By Clark Gerber, WRAL Sports contributor

Before starting, I want to clarify that Bryce Young is not to blame for this.

Young did not request for the Panthers to sacrifice their future in order to select him in the draft. He was not involved in creating the roster that lacks talent or implementing the current system that does not appear to suit the offensive players.

There is more than one issue with Bryce Young. There are various plays from the humiliating defeat against the Saints on Sunday that can demonstrate this.

Below are some of the links I have included:

Overall, I concur with interim coach Chris Tabor’s reasoning, as he stated on Monday that he intends to continue starting our struggling rookie quarterback for the remainder of the season.

According to Tabor, playing football is one way to improve as a football player. This statement is straightforward. The only way to gain experience in the National Football League is by actually playing.

I agree with that statement, and I believe that the sports industry has become too quick to blame and bench a player when something negative occurs.

The primary responsibility of a professional athlete is to participate in all scheduled games to the best of their potential. This involves persevering through challenges and not giving up or taking breaks when faced with difficulties.

I believe that an exception is necessary in this situation.

It is now the appropriate moment for the Panthers to bench Bryce Young. Here is the reasoning:

“There is a high risk of serious injury.”

Bryce Young is the NFL’s tiniest quarterback.

Although officially listed at 204 pounds, it is evident that his actual weight while playing is significantly less.

The fact that Young has been sacked 48 times this season is a major cause for concern for the Panthers, especially given the current circumstances.

A large group of people collapsed onto a young adult who is of slight build and only 22 years old. The fact that he has not sustained serious injuries thus far is a miracle.

Simply inquire with Bryce directly.

Football is a physically aggressive sport. A player’s body can only withstand a limited amount of physical damage before it becomes incapacitated.

Cam Newton’s career drastically shifted when T.J. Watt injured his right shoulder in 2018.

While I understand that Bryce Young and Cam Newton are distinct individuals with different styles of play, I believe this contrast highlights my point.

Why would you risk exposing your 5’10” rookie to unnecessary danger when even a superhuman athlete like Cam, standing at 6’5″, can be affected by too many hits? It’s important to prioritize the safety of your players.

The Panthers have put a significant amount of effort into developing their future with Bryce Young. It is a smart business move to prioritize his health as they head into the offseason, even if it may not be pleasant.

Moreover, Young will have a greater opportunity to develop a strong rapport with the new coaching team if he is not confined to the trainer’s room.

2. His game is becoming plagued by bad habits.

The second and ten yards to go with twelve seconds remaining in the first half.

The Panthers devised a bold offensive strategy in the form of a “shot” play, aiming to score before halftime. Their plan succeeded, as Jonathan Mingo was left completely unguarded for a touchdown.

Young narrowly missed him.

During the game broadcast, color analyst Jonathan Vilma made a keen observation that Young failed to properly position his feet for the throw, despite having an unobstructed pocket.

The rookie has been developing a negative tendency this season, possibly because he lacks confidence in his protection.

On Sunday, Young made nine attempts to pass the ball 20 or more yards down the field, which was significantly higher than his previous attempts this season. However, he was only successful in completing one of those passes.

Throughout the season, the rookie has struggled with throwing accurate deep balls, which may come as a surprise to those who saw him play in college. His completion percentage for passes of 20 yards or more is just 27%, and it has decreased even further since Week 10, dropping to a low 17.6% accuracy.

Bryce’s mechanics and footwork contribute to the issue, as demonstrated by the drop by his receivers, such as DJ Chark.

Giving him the opportunity to rest for the remainder of the season would give Young the chance to break any negative patterns he has developed and begin anew during training camp with a new staff and potentially a restructured group of receivers.

Continuing to consistently use him this year increases the possibility of those behaviors becoming deeply rooted and more difficult to eliminate in the future (referencing Carr, David).

Andy Dalton is a valuable individual to gain knowledge from.

When it comes to mentoring quarterbacks, there are few better options than a 13-year veteran who has been selected for three Pro Bowls and has started in four playoff games.

Although not considered an elite player, Andy Dalton has achieved a successful career in the NFL and still has potential. In Week 3, he threw for 361 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions against Seattle, making it the top performance by a Carolina quarterback this season.

The situation would be different if the Panthers’ substitute quarterback was an inexperienced fourth-year player. Andy Dalton possesses the expertise to elevate a weak team and maintain a strong performance.

Bryce Young should strive to follow and imitate this approach, particularly since the Panthers are unlikely to be competitive in the near future.

I acknowledge the concern that Young, who is not playing in the last four games, may lose confidence if Dalton outperforms him. However, if we are being truthful, if that is how Bryce reacts (which I doubt), he may not have the qualities needed to be the leader of an NFL team.

In my opinion, the opportunity to observe and learn from an experienced individual without the added stress would be a positive experience for the novice. I believe he would gain valuable knowledge from this experience.

Why should Bryce Young not have the same chance to sit and study as some of the top quarterbacks in the game before being pushed into game action?

4. What’s the upside?

One idea is that in order for the Panthers to have a promising future, Bryce Young needs to perform well and have a few 250-yard games in the remainder of the season.

It is highly probable that it will not occur.

Young has achieved his two lowest yardage totals and completion rates in his last four games. He only scored one touchdown in total and has been sacked 19 times.

The situation is not improving, it is deteriorating.

In my opinion, 12 games is sufficient for Young to gain more experience, which was Chris Tabor’s rationale for playing him.

The upcoming team members have the ability to observe Young’s strengths and weaknesses. They have access to ample footage for analysis.

Persisting in utilizing Young in this existing system, with the current supporting team, is akin to repeatedly banging one’s head against a wall. The outcome is predictable.

Once more, I value coach Tabor’s perspective and would typically endorse it. However, this current season is already a lost investment and what truly matters is the future.

The Panthers must accept their losses and make another attempt in the following season.

Source: wralsportsfan.com