation, chemistry, confidence, and so forth. That's not to say that Young is going to perfect because he won't be. At the end of the day, he's still a rookie. He's going to make mistakes. He's going to throw interceptions and make bad decisions from time to time. But how he reacts to adversity is what separates him from most quarterbacks his age. The kid is as good as advertised, and then some.

If this team stays healthy, there's no reason why they can't be in the thick of the NFC South race in December. Bryce Young is only going to get better as the season moves along and the same can be said about the coaching staff, who will have a better feel of how to put him in the best position to succeed.

I don't know if there will be playoff football in Carolina in 2023, but if not, it's not too far down the road. There's a different focus and a different vibe with this group. You can feel it from the practice field to the press conferences. Even Frank Reich says he can feel the optimism from the fans at every practice.

"Without question. I mean, I've felt it for months. I understand it's a long season and we want to put our optimism on the process. Yes, we want immediate results and that's what we're all hoping for and working towards. But I also know as a coach my job is to kind of keep us focused on the play-by-play, execution, getting better, and then the results will follow."

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