Carolina Panthers nice Luke Kuechly believes we discovered lots about Bryce Younger’s “make-up” and development in his second season in comparison with his first.
The No. 1 total choose within the 2023 NFL Draft confirmed large progress in his second season, taking fewer sacks — 62 in comparison with 29 — and displaying much more poise and luxury.
The expansion clearly confirmed as Younger went 4-8 as a starter, an enchancment over the earlier season through which he went 2-14. He additionally upped his passing landing complete to fifteen after throwing for simply 11 in the course of the earlier season whereas taking part in 4 much less video games. That’s not even mentioning his six speeding touchdowns in comparison with having zero in the course of the earlier season.
”You discovered lots about Bryce’s make-up,” Kuechly informed Sports activities Lens in an unique interview on behalf of his partnership with PXG. “What sort of man he was, how he dealt with adversity, Final yr he acquired hit lots. All the time acquired again up, by no means complained. He missed a recreation early within the season for an ankle damage, however he acquired hit 62 instances as a rookie.
“He acquired sacked, acquired up, walked off the sphere, got here proper again, by no means complained,” Kuechly continues to say of Younger. “You quick ahead to this yr, he had a tricky begin to the yr. Pulled him after a pair video games. He may have sat on the bench, sulked, checked out, however he didn’t. He stayed locked in.”
After being benched for just a few video games at the beginning of the season for veteran Andy Dalton, Younger regained the job — and by no means let up — displaying extra of the talent that he displayed at Alabama that led to him being the No. 1 total choose.
Younger had been benched after Week 2 earlier than reclaiming the beginning job coming into Week 8 as a result of a fender bender that Dalton was concerned in.
“Bryce is available in and it’s like he didn’t miss a beat,” says Kuechly. “I give numerous credit score to Dave Canales for pulling him out, giving him an opportunity to take a seat. Then Bryce, simply his psychological make-up, his psychological toughness permits him to sort of pursue by that tough time.
“Because the season went on, I believe Bryce sort of acquired again to who he was at Alabama,” Kuechly continues to say. “I’m gonna go play soccer. I’m gonna go let it rip. He’s sensible. He’s robust. He used his toes to his benefit.”
Kuechly: Younger Exhibiting Traits That Made Him No. 1 General Decide
As talked about by Kuechly, Younger confirmed off extra of his speeding capability, posting six touchdowns, the third-highest complete by a quarterback this season, tied with Offensive Rookie of the 12 months Jayden Daniels and Anthony Richardson, two quarterbacks recognized extra for his or her athleticism than Younger.
”He’s capable of get out and run a bit bit, lengthen performs and do what we all the time thought we had in Bryce: the contact and the anticipation and the flexibility to sort of scoot and get out and make a play on the transfer,” says Kuechly. “We noticed numerous that because the season progressed after which going into this offseason — similar coach, similar offensive coordinator, similar GM, quite common aim — it’s the understanding of the place we have to go. I believe that’s solely gonna assist us transfer ahead.”
The all-around stability and construction of the staff and group led to Younger having a extra prolific season. Kuechly factors out how the offensive line was higher, which led to an bettering speeding assault.
The Panthers ranked 18th in speeding yards, eighth in touchdowns and tenth in yards per try after rating twentieth in yards, thirtieth in touchdowns and twenty third in yards per try in the course of the earlier season.
Kuechly mentions the offseason additions of the 2 guards, Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt, as taking part in a significant position within the enchancment of Younger and the Panthers’ offensive unit as an entire. Hunt was named to the Professional Bowl for the primary time throughout his debut season in Carolina.
”I believe they have been an enormous a part of what Bryce did,” says Kuechly. “Clearly, they didn’t get talked about as a lot as they in all probability ought to have, however they made Bryce’s job lots simpler.
We have been capable of run the ball extra successfully this yr. On account of all of that, Bryce was ready pattern in the best path.”
Kuechly: Well being, Robust Draft Can Assist Panthers Attain Subsequent Degree
When requested what the Panthers have to do to get to that subsequent degree, Kuechly says it’s a matter of being wholesome. As talked about in the course of the dialog with Kuechly, the NFC South isn’t an awesome division, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers squeaking out the division title with a 9-8 file. Additionally they did the identical in the course of the earlier season with the identical file.
Contemplating the Panthers confirmed enchancment beneath Younger in his second season, a division title isn’t precisely out of attain coming into the 2025 season.
”I believe we should be wholesome,” says Kuechly. “That’s a straightforward factor to say. Derrick Brown was out all of final yr. Adam Thielen missed a bunch of time. Austin Corbett, our beginning middle, missed a while, together with linebacker Shaq Thompson. We have been simply banged up in all places.”
Carolina is slated to choose at No. 8 within the 2025 NFL Draft, which implies the Panthers can discover an “influence participant” that may assist them get to that subsequent degree, as Kuechly factors out.
”It’s a must to discover an influence participant that helps you out,” says Kuechly. “Can we go protection? There’s some good edge rushers, there’s a few inside guys which are actually good. Can we attempt to discover Bryce extra playmakers? I believe sitting there at eight, we’re going to have some actually good alternatives. I’m trying ahead to seeing what we do.”
When requested who the Panthers ought to choose at No. 8, the seven-time Professional Bowl linebacker says he would go protection as a result of he’s a “defensive” man.
”I’m a defensive man, love cross rushers and I like huge inside defensive linemen,” says Kuechly. “There’s a man in Michigan, Mason Graham, he’s a stud. Abdul Carter, the 2 guys at Georgia, they’re far and wide. We simply gotta go choose the best one.”
