ex-Alabama coach tells NFL insider Panthers QB Bryce Young 'needs a new program'

Former college coach for Bryce Young doesn't understand what Carolina is doing with him.

Tim Weaver | Oct 28, 2024

DENVER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 27: Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers looks on before the game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High on October 27, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. / (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images)

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Carolina Panthers

Considering the circumstances, Bryce Young played relatively well for the Carolina Panthers in Sunday's road loss to the Denver Broncos. While his final stat line was far from pretty, Young had his best game yet of 2024 while facing an elite defense and without two of the team's three best wide receivers in the lineup.

Nevertheless, it's not going to be enough to change the organization's mind, which seems to be set on finding somebody else to lead their offense. Remember, Young only started that game because Andy Dalton suffered a thumb injury in a car accident. At least one former college coach of Young's thinks he'd do better in a different program. Here's what he told Dianna Russini at ESPN.

College coach on Bryce Young

Spoke to a former Alabama coach about Bryce Young.
"He has so much talent and intelligence. I don't know what's going on there in Carolina, but he needs a new program."
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) October 28, 2024

You could read that in a couple of different ways. He might think that Bryce Young could benefit from a change of scenery and might live up to his potential with another NFL team. Then again, he could have meant that a new coaching staff for the Panthers could bring out the best in him.

Of course, Carolina has already tried that. Thus far rookie head coach Dave Canales hasn't been able to squeeze anything better our of Bryce Young than Frank Reich did despite coming in with a reputation as a quartebrack whisperer. It's probably worth mentioning that this is one of the worst rosters in the NFL, and it would be difficult for any quarterback to find success here.

The situation is unlikely to improve this coming week. Next up on the schedule is a New Orleans Saints team that has managed to make Young look worse than any other opponent so far in his career. Canales says the Panthers have not yet decided who will start at QB.