Panthers budding duo is a relationship built on trust
Bryce Young and DJ Chark have something special brewing. Both are entering their first year with the Carolina Panthers and already they have connected numerous times throughout practice for highlight-level plays. Their chemistry is emblematic of where the Panthers are as a team. They have no real No. 1 receiver. Instead, they have a rotating cast […]
Bryce Young and DJ Chark have something special brewing.
Both are entering their first year with the Carolina Panthers and already they have connected numerous times throughout practice for highlight-level plays. Their chemistry is emblematic of where the Panthers are as a team. They have no real No. 1 receiver. Instead, they have a rotating cast of characters that are all options to get the ball delivered to them from Young.
As a result, the two — Chark and Young — have built what every good receiver quarterback duo needs to succeed: Trust.
"There is a lot of times where you're the backside, and he [Young] goes through the reads and comes back to you," Chark said. "You have to be there because he's counting on you to be in that spot. We all have to run our routes with the same intensity and detail."
Chark explained that trust between the star quarterback and himself, along with other receivers, is built from within the entire offensive system. Coming out of the huddle, no receivers throw away a play because they aren't the first option. The expectation is always that the ball may come, even when a receiver is Young's final option in his progressions.
And to that point, Chark has been equally impressed with Young's ability to react to the defense and work through his progressions at a rate few quarterbacks can.
"Not even as a rookie, a lot of QBs, it's hard for them to go through their progressions because the game moves so fast," Chark said. "He knows what he's looking for. Sometimes it is pre-snaps he's already decided based on coverage. Sometimes something is taken away, so he goes the other way. So, I think that is pretty impressive not only for a rookie but for a quarterback in general."
With the connection only growing between Young and Chark and the rest of the Panthers' cast of characters at the wide receiver position, the preseason will be about growth. The group knows that what matters will be how the team plays in Week 1 of the regular season.
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Feature image via Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports.
