David Newton, ESPN Personnel Essayist
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The New York Jets had been the featured workforce on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” for Saturday’s preseason game at Bank of America Stadium, but it was Carolina Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young who took the hard knocks.
The top pick of the draft was hammered on two of his first three pass attempts and sacked on his 10th and final play.
It was so bad that offensive line coach James Campen called his group together for a private meeting after head coach Frank Reich addressed the team to let them know that wasn’t an acceptable standard.
“We needed to store it actual with each and every alternative,” veteran take on Cam Erving stated. “The s— wasn’t good enough. Top to bottom, no matter if it’s preseason, regular season, the s— was not good enough. Any level, from any position, myself included, especially my f—ing self.
“All we will be able to do is aim to regroup and cure it.”
The most efficient factor Younger did used to be display pre-draft issues of sturdiness on account of his 5-foot-10, 204-pound body could have been untimely. Each and every life he used to be knocked unwell he bounced proper again up.
The larger worry for the Panthers upcoming the 27-0 loss to a Jets workforce that didn’t play games quarterback Aaron Rodgers used to be the offensive wrinkle. A unit that used to be meant to be a power used to be uncovered as Younger used to be strike on 3 of 7 move performs.
“We found out he can take a hit,” Erving said. “I ruthless, that wasn’t truly a amaze coming from the place he performed school ball [Alabama]. However that child has been doing the entirety the proper manner, and we need to put together certain we do a greater task of defending him.”
The most important strike got here on Younger’s first effort, a vicious blind-side shot through Jets edge rusher Solomon Thomas, who beat left take on Ikem Ekwonu with an inside of exit at the first effort.
Reich waited till the beginning of the second one part to invite his 22-year-old famous person how he used to be.
“‘Well, that was a pretty good welcome to the NFL hit. How did that feel?’ ” Reich said he asked Young. “He stated it felt high-quality, he slightly felt it.”
Ekwonu used to be crushed once more on Younger’s moment effort, however the bulky misspen got here inside of from Jermaine Johnson who despatched the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner a number of yards again.
Younger by no means were given off the move on his ultimate play games as Quinton Jefferson beat shield Michael Jordan inside of.
Younger completed 4-of-6 for 21 yards on 10 performs. His worst makes an attempt got here on 3rd unwell the place he used to be 0-for-2 with two passes that had been uncatchable.
However he by no means complained concerning the hits, pronouncing “that’s part of football” and the only thing you can do is move on to the next play, which has been one of his strengths in camp.
“I think high-quality,” Younger stated. “Physically, I’m blessed and don’t have any injuries.”
In terms of critics that worry about his durability, Young added, “No matter public would possibly think or would possibly suppose is occurring, I don’t regulate that. The ones are what they’re. That’s now not one thing I put concept into.”
Younger did some excellent issues. He removed the ball briefly and used to be correct, even on his first move that going to Adam Thielen for a primary unwell on second-and-8 life he used to be being blind-sided.
“But no doubt, I didn’t want to see the pressure we had,” Reich said.
Reich didn’t commit to how much Young might play in the next two preseason games, saying much of that depends on how things go in practice.
From Erving’s standpoint, Young did all he was supposed to on Saturday.
“Poise, guy. The child’s set,” he stated. “He lives in the moment. That’s all you can ask from a quarterback. He has a short-term memory. He did everything he was supposed to do. He processed everything.
“However us as an O-line, we need to do higher.”
