Canales Praises Young’s Preseason Performance: ‘Hell of a Day’

In a meaningful display against the Buffalo Bills’ second-string team, Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young showcased improvement in his performance. Young, who had a challenging rookie season, completed 6 of 8 passes for a total of 70 yards and secured a touchdown in the Panthers’ 31-26 preseason victory.

This game marked Young’s first and only appearance of the preseason. Following his performance, head coach Dave Canales congratulated him with an enthusiastic “hell of a day,” indicating that Young’s efforts resonated positively throughout the team’s locker room.

Canales praised Young for appearing “sharp” during his 12-play, 85-yard drive, expressing his satisfaction with what he observed. He said, “Couldn’t have dreamt it better,” highlighting a critical fourth-down conversion where Young demonstrated his ability to extend plays. His playmaking skills were on full display when he kept his focus downfield to locate open teammates.

On a pivotal fourth-and-3 from the Buffalo 46, Young received the snap from rookie center Andrew Raym, who was filling in due to a personal commitment by starter Austin Corbett. Young showed remarkable awareness as he navigated pressure, avoiding a tackler with a clever fade to his left. He then delivered a cross-body pass to receiver Diontae Johnson, achieving a 17-yard gain.

Canales emphasized the growth he witnessed in Young’s decision-making, stating, “Poise, eyes down the field, that aggressive nature, but being able to do it within the confines of what’s the smartest thing to do in this situation.” This blend of aggression and awareness has become essential for Young as he continues to develop.

Following this impressive play, Young connected with veteran receiver Adam Thielen for another completion, this time for 21 yards. After two incompletions, Young faced a critical third-and-goal situation from the 8-yard line. He stepped up confidently in the pocket and found Jordan Matthews, who was a former wide receiver, open in the end zone for a touchdown.

Young’s impressive passer rating of 140.6, despite facing backup players, serves as a promising indicator for a quarterback who struggled last season with the league’s lowest rating at 73.3. Additionally, he finished the previous season with the fewest touchdown passes for any quarterback with at least 500 attempts, bringing his total to just 11.

Expressing his excitement after the game, Young remarked, “It felt great for all of us to go out and play against a different team. We got a couple of different situations we got to have, which was great for us.” This sense of accomplishment reflects the confidence he is building going into his second year.

Young’s successful drive highlighted several aspects that make Canales’ offensive strategy a good match for him. He began with a play-action pass, beautifully reversing his field to connect with Matthews for an 8-yard gain. Following that was a 13-yard completion to rookie tight end Ja’Tavian Sanders, illustrating the variety and adaptability of the offense.

To alleviate the pressure on Young, Canales focused on the running game with three consecutive carries. Even after being sacked on the next play, Young’s ability to avoid a potentially larger loss underscored his agility and awareness on the field.

This dynamic fourth-down play was pivotal to earning Young the high praise from Canales. His performance during this game, especially considering the struggles of the Panthers’ offense last season, provides a glimpse of promise for the new season ahead.

Coach Canales noted the importance of translating practice performance into game situations. “You can see carry over from practice to the game of people creating space to play after the play,” he said, emphasizing the critical nature of execution and adaptability on the field.