Carolina Panthers nice Luke Kuechly believes we realized loads about Bryce Younger’s “make-up” and development in his second season in comparison with his first.
The No. 1 general choose within the 2023 NFL Draft confirmed great 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 through the earlier season whereas taking part in 4 much less video games. That’s not even mentioning his six dashing touchdowns in comparison with having zero through the earlier season.
”You realized loads 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 loads. At all times acquired again up, by no means complained. He missed a recreation early within the season for an ankle harm, however he acquired hit 62 occasions as a rookie.
“He acquired sacked, acquired up, walked off the sector, 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 a number of video games firstly 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 general choose.
Younger had been benched after Week 2 earlier than reclaiming the beginning job getting into Week 8 as a consequence 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 lots of 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 way of that troublesome 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 good. He’s robust. He used his ft to his benefit.”
Kuechly: Younger Exhibiting Traits That Made Him No. 1 Total Choose
As talked about by Kuechly, Younger confirmed off extra of his dashing means, posting six touchdowns, the third-highest complete by a quarterback this season, tied with Offensive Rookie of the Yr Jayden Daniels and Anthony Richardson, two quarterbacks recognized extra for his or her athleticism than Younger.
”He’s in a position to get out and run slightly 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 lots of 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 workforce and group led to Younger having a extra prolific season. Kuechly factors out how the offensive line was higher, which led to an enhancing dashing assault.
The Panthers ranked 18th in dashing 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 through 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 a complete. Hunt was named to the Professional Bowl for the primary time throughout his debut season in Carolina.
”I believe they had 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 loads simpler.
We had been in a position to run the ball extra successfully this yr. Because of all of that, Bryce was in a position development in the precise path.”
Kuechly: Well being, Robust Draft Can Assist Panthers Attain Subsequent Stage
When requested what the Panthers must do to get to that subsequent degree, Kuechly says it’s a matter of being wholesome. As talked about through the dialog with Kuechly, the NFC South isn’t a fantastic division, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers squeaking out the division title with a 9-8 report. In addition they did the identical through the earlier season with the identical report.
Contemplating the Panthers confirmed enchancment underneath Younger in his second season, a division title isn’t precisely out of attain getting into the 2025 season.
”I believe we should be wholesome,” says Kuechly. “That’s a simple 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 had been simply banged up in all places.”
Carolina is slated to choose at No. 8 within the 2025 NFL Draft, which suggests the Panthers can discover an “affect participant” that may assist them get to that subsequent degree, as Kuechly factors out.
”It’s a must to discover an affect participant that helps you out,” says Kuechly. “Will we go protection? There’s some good edge rushers, there’s a few inside guys which might be actually good. Will we attempt to discover Bryce extra playmakers? I believe sitting there at eight, we’re going to have some actually good alternatives. I’m wanting 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 go rushers and I really like large 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 in all places. We simply gotta go choose the precise one.”