Will the Carolina Panthers look different with Andy Dalton at quarterback?

Will the Carolina Panthers look different with Andy Dalton at quarterback?

I don’t anticipate Bryce Young playing this weekend. I think it would be a pretty cool and pretty pleasant surprise if he did because that would show that uh the ankle injury, you know, you never root for injuries, right? So, it would be be obvious that the injury wasn’t as bad uh as as many of us feared. Um, but for the sake of the conversation, for the sake of what I believe the Panthers are going through right now, right, preparing for a game for for maybe a few without Bryce, I think there are truly two conversations. One of them is how will the Panthers be different with Andy Dalton? The other is a a real what if game. What if Andy Dalton does this? What if the offense looks like this? what if they uh beat the Bills, right? Then then you get into the what if. So, we’ll have both conversations starting with how will the Panthers be different with Andy Dalton? And um I I put this in in my notes. I don’t usually write out like a script. It’s just little bullet points and things, but I put out that question intentionally word for word. How will the Panthers be different with Andy Dalton? And the reason why I did that is because I didn’t want this to be how will they be worse or how will they be better. It’s more how will they be different. And the reason I I did that is because I don’t want to make this out to be where, you know, how the Ravens are with Lamar Jackson out and all of a sudden uh their passing game is worse, their running game is worse, their chances of winning go way down, their expectations drop, their coaches have the ultimate excuse, right? In a post game, it’s like, well, you know, what are we supposed to do? We had Cooper Rush. Uh it’s it’s it’s it’s not that. It could be different, right? You know what? We didn’t have as many RPOS’s, couldn’t run the run pass options because uh Andy Dalton is 37 years old and he’s he’s not as fleet of foot as he once was. We had to dial up some more deep balls because he’s more comfortable cutting it loose downfield than than than Bryce Young is. Right. That’s different. That’s not better or worse. Right. I don’t see a huge difference in quarterback quality of play. Uh, aside from I do think anytime you go from a guy that’s taken all the one reps, all the the the first team reps and go to the guy who’s who hasn’t been getting those reps, I think familiarity and trust become a thing, right? Everybody’s doing uh everything offensively. They’re running their routes. They’re snapping the ball. They’re listening to the cadence based on the preferences of Bryce Young, right? the the entire offensive playbook is like a a baseball mitt broken into the contours uh of of Bryce Young’s hand and now Andy Dalton has to go try to, you know, feel the a grounder with it. Aside from that, I don’t see a huge difference in quality of play. I do see some differences in how they will be deployed and I’ve touched on some of them, right? I think the running game will be slightly different and there will be a slightly bigger challenge. There is a huge difference for the defense in after Bryce Young hands off the ball, him carrying out a fake and after Andy Dalton hands off the ball, him carrying out a fake. Right. A linebacker might have to take a few steps to make sure to confirm Bryce doesn’t have the ball because if not, Bryce can get up field and pick up some yards. I don’t think he has to take as many steps to confirm with Andy Dalton because if he has the ball, I’ll just start later and get there anyway, right? Because he’s an older guy and he never was really known for his running ability. But if if that’s the negative, the positive would be and and and I I referenced this one a second ago as well. I think Andy Dalton is more inclined to cut it loose deep, right? I I think he’s uh you can tell that he is like bred in an offense that had AJ Green, right? You just get comfortable throwing it deep and then uh you figure out the rest later. So, if Tedo McMillan is running downfield, I think you’re more likely to get a let’s see if he can make a play throw, probably with a little bit more air under it, probably with a little bit more trust in his receiver because that’s what we’ve seen from Andy Dalton going back I mean to TCU like going back two decades, right? So, so this is a challenge, but also a chance for the play caller Dave Canales to show that he knows his guys and he can call a game tailor fitted to different play styles. The same play call with these two guys could go in very different expectations. And then also Andy Dolan’s veteran, veteran, veteran, right? I I I think you handle him differently in the headset. I think you handle him differently in a lot of ways. How much younger is he than Dave Canales? Can’t be much. Five years, something like that. How old How old is uh old Davyc? Dave Canales age? He’s 43. 40. He 44. Turned 44 in May. So he’s seven years older than than Andy Dalton versus, you know, 20 years older than Bryce Young. That’s that’s a different beast. That’s a different relationship. That stuff I think is interesting socially, but it shouldn’t impact the game a ton. Uh, then there’s the what if game. Before we get to the what if game, I’m told we have some audio from Dave Canales talking about Bryce Young. So, uh, here’s that audio afterwards. I saw a little bit of it. Uh, did more than he did yesterday. So, that’s good. That’s our plan right now is each day try to push him a little bit more. See if we can get him out there in in a different capacity. Wasn’t able to practice today. um but was working on the side, was able to do some movement stuff and we’ll just take it dayto-day and make the best decision. So, he’s officially dayto-day still. Yes. And not prepared to declare Andy Dalton the starter on Sunday. Not right now. Yes. And but Andy did take all the reps today with the group. Um and uh you know, Henden Hooker and and Mike White are here. You know, we’re we’re first day to get to look at Mike in person to see him throw. He did a great job. Um, and you know, uh, Henden handled most of the scout reps there, but, uh, the whole group, they’re all, you know, just pulling for Bryce, you know, and and Bryce as well. He’s he’s pushing and he’s trying and and he’s he’s determined to try to, you know, make himself available for Sunday, but we have to take it dayto-day and we got to make a decision, you know, when it comes down to it. So, that’s the latest, all of the updates based on on today’s practice and and availabilities on Bryce Young. Uh, the reason why I wanted you to hear that and the reason why Dennis did a great job getting that pulled off. He really wasn’t talking to the media that long ago. Um, is because of the what if game. And that game might not be the it’s it’s the what if exercise. Um, I’m I’m big on setting what is success and how much success needs to be achieved in order to change opinions ahead of time cuz we all have have players we like. Okay, I’m guilty of it. You’re guilty of it. He’s guilty of it. She’s guilty of it. We all have players we just like. And you might go into a game saying, “Uh, let me pick another team.” Actually, Dennis can be any team in the NFL that’s not the Panthers. Seahawks. Seahawks. Perfect. Um, maybe I’m a big fan of Tory Horton, right? Tory Horton is a Colorado State rookie wide receiver. Uh, kind of playing that third wide receiver role for them behind Jackson Smith and Jigba and Cooper Cup. Uh, maybe I I’m a Colorado State fan. I love Tory Horton. I go into a game and I say uh as a a fan, as a coach, as somebody that is in invested in in Seattle, I say, you know what, Tory Horton should get more reps. He should pass Cooper Cup to be the number two wide receiver if he has a good game this week. It’s just vague enough to be like, if he catches two passes for 30 yards, I’m like, that’s pretty good game. Second, if I like him right after the game, I’m deciding. Really, I decided already right beforehand I was like, I like this guy. I’m going to come up with a reason. So, I just say good game. Meanwhile, if before I was having a logical conversation, I said, if he has a good game, he should pass Cooper Cup. Somebody might go, all right, what’s a good game? I don’t want to say two catches, right? That sounds ridiculous. So, I say if he has five or more catches, uh, and and you know, at least 10 yards a catch, right? And for every touchdown he scores, one less catch is okay. So, if it’s four catches, but he has a touchdown, that’s okay. Two touchdowns, he could have three catches, and on and on. Now, going into the game, because I’ve said that, because I’ve put it on record, because somebody heard me, I can’t I can’t move the goalpost after the game. I can’t be going, you got to put Tory Horton over Cooper Cup because he only had two catches, right? So, looking at this, uh there’s going to be people that don’t like Bryce that almost as long as Andy Dalton doesn’t go out there and and look like he’s throwing it with his feet, right? All right. As long as he doesn’t go out there and look like he’s punting deep balls or end over end, they’ll be coming in after the game saying, “You got to stick with Andy Dalton. You got to.” And that’s that’s them. That’s them saying they like the guy. And there’ll be those that even if Andy Dalton goes out there and he and he breaks records and he throws for 450 yards and he has two incompletions on 40 attempts and they win by 30 will be coming in going, “Glad Andy could keep the seat warm. Bryce back against the Packers.” and and and that’s not fair either because then they’d be five and three, right? They’d be a big win over the Bills. Then there’s things to play for. So the what if game is what if Andy Dalton throws for 250, two touchdowns, one interception, and a close loss, and Bryce can’t practice till Thursday of next week? Those are the questions you got to answer because you’re deciding how the future is going to look and you’re doing so responsibly. Not because you like one guy more than the other. Not because, you know, 10 years ago Andy Dalton threw the touchdown that got uh, you know, your your sevenleg parlay to hit and you’ve always owed him for that $800 you brought home. Not because of that, but because you set accurate, realistic parameters. And by the way, don’t think this is lost on the players. Bryce Young knows what’s up. If the offense looks great, that’s a knock on him. Yeah. Let’s not forget the over 300 yard passing day that Andy Dalton had the game after Bryce got benched last year. Even if they go back to Bryce no matter what, which I, you know, as long as they don’t win the next game, I I think you go back to Bryce just because of where they are in their careers and what they could mean to the future. But even if they go back to Bryce, it’s a it’s a black mark on his permanent record. It’s a it’s a demerit, right? If the offense looks significantly better under Andy Dalton. So, I would I would say this. I just kind of hinted at it. I think it it needs to be a win where Andy Dalton plays really well, and I will put my parameters on that in a second. A win more specifically in order for Andy to play over a a Bryce Young who’s healthy. Okay, just get that one straight. And playing well, I actually I I don’t think I’m going to be as aggressive as others. If you win the game and Andy Dalton throws for 215, two touchdowns, one or less interception on a high completion percentage, I think I’m good with giving him the Packer game. But I’m also probably giving him the old uh the old Denzel uh in in remember the Titans. Like if we we’ll start you over Bryce, but I’m benching you at the first sign of struggle, right? First, if you lose to the Packers and it’s ugly the next week, we’re going back to Bryce. Chris Kanty, and here’s part of the reason why. Uh Chris Kanty, this is I believe on on un sportsmanlike, uh which you can hear every morning here on 999. The fan says the Panthers are winning despite quarterback play. I don’t think the Panthers can win the AFC South, I mean NFC South, because I don’t believe in the quarterback, but it hasn’t seemed to matter in terms of them being able to write the ship. It’s the weirdest thing. It It is the strangest thing. But they don’t play well, but they win. The Carolina Panthers have won. They won four the last five games. So, at some point, you have to acknowledge Dave Canales in that group is doing something right. Now, a big part of it is how well their defense is playing. They’re top 10 in total defense. And you saw the takeaways with the secondary. JC Horn is one of the best corners in the NFL. Rico has done a great job of being able to stabilize the ground game. In the absence of Chuba Hub, now that he’s back, they’ve got a hell of a one-two punch. Again, if you’re saying they’re going to win the division, that means you have to trust the quarterback. And I don’t trust the quarterback. So despite all the injuries, I’ll still side with Tampa. Playing well despite the quarterback to me opens up the door just a hair for the quarterback to play really well, extend the winning streak and keep the job. If they if they had won these games on the back of Bryce Young playing exceptional, if Bryce Young was playing Rico Dao level level football, the bar would be astronomically high for Andy Dalton to have any chance of uh keeping the job. But it that’s not the case. the what if game.

Tim Donnelly & Dennis Cox discuss how Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales may run the offense differently with Andy Dalton if Bryce Young is unable to play with an ankle injury.

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