In time, the Carolina Panthers could have their next franchise quarterback in Bryce Young. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick has already started to show occasional flashes of playmaking and great anticipation as a young guy but is, unfortunately, floundering on an otherwise moribund Panthers squad.
It seems Carolina can’t use Young for every important play, either. Take a quarterback sneak on a key Panthers fourth-and-short against the New Orleans Saints Monday night. While sitting in opposition territory in a 6-3 affair, the Panthers subbed out Young for Dalton. Huh, that’s a little odd, you might think. Sure, you probably want the more experienced player taking in a vital play. But there’s no real reason Young shouldn’t be able to handle all the responsibilities the Panthers ask him to.
Given the nature of a quarterback sneak — where the player must often gain a yard or less by inching over the line — it’s unsurprising. The Panthers seemingly took Young out because he’s a listed 5-foot-10 while Dalton is a listed 6-foot-2. And it almost blew up in their face: Dalton’s cadence led to a false start before kicker Eddy Pineiro had to make a 54-yard attempt.
So yes, the Panthers could have a special signal caller on their hands. And ultimately, being potentially too short for quarterback sneaks probably won’t mean anything for Young as the leader of a team. If the alternative is true — the Panthers don’t trust Young in that situation regardless of his physique — then they have a significant problem on their hands.
Still, it was a little bizarre watching a top pick apparently get substituted for his height.
This was how Twitter reacted to the Panthers' quarterback substitution for a sneak
Did the Panthers just take Bryce Young out of the game because he’s TOO SMALL FOR A QB SNEAK?!😭
— Ashlie #PAYM1K3 (@EMT_Ashlie) September 19, 2023
I wanted to see Bryce Young do the QB sneak smh
— JP Acosta (Pug Dederson Stan Acct) (@acosta32_jp) September 19, 2023
Andy Dalton comes in on fourth down.
Bryce Young's not a sneak guy.
Flag. False start on Mays. So a moot point.
— Darin Gantt (@daringantt) September 19, 2023
4th and short and the #Panthers take Bryce Young out and put Andy Dalton in for a potential sneak/short yardage play.
Taking the 1st overall pick out because you’re worried about injury or you don’t think he can get the job done in a crucial situation is not ideal, at all.
— The GOAT House (@GoatHouseNFL) September 19, 2023
I don't understand putting Andy Dalton into the game at all for the Panthers.
I don't care if you wanted to mind games about making them think it was a sneak. You don't take out Bryce Young and mess with his mindset.
— Tim Donnelly (@DonnellySports) September 19, 2023
Panthers thought Bryce Young was too small for a QB sneak so they put in Andy Dalton???
— َ🤎 (@itsbriaaa) September 19, 2023
In other news, the Panthers took Bryce Young out for a QB sneak and Andy Dalton’s cadence caused a false start.
Should’ve signed Brissett, Frank.
— Christian Williams (@CWilliamsNFL) September 19, 2023
Bryce Young is too small to run a QB sneak 💀💀💀
— JWeb 🍌⬛️ (@JWeb777) September 19, 2023
Why did you draft Bryce Young if you need Andy Dalton to run short yardage plays? Just absurd.
— Kyle Bailey (@KyleBaileyClub) September 19, 2023
Andy Dalton when told to check in for Bryce Young for the Panthers vs the Saints: pic.twitter.com/Sw31wW3GQZ
— Danny Armstrong (@DArmstrong44) September 19, 2023
Andy Dalton coming in for Bryce Young on 3rd and 1s gives me flashbacks of Cam Newton being pulled for Hail Mary situations
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) September 19, 2023
