Hello CSR! Welcome to Brian Answers, part two of your weekly Panthers fan mailbag for everyone! As I expected, most of the questions that came in this week were heavily centered around the future of Bryce Young, and by association the future of the coaching staff. We mixed in some Christmas fun along the way though too. With all that said, let’s jump right in to answering your questions!
e4*: As much cathartic as inquiring – why hasn’t Bryce Young been benched yet?
I don’t see a real reason to bench Bryce Young at this point. This was supposed to be the season to figure out whether he’s the long term answer or not, and allowing him the full body of work likely paints a better picture with how to proceed in the off-season. Trotting Andy Dalton out there or Mike White/somebody else signed off their couch doesn’t really solve anything. Bryce is their best chance to win football games at this juncture regardless of how you/I feel about him right now.
right_turn_clyde: Coach Canales found a way to open up the passing game with Bryce late last year. What changed that negated last year’s improvement? Are opposing teams defending the pass differently this year or is it simply regression on Bryce’s part? I don’t believe the problem is Canales.
I know many responded to this question,
including some pretty good thoughts by commenter KSUDD, so I am not going to retread many points and instead offer my honest opinion; I think teams have a better idea of what Dave Canales is trying to do on offense and how he was scheming to make Bryce as successful as possible last season. The NFL is constantly evolving, that’s why you see tons of examples of players regressing heavily after one “breakout” year. I also think Canales is playing it a bit more conservative instead of fully opening the passing game. I think at this point he should just call then passing offense he wants to call and see if Bryce can adapt or falter. It can’t get much worse.
KeepPounding88: If Bryce is our starter next year, do you think it will be because he actually earned it, or because our options to replace him this offseason are so limited?
I have a hard time speculating that far into the future because there’s still a lot of football to play, but the current projection is the Panthers bring in a QB or two in the off-season and let Bryce finish out his rookie contract. So if he’s starting next season, I would think its because he’s earned it. Whether or not we see a major improvement between this version and that version I really can’t say yet.
Brazilian Panther: What college QB would be available in the draft if the Panthers picked today? Mendoza will be the first one to go so forget about him, but who else?
Ty Simpson and LaNorris Sellers are my two picks right now. Whether or not the Panthers actually get the chance to draft one of them is a different story. My preferred scenario is the Panthers draft a guy they don’t feel pressured to play right away, especially since they’ll theoretically still have Bryce on the final year of his rookie deal, assuming they don’t pick up his 5th year option of course.
Pantherblueblood: At the NFL level DCs will figure almost every player and team tendency. Do you expect the remainder of our games to be against defenses stacking the box and forcing Bryce to beat them with his processing abilities and a noodling arm? I still feel No Time Dowdle is the best option, do you?
As Dcangio09 pointed out in response, the Saints did not actually stack the box. But they did key heavily on the rushing attack and built their game plan around forcing the Panthers into throwing the ball. I would expect most teams to do this if the game script remains neutral. If the Panthers are able to get out ahead by 10 points or so early they may be able to lean on their run centric, clock draining style and grind out a win.
Randalpink11: If you have the first pick in the “Way Too Early, Greatest Christmas Movie of All-Time Draft”, which movie would be your selection?
Disclaimer: Vote Diehard at your own risk with this crew!
Jingle All The Way will always be a nostalgic favorite of mine, I probably watched that movie 50 times as a kid. On another note, Santa’s Slay is just excellent for any of you cheesy bad horror film fans out there like me!
Panthers75: Seems like every year there is a team that provides a blueprint for beating the Panthers. Did the aints, of all the teams, just do that Sunday? I dont watch a lot of other teams so hoe many of the remaining teams on the schedule have the ability to execute the aints gameplan? I just cant shake the feeling we lose out from here
While I know many are feeling down and out over Bryce Young’s dismal performances, these next few games could be very crucial in determining the long term outlook for Dave Canales as a play caller. How he adjusts to teams likely adopting a similar game plan will be very interesting to see. But I do think the Saints at least established the outline for what to do against the Panthers current offensive identity. It is not always going to work just because many teams aren’t build to defend the run that well, but we’ll see.
egon petri: Given DC’s history with reclamation projects, does anyone stand out as a possibility
I went ahead and linked your whole comment so people can see your whole list. Of the available QB options out there, I’d be fine with the Panthers taking a flyer on Sam Howell, Zach Wilson, or Malik Willis if they decide to roll into a QB competition in 2026. Really anyone that Dave Canales can spend the whole Offseason working with that has some form of a ceiling.
positivebob: Idzik seems to be more of an advisor to DC than a real OC. Canales is functioning as HC and OC. Is that too much? Should Morgan insist that Canales brings in a real OC and let him run the offense so Canales can focus on HC. Rumors of slack practices last week leaked out and it’s probably not the 1st time players thought the team lacked focus and discipline, just the 1st time it came out in public. I don’t know who might be out there, but I say bring in a competent OC to get the details right and let Canales focus on being HC. There’s a lot of focus on BY right now, and he is part of the problem, but the coaching staff has to take it’s share of the blame. Is it time for a shake up at QB coach, WR coach, TE coach. Carolina is not getting enough production out of these positions, and those players do not seem to be developing, in season or year to year. As an insider, what’s your opinion of the coaches on this staff?
I’m personally fine with having Brad Idzik as the offensive coordinator with Dave Canales calling plays. I do like the mindset of bringing in a high quality defensive coordinator and letting Canales mostly focus on the offensive side of the ball. If Canales is no longer calling the plays or molding the offense in his vision I’m not sure why you keep him around to be a head coach at that point. I’m not really feeling out on the coaching staff just yet, they have and will make mistakes but overall I do see the vision and like what they’ve done from a big picture standpoint. I don’t feel that any particular coach is holding them back as much as they just need to continue bringing in talent to stack the cupboards. And, you know, figure out what to do at quarterback.
Revshawn: How much job equity does Bryce Young have at this point? I think the most likely scenario that while Bryce doesn’t completely crash and burn with no survivors, I think he will continue down this path of 100-150 yards a game with a touchdown or two here and there with the Panthers having to dominate in the run game and on defense to win games. If that continues to be the case down the line to the end of the season, what do you think the QB room looks like in 2026?
My current scenario is they bring in some form of veteran competition for Bryce Young and draft another guy to develop on the bench somewhere. I don’t see them moving on from Bryce Young unless they feel he has no value at all, which I think he would simply because he’s been through two whole offseasons learning the scheme, which based on how Bryce handled being benched last season, I would expect he still would do everything he can to help out the team, no matter who ends up as the starter in 2026. Plus, there’s always the chance (as slim as it may seem right now) that he takes the step forward we all thought he should have following the strong end to the 2024 season.
GooseCreek: I’m wondering if DC Evero is poached for a HC job…could Ohio State DC Matt Patricia be lured back to the NFL if the Panthers promise to use a 1st rounder to bring in one of his linebackers? It wouldn’t be the worst thing that could happen.
It is certainly possible, though I wouldn’t want to leave a cushy job with the best college team in the country to potentially sign on with a team that might decide to wipe the slate clean with this coaching staff in 2027 if things don’t get better. I DO NOT support that decision by the way, but it is a possibility to consider for a move like that.
Chef: Outside of QB, what do you see as the biggest Achilles heal on the current roster? Secondary, pass rusher, or MLB? Is there another area of concern that is flying under the radar because of our other glaring issues?
I would say EDGE and interior linebacker, and just overall depth along the entire front seven. A strong front seven rotation that can constantly pressure the QB and dominate the line of scrimmage solves a lot of problems and that would be one of the quickest ways to turn this team around fast even with turmoil at QB. I’d also say safety, though I don’t know if they’ll spend any more premium resources on the position in the immediate future.
aaroningreensboro: Do you feel like there’s any heat on our position coaches on the offensive side?
The passing game is such an ugly mess it looks like no one knows what the hell they’re doing. This goes deeper than Bryce not being the guy. I know he’s not the guy, but he’s not the only problem.
At this point I highly doubt the coaches should be feeling any heat. That said, if David Tepper decides to start having weekly meetings again, heat will be felt.
bradytschu: Been supporting Bryce and always will but I have to question what happened between this season and the end of last season? How has he regressed since that last game against the falcons with 5 TDs and all the great games he played before then? Is it play calling? mis communications between receivers? or just straight up regression (which seems impossible bc he’s just in his 3rd year).
Jon answered this probably better than I could, even though he’s a hater.
@WTMealey: Here’s an actual question-what is tougher playing QB in the NFL or evaluating talent and selecting a QB either from the draft or FA pool?
I think selecting a QB is probably easier if only because teams occasionally just get lucky (see: Brock Purdy, Tom Brady, etc). I don’t think I recall any QB simply getting lucky and being a good quarterback. There are examples of QBs being propped up by the roster around them but I think finding a quarterback is probably easier simply because the odds of finding one out of sheer luck is better than lucking your way into playing QB at a high level.
That’s all for this week Panthers fans. Enjoy part two of Panthers vs Falcons (aka, the Misery and Sadness Bowl).
