Dave Canales says Bryce Young is 'the right guy'
Bryce Young has the newly-hired Carolina Panthers head coach’s vote of approval. Earlier this week, Dave Canales weighed in on his vision for the organization’s future behind center.
“The more that I got ready for this interview and started watching Bryce, looking at my notes from his eval, that’s just a year ago, we were evaluating him as a player, as a person, with all the information that we could, I just got more and more fired up about the opportunity to have this amazing talent,” Canales said.
“He’s the guy. He’s the right guy. We all talk about when we have that quarterback, that face of the franchise type of player, and that got me really excited.”
Young didn’t always look like Carolina’s future in his debut campaign. This past season, Young tallied 2,877 passing yards and 11 touchdowns while throwing 10 interceptions. He connected on 59.8% of his pass attempts.
The Panthers began the season on a six-game losing streak before defeating the Houston Texans on Oct. 29. Young and Co. weren’t able to build momentum from their win. The Panthers lost another six games before securing their only other win of the season.
The Panthers’ two wins were the least of any team in the season. Despite Carolina’s constant shortcomings, Young never lost his passion. In Week 17, Young slammed a tablet on the sideline while trailing the Jaguars in the second quarter.
Adam Schefter reveals key for Dave Canales’ future
After the Panthers announced the decision to hire Canales as the team’s next head coach, ESPN’s Adam Schefter addressed how important the relationship will be between Canales and Young.
“To me, the biggest, most important relationship in that organization now — it’s not close — is the one between Dave Canales and Bryce Young,” Schefter declared. “Because this team mortgaged its future on the quarterback that the organization believes in and (believes) has the chance to grow into a great player.”
He continued, explaining how Young is the Panthers’ prized asset and it’s Canales who could be the key to unlocking the former No. 1 pick’s potential.
“They need somebody who’s gonna nurture him, allow him to grow and become the quarterback they believe he was when they traded up and gave away all those picks to get Bryce Young. So that is the most important relationship in that organization now. You can take Tepper, you can take Morgan, you can take any of these guys, but it’s about Dave Canales and Bryce Young and what they do together.”