Unique: Panthers Legend Luke Kuechly Raves About Bryce Younger, Talks No. 8 Decide

Carolina Panthers nice Luke Kuechly believes we realized quite a bit about Bryce Younger’s “make-up” and progress in his second season in comparison with his first.

The No. 1 general decide within the 2023 NFL Draft confirmed great progress in his second season, taking fewer sacks — 62 in comparison with 29 — and exhibiting much more poise and luxury. 

The expansion clearly confirmed as Younger went 4-8 as a starter, an enchancment over the earlier season through which he went 2-14. He additionally upped his passing landing complete to fifteen after throwing for simply 11 through the earlier season whereas taking part in 4 much less video games. That’s not even mentioning his six speeding touchdowns in comparison with having zero through the earlier season.

 ”You realized quite a bit about Bryce’s make-up,” Kuechly advised Sports activities Lens in an unique interview on behalf of his partnership with PXG. “What sort of man he was, how he dealt with adversity,  Final yr he received hit quite a bit. All the time received again up, by no means complained. He missed a sport early within the season for an ankle damage, however he received hit 62 occasions as a rookie. 

“He received sacked, received up, walked off the sector, got here proper again, by no means complained,” Kuechly continues to say of Younger. “You quick ahead to this yr, he had a tricky begin to the yr. Pulled him after a pair video games. He may have sat on the bench, sulked, checked out, however he didn’t. He stayed locked in.”

After being benched for just a few video games at the beginning of the season for veteran Andy Dalton, Younger regained the job — and by no means let up — exhibiting extra of the ability that he displayed at Alabama that led to him being the No. 1 general decide.  

Younger had been benched after Week 2 earlier than reclaiming the beginning job coming into Week 8 attributable to a fender bender that Dalton was concerned in.

“Bryce is available in and it’s like he didn’t miss a beat,” says Kuechly. “I give lots of credit score to Dave Canales for pulling him out, giving him an opportunity to take a seat. Then Bryce, simply his psychological make-up, his psychological toughness permits him to type of pursue via that tough time. 

“Because the season went on, I feel Bryce type of received again to who he was at Alabama,” Kuechly continues to say. “I’m gonna go play soccer. I’m gonna go let it rip. He’s good. He’s robust. He used his toes to his benefit.”

Kuechly: Younger Exhibiting Traits That Made Him No. 1 Total Decide

As talked about by Kuechly, Younger confirmed off extra of his speeding means, posting six touchdowns, the third-highest complete by a quarterback this season, tied with Offensive Rookie of the Yr Jayden Daniels and Anthony Richardson, two quarterbacks identified extra for his or her athleticism than Younger.

 ”He’s capable of get out and run slightly bit, prolong performs and do what we all the time thought we had in Bryce: the contact and the anticipation and the flexibility to type of scoot and get out and make a play on the transfer,” says Kuechly. “We noticed lots of that because the season progressed after which going into this offseason — identical coach, identical offensive coordinator, identical GM, quite common aim — it’s the understanding of the place we have to go. I feel that’s solely gonna assist us transfer ahead.”

The all-around stability and construction of the staff and group led to Younger having a extra prolific season. Kuechly factors out how the offensive line was higher, which led to an bettering speeding assault. 

The Panthers ranked 18th in speeding yards, eighth in touchdowns and tenth in yards per try after rating twentieth in yards, thirtieth in touchdowns and twenty third in yards per try through the earlier season.

Kuechly mentions the offseason additions of the 2 guards, Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt, as taking part in a serious position within the enchancment of Younger and the Panthers’ offensive unit as a complete. Hunt was named to the Professional Bowl for the primary time throughout his debut season in Carolina.

 ”I feel they had been an enormous a part of what Bryce did,” says Kuechly. “Clearly, they didn’t get talked about as a lot as they in all probability ought to have, however they made Bryce’s job quite a bit simpler.

We had been capable of run the ball extra successfully this yr. On account of all of that, Bryce was ready development in the suitable route.”

Kuechly: Well being, Sturdy Draft Can Assist Panthers Attain Subsequent Stage

When requested what the Panthers must do to get to that subsequent degree, Kuechly says it’s a matter of being wholesome. As talked about through the dialog with Kuechly, the NFC South isn’t an incredible division, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers squeaking out the division title with a 10-7 document. In addition they did the identical through the earlier season with the identical document.

Contemplating the Panthers confirmed enchancment beneath Younger in his second season, a division title isn’t precisely out of attain coming into the 2025 season.

 ”I feel we should be wholesome,” says Kuechly. “That’s a simple factor to say. Derrick Brown was out all of final yr. Adam Thielen missed a bunch of time. Austin Corbett, our beginning middle, missed a while, together with linebacker Shaq Thompson. We had been simply banged up in every single place.”

Carolina is slated to select at No. 8 within the 2025 NFL Draft, which implies the Panthers can discover an “impression participant” that may assist them get to that subsequent degree, as Kuechly factors out.

 ”You must discover an impression participant that helps you out,” says Kuechly. “Can we go protection? There’s some good edge rushers, there’s a few inside guys which might be actually good. Can we attempt to discover Bryce extra playmakers? I feel sitting there at eight, we’re going to have some actually good alternatives. I’m wanting ahead to seeing what we do.”

When requested who the Panthers ought to decide at No. 8, the seven-time Professional Bowl linebacker says he would go protection as a result of he’s a “defensive” man.

 ”I’m a defensive man, love cross rushers and I like huge inside defensive linemen,” says Kuechly. “There’s a man in Michigan, Mason Graham, he’s a stud. Abdul Carter, the 2 guys at Georgia, they’re far and wide. We simply gotta go decide the suitable one.”