ESPN offers terrifying analysis of Carolina Panthers offense, Bryce Young

Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers saw all of their positive offseason energy blown away in their Week 1 game against the New Orleans Saints. While a 47-10 score proves everyone is responsible for one of the worst performances in franchise history, the supposed franchise quarterback found himself back in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.

Young was intercepted twice, including on his first pass of the game, and he completed just 13 of his 30 passes for 161 yards. In 17 professional games, the struggling Young now has 11 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and 15 losses. ESPN's Ben Solak not only grilled the former Alabama star, but also took a close look at Carolina's offense as a whole.

Solak said in no uncertain terms that the alert level for this offense should be set to “Panic! Run for the exits! Women and children first!” The Heisman Trophy winner's video against New Orleans was called “one of the worst Bryce Young films I've ever seen” and described the offense as a near-hopeless situation for new head coach Dave Canales.

Solak believes there's no way to replicate Young's quarterback style in the NFL unless the Panthers have the talent and speed of the Miami Dolphins. The idea of ​​a fast, sweeping game was quickly dismissed. That's exactly what maligned coach Frank Reich tried to do last season, unsuccessfully.

“I don't know what coach Dave Canales is supposed to do about it. Short of running the Mike McDaniel offense (which isn't practical in Carolina either, since that team doesn't have Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle or De'Von Achane, let alone all three), there's no way to make that quarterback style work in the NFL. Super spread quick game? That's what Frank Reich tried last season. All rollouts and boots? You can't split the field in half that often against NFL defenses. Young has to be willing to stand in the pocket and make throws, or that plane will never take off.”

– Ben Solak, ESPN

Solak's biggest criticism of Young is that the former No. 1 pick in his second season lacks “the ability to play out of NFL niches.” This flaw is attributed to Young's size and weight, as he has trouble seeing over larger offensive players and can be pressured by physical NFL punches.

If the pocket isn't optimal, Young can struggle to get the ball out accurately and in a timely manner. No matter how many schematic bells and whistles Canales can bring to the table as an offensive coach, the signal-caller having trouble executing some of the plays NFL starters simply have to make has to be a concern for fans.

The problems of the rest of Carolina's offense will only make matters worse. Both Miles Sanders and Chuba Hubbard failed to produce anything on the ground and were largely ignored as the contest spiraled out of control. Ikem Ekwonu was clearly a weak link that could ruin an improved offensive line. The vaunted receiver group was not as productive as some might have imagined.

Young quarterbacks are allowed to have bad games and make dumb plays, but the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft has those lows without the highs you'd expect from such a high-profile draft selection.

The season hasn't started yet, but Carolina's offense can't keep playing like this much longer.