Nick Saban reacts to Carolina Panthers benching Bryce Young

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales made the decision this week to bench quarterback Bryce Young just two weeks into the NFL season. Giving to nod to veteran Andy Dalton over the former No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft ahead of Carolina’s Week 3 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Young’s college head coach Nick Saban recently weighed in on the situation during his Friday appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. Saban also opened up about the struggles that come with most young quarterbacks when they make their transition to the NFL.

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“You guys have heard me say before, quarterback is a really hard position to play if the people around you don’t play well. I think sometimes the quarterback gets too much credit, I also think sometimes when things don’t go well, the quarterback gets too much blame. So do they have the kind of players around Bryce Young that even gives him a chance to be successful?” Saban asked.

The Panthers are not necessarily known for the talent of their roster. Finishing last season with a league-worst 2-15 record in Young’s rookie year where he struggled. Completing 59.8% of his passes for 2,877 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.

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Additionally, the Panthers were not able to reap the NFL Draft benefits of having the worst record in the NFL again last year. In the deal to acquire Young in 2023, Carolina traded wide receiver D.J. Moore and four picks to the Chicago Bears in a trade to draft Young, including the selection Chicago used to draft Caleb Williams No. 1 overall.

“But that’s one of the bad things about being the first guy picked in a draft,” Saban added. “You may go to a team that doesn’t have all the pieces that you need. I think the Bears this year, not that’s not really the case, they have some pieces there. But Carolina did not and they have to build this thing from the ground up.”

It’s still very early in the season, but the Panthers do not seem much more talented than they were last season. Carolina has been outscored 73-13 by opponents in their first two games while Young has thrown for just 245 yards, zero touchdowns, and three interceptions through two weeks.

“I hate to see Bryce get benched, but I also don’t see a lot of opportunity for him to be successful based on the skill players they have around him, the offensive line they have around them,” Saban said. “And I think he’s the type of player that can really operate well when he has good players around him.”

The former top pick likely didn’t expect to be benched just two games into his sophomore season with Carolina. But despite facing new, adverse circumstances, Saban believes his former quarterback will come out form the experience a better player.

“I think he’s gonna be positive about trying to learn and grow from this situation,” Saban concluded. “He’s always been a guy that sort of improved from his failing. So hopefully this will be an opportunity for him to do it again.”