Bryce Young’s footwork was amongst the many topics in The Athletic‘s explosive report of the Carolina Panthers’ ‘Hunger Games’ culture—and offensive coordinator Thomas Brown was asked about it on Thursday.
Joe Person, who penned the exposé with fellow reporter Dianna Russini, brought up the potential concern about Young this afternoon. He asked Brown if the depth (or thereof) of the rookie quarterback’s pass sets have caused protection issues throughout the season.
“I think we’ve been inconsistent overall offensively the entire year,” he replied. “So I think it’s on us, from a coaching staff standpoint, to continue to coach our guys the right way and get more improvements when it comes to his position but also O-line-wise, but receivers as well, getting open from a timing standpoint so the ball can come out on time as it kinda relates to pass protection.”
Person and Russini wrote that general manager Scott Fitterer “and others” told owner David Tepper that Young was not dropping back enough on pass sets. Tepper then reportedly approached head coach Frank Reich about the issue “days before Thanksgiving.”
One source told Person and Russini that Young’s footwork had not improved afterwards, particularly following the team’s loss to the Tennessee Titans in Week 12. Reich was fired a day later.
Young has been sacked 44 times this season, the second-highest mark in the league.
