Bryce Young and Panthers struggle to generate big plays

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Bryce Young runs away from New Orleans defenders in the Carolina Panthers’ 20-17 loss Monday at Bank of America Stadium. Young completed 22 of 33 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown in his first regular-season start in Charlotte.

Bryce Young faced a third-and-13 situation against the New Orleans Saints defense midway through the second quarter Monday night.

Receiving the snap out of a shotgun formation, the Carolina Panthers quarterback  dropped back and looked for an open receiver downfield.  

No one available.

Young scrambled to his left.

Still, no one open.

The rookie hustled back near the hash marks.

Nothing.

Young threw the ball away as the offense suffered back-to-back three-and-outs.

The top overall draft pick last April, Young’s Monday Night Football introduction ended in a 20-17 loss to NFC rival New Orleans.

“Tough loss,” Panthers coach Frank Reich said. “We’ll own every bit of it.”

Young’s outing seemed eerily similar to the season opener against Atlanta. Downfield throws and explosive plays were nearly non-existent.

Against the Saints, Young completed two 15-yard passes and one 22-yarder. He did scramble for 26 yards, creating the Panthers’ longest play from scrimmage this season.

Other than a 13-yard Miles Sanders rush in the first quarter, that accounted for the Panthers’ big plays on the national stage.

“That’s on me,” Young said, still in uniform while he staged a post-game news conference. “I have to do better. I have tremendous faith in this team, but we’re obviously not where we need to be.”

‘I missed some things’

Adjustments are the rule in professional sports. Constant alterations in gameplans and execution are needed to stay competitive, especially in the NFL.

During his debut Sept. 10, Young failed to complete a pass longer than 14 yards, compiling a paltry 3.8 yards per pass attempt. He finished with 148 yards passing and two interceptions. Both developed via nearly identical passes over the middle, anticipated by Falcons safety Jessie Bates III.

On Monday, Young finished 22 of 33 for 153 yards and one short touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter.

“We didn’t do enough offensively,” Young said. “I missed some things.”

What’s missing is a vertical passing game.

During practice last week, offensive coordinator Thomas Brown hinted of utilizing additional formation shifts and pre-snap motion to aid the attack.

Rookie wide receiver Jonathan Mingo and Terrace Marshall Jr. appear to possess the ability to deliver big plays, but they both entered Monday having yet to prove they can consistently at the NFL level. Mingo had three receptions for 26 yards in eight times. Marshall was mostly silent.

Getting veteran D.J. Chark back from injury was expected to give the Panthers’ offense an immediate boost. During training camp, Young and Chark appeared to develop a downfield connection.  
Will it translate into the regular season?

TBD.

Chark caught his one target Monday, a 15-yard crossing route.  

“I have to do a better job of orchestrating all that,” Young said. “We all have to look in the mirror and grow.”

Reich: ‘That’s on me’

The Panthers’ appearance on Monday Night Football was their first since dropping a 12-9 decision to the Saints on Dec. 17, 2018.

On the Panthers’ opening drive, Young directed the Panthers to a 3-0 advantage. The nine-play drive featured six passes, but no big-play receptions. Adam Thielen’s diving, 10-yard reception set up Eddy Piñeiro’s 52-yard field goal. It was Young’s longest completion on the drive.

Thielen finished with a team-high seven receptions for 54 yards and the late TD.

At least twice during their initial drive, Panthers receivers struggled to get open, leaving Young to scramble out of the pocket and suffer one sack. The biggest play? Sanders’ scamper over left guard.

Through the first half, Young went 6 of 13 for 66 yards. Through three quarters, he was 11 of 20 for 84 yards.

Near the end of the third quarter, after Young skipped a pass to Mingo, a smattering of boos could be heard.  

Reich shielded his rookie.

“That’s not on Bryce,” Reich said. “That’s on me. I call the plays.  

“Our struggles on offense is not one person.”

In Young’s opening seven quarters, he guided the offense to just one TD drive.

“There are things I want back,” Young said.

The loss drops the Panthers to 0-2, both to division foes. Still, Reich continues to believe the offense will create explosive plays.

“Not far away,” he said. “I’m confident in our group of receivers. I know we have the players and coaches to do it.”

Just not under the Monday night lights.

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