Dave Canales makes a troubling admission about Bryce Young's leadership
Dave Canales recently told one NFL reporter that Bryce Young won’t be more vocal heading into year two.
Bryce Young, the Carolina Panthers' starting quarterback, isn't the most vocal person in the locker room.
And Dave Canales, the Panthers' newly minted head coach, doesn't foresee that leadership style changing heading into year two of the Young experiment.
"Bryce is very much comfortable with being a leader," Canales told CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones, "but he also understands that there's a level of respect gained by working and performing to the highest of your standards. He was not satisfied with his performance last year. He knows he's got work to do. So he's not going to try to take this vocal role because that's not what he does.
"But he will call the offense up after different practices and just capture moments where we look good, where we are moving. Or if there was a day where it was like clunky and we're not lining up properly, he has no problem saying, 'Guys, our standard is higher than this.' And it's a very clear message. I think he's very tactful in finding those little situations, and I can tell he's really comfortable with that role, really."
Young's low-key demeanor drew criticism amid his struggles during his rookie season.
The offense struggled to score touchdowns. He ended the year with 11 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. The Panthers' best offensive game came when Young sat out against the Seattle Seahawks and Andy Dalton had a chance to call the shots.
Despite those present struggles and Canales claiming he doesn't want Young to attempt to be something he is not, veteran Jadeveon Clowney claimed the opposite would be more effective. He wants to see Young being more vocal in the locker room and on the football field.
"I know he is just trying to feel it out," Clowney said. "Everybody expects bigger things from you since you're the quarterback. That's the only thing he don't know right now. We try to pull him up there because he's the quarterback. The quarterback, to me, is one of the biggest pieces in the National Football League. Everyone buys into the quarterback, the play of the quarterback. We need Bryce [to bring] energy. It's all about his energy. If he believes it or not, we want to see you believe it and feel it."
Canales doesn't see Young being more vocal moving forward. The veterans on the roster want to see Young embrace a more bombastic leadership style. It will all come down to where Young finds his comfort among the same group he led to two wins during the 2023 season.
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