Dave Canales provides a positive update on Bryce Young's progress heading into year two

New Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales can only say positive things about the way second-year quarterback Bryce Young has taken up the offense. 

It is the same scheme that helped rebuild Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield's career. Canales, eager to help Young, hopes it will do the same for one of the most disappointing No. 1 overall picks in recent years.

On Monday, the first full day of voluntary workouts, Canales had nothing but praise for the quarterback who has the hopes and dreams of the Panthers resting on his shoulders.  

"He's doing fantastic with it," Canales said of how Young is handling the new-look offense. "As I expect him to do, he's really mastered that part of it."

That must be great news for the Panthers front office, which is looking to mold Young into a franchise quarterback. He looked nothing like one during the 2023 season. 

He ranked 29th out of 30 qualified quarterbacks in Total QBR (33.4), 33rd in completion percentage (59.8%) and 28th in touchdown passes (11). Brutal. 

But already, Canales is claiming Young is showing signs of the quarterback he was at the University of Alabama. The first-year head coach is impressed with Young's accuracy. He said he is glad that accuracy isn't something that he will have to coach moving into year two. Instead, the coach is focusing on everything else that matters. 

"One of the things I really love is I can really focus on the footwork, his base, and the mechanics of where his eyes are at when I know the ball is hitting the receivers," Canales said. 

As Young's expectations grow heading into year two, it appears he has a coach that he can work with – something that wasn't necessarily true about Frank Reich. Like many teams around late May, the only feeling is optimism. And for now, that may be enough to have Young moving in the right direction. 

"I'm super excited to have new pieces," Young said. "[Canales] has a very calming presence. He's someone you can have a conversation with, and talk with. Good, bad, or indifferent, you can tell there's an emphasis on teaching."