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New York Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Panthers' Bryce Young and Dave Canales in a better place after some tense moments in 2024
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As he walked out to the football field at Johnson C. Smith University for his football camp on a sunny Saturday morning, Bryce Young spotted his head coach standing on the sideline. Young dapped Dave Canales, and the Carolina Panthers quarterback and second-year coach talked for a few minutes before Young's introductory remarks to more than 300 campers. Canales wasn't the only member of the organization who showed up to support Young. However, Canales' presence was significant, coming nine months after he made the difficult decision to bench Young following a tough two-game start to the 2024 season. Advertisement 'It's about this love and respect factor, that we've grown with each other through hard times,' Canales said. 'Bryce, during the season, showed me his leadership. Showed me that even when we were a struggling team, even when I took him out, he stayed in the center of it. And he continued to lead. And for him to have the respect to say, 'Look, I don't agree with your decision, Coach.' But working together to continue to grow this thing means so much.' Returning to the lineup after Andy Dalton injured his thumb in a car accident, Young ended the season on an upswing. Playing with confidence, Young looked much closer to the Heisman Trophy winner whom the Panthers drafted first overall in 2023 than the inconsistent, uncertain QB from his rookie season and early last year. Not sure if I've ever seen a head coach come out for a player's vibe around the Panthers this year. — Joe Person (@josephperson) June 7, 2025 Despite Young's resurgence, Canales initially refrained from naming him the full-time starter. He didn't want to disrespect Dalton or put undue pressure on Young, who eventually left Canales no choice. After Young's virtuoso, five-touchdown performance in a 44-38 season-ending win at Atlanta, Canales said the Panthers had their 'guy' at quarterback. That declaration — along with taking another first-round receiver in the draft — put Young in a comfortable spot heading into his third season. But Young doesn't want to get too comfortable. 'I appreciate the support. I'm grateful for the staff and for the team, obviously, just believing in me and us going (forward) together. We all have the goal to win,' Young said during an interview before his camp. 'So it's good, and now it's on us to put the work in in the offseason. Make sure we're going the right direction, working on things, getting to where we need to be for the start of the year. After minicamp, it'll be on us individually to make sure we're right, and then go into training camp and into the season.' Advertisement Young will go into the season knowing he now has the backing of a coach who sat him down after just two games — lopsided losses to the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Chargers in which Young threw three interceptions and no touchdowns and finished with two of the worst passer ratings of his career (the 32.8 rating versus the Saints is his lowest). Canales, the longtime Seattle Seahawks assistant who had served as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offensive coordinator for one year, had been hired in part because of his role in reviving the careers of quarterbacks Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield. But he also had the team to think about, and risked losing the locker room if he stuck with a struggling QB. So Canales made the switch before a Week 3 trip to Las Vegas, knowing it would leave a mark on Young and damage their relationship. 'I struggled with that a lot because you see historically what can happen when you have a quarterback (who) comes in and you go through some challenges. Some guys don't have the resilience to be able to battle through the emotional strain, as well as the football strain combined,' Canales said Saturday. 'I was nervous about that and I struggled with that. That decision was not taken lightly. That risk brought out the best in Bryce.' Trade speculation immediately followed the benching, although Canales said at the time the Panthers were not considering moving Young. The benching did not sit well with Young or anyone in his camp. But Canales praised his handling of the situation. 'During that time while we were still kind of repairing our relationship, we made it about football because that's what we could control today,' Canales said. 'How can we grow our processes? How can we have conversations about what we're doing offensively? And then just attack the football part. To have that part, that commonality, that mutual respect, I was impressed with how he kept coming back to work and just attacking it.' Advertisement In addition to Canales, three of Young's teammates came to the camp: receiver Xavier Legette and offensive linemen Taylor Moton and Austin Corbett. Offensive coordinator Brad Idzik, special teams coordinator Tracy Smith, assistant coach Daren Bates and game management coordinator George Li also were there. Team photo. — Joe Person (@josephperson) June 7, 2025 Canales brought two of his daughters, Beatrice and Amaya, who wore headbands and football gloves. Craig Young, Bryce's father, appreciated that Canales didn't just make a token appearance but engaged with campers while watching the drills. Craig Young also praised how general manager Dan Morgan has continued to add pieces around Bryce, whose lobbying efforts had at least some role in the team's decision to take Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan over a defensive player with the eighth pick. 'I'm super excited with the job that the staff — and specifically coach Canales and Dan — are doing with surrounding him with great weapons, with a great scheme, great protection,' Craig Young said. 'I just feel like he has a level of comfort now. And with most things, when there's familiarity and comfort — and then you're building off of previous success — that's usually a recipe for growth.' For the second consecutive year, Young's camp featured a unique mental health component. Halfway through the morning, campers gathered around Young, his parents, his aunt, a counselor and a therapist who led everyone through a series of breathing exercises. Craig Young, a marriage and family therapist, had earlier spoken with parents about youth mental health, the focus of the Young 9 Foundation, which the quarterback leads. 'It's our second (camp) in Charlotte. It means a lot,' he said. 'We just want it to be a day for the kids to have fun, enjoy themselves with football but also be able to have conversations about mental health. … To have some tools that can help them, whether it be in sports or in life.' Young interacted with the campers, who ranged in age from 6 to 14. He handed the ball off at a running back station, threw short passes during a receiving drill and dapped and spoke to the young players throughout the day. It was a fun, relaxed vibe, not unlike what seems to be surrounding the organization with Young entering Year 3 as the clear starter after some tense moments between the coach and quarterback last year. Advertisement 'All that weight is just gone. We saw it at the end of the year when Bryce was just being Bryce. … He just gets to go be that without thinking about it. To have that just gone makes him play at an extremely high level effortlessly,' said Corbett, the veteran center. 'It's a testament to Dave being able to do his job, put aside the personal side and understand there is gonna be that little fracture going through that relationship. But it's the ability to mend it, and a genuine, authentic love for the game, love for Bryce as a person that allows that move to be (made) and come back strong.'
New York Times
6 days ago
- Health
- New York Times
Panthers' Ja'Tavion Sanders, leaner and faster, wants to trade pizzas for a Pro Bowl berth
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Before wrapping up their first year in the NFL at the end of the 2024 season, Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales told his rookies this would be an offseason like they hadn't experienced in college. There would be no mandatory, early-morning runs in January; no mat drills or winter weightlifting sessions. Advertisement NFL players are on their own until April, when the offseason program begins, and those workouts are voluntary. So Canales challenged the then-rookies to find the motivation on their own to report back to Bank of America Stadium in shape. Ja'Tavion Sanders understood the assignment. The second-year tight end, whose rookie season was sidetracked by a neck injury, traded fast food for lean proteins and good carbs, spent a week in California training with quarterback Bryce Young and showed up for OTAs 10 pounds lighter and a tick faster. His head coach noticed. 'J.T. heard that message, took it seriously and he really came back in such great shape,' Canales said after Tuesday's OTA practice. 'I'm proud of him for taking those steps. And it makes me feel confident about him going into the summer, having a plan for his prep and looking for a big year out of him.' Light work for the TEs — Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) June 3, 2025 Sanders' decision to reshape his body was a timely one: Starting tight end Tommy Tremble had back surgery last month and is out, leaving the thin tight end room even more lean after Ian Thomas' departure and Jordan Matthews' release. The Panthers drafted Notre Dame tight end Mitchell Evans in the fifth round. But there's a big opportunity for Sanders to take hold of the position in the absence of Tremble, who could start the season on the physically unable to perform list. Canales didn't offer a specific timeline for Tremble, but said there could be a window for him to return during the preseason. 'He feels great,' Canales said. 'But there's a lot that goes into that, making sure that he's right.' Sanders thought the offseason was the right time to commit to a better diet. 'Just taking that next step. You've gotta get better every year. I couldn't come back the same way,' he said. 'I just felt like that was what I needed from myself to take that next step to become the player I want to be and to become the teammate I want to be for this team.' Advertisement Sanders has avoided junk food since returning to Charlotte for the offseason program. He hired a chef to prepare healthy meals for him, such as steak, rice and broccoli or chicken alfredo with broccoli. The 6-foot-4 Sanders weighed in at 245 pounds Tuesday after playing last season at 255. 'Last year I was definitely one of those dudes. Definitely give me a little Domino's Pizza or whatever,' he said. 'But now if I'm hungry at 11 o'clock at night, I open up one of them meal prep containers.' Sanders said his fitness kick started in southern California, where he lost five pounds while working out and catching passes with Young and second-year wide receiver Jalen Coker. Sanders stayed for five days — long enough to learn that Young doesn't mess around in the gym. 'He told me we was gonna do some QB training. Bryce might be one of the hardest workers I know. Real talk,' Sanders said. 'I'm talking about actually working out, not (only) throwing.' Asked if he did anything fun after the workouts, Sanders said: 'We got food and stuff. But that was really a business trip for sure.' Sanders was having a lot of fun as a rookie before landing on his head after trying to hurdle a Kansas City Chiefs defender in Week 12. Sanders missed the next game at Philadelphia and was limited for several weeks with what he described as whiplash. 'If anybody ever got in a wreck and you know whiplash, you know you can't move (your neck),' he said. 'You've gotta turn your whole body.' That's not ideal for a pass-catcher who averaged four targets a game over a seven-game stretch before getting flipped on his head against Kansas City. Sanders had one target or fewer in the four games after returning. He was feeling better by Week 18 at Atlanta, where he caught three passes for 35 yards in the 44-38 overtime win, which solidified Young's position as the starter going forward. Overall, it was a decent debut for the fourth-round pick from Texas: Sanders finished with a 76.7 catch percentage (33 receptions on 43 targets) for 342 yards and a touchdown. Advertisement But Sanders believes he's capable of more — like, much more. 'Ultimate goal is to win here. Win the division, win the playoffs, win the Super Bowl,' he said. 'But personal goal — trying to make the Pro Bowl.' That would be a big jump for a player who only started eight games and averaged 10.4 yards per catch last year. But a motivated Sanders could emerge as another playmaker for Young, and the tight end looked good pulling in a Young pass on a seam route during Tuesday's practice. Sanders didn't divulge all his summer plans, but he'll be back in California when Young has his teammates out for informal throwing sessions in his home state. 'I told B.Y. after that week,' Sanders said, 'I said 'I'm going back with you again.''
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Panthers QB Bryce Young breaks out new look at Monday's OTAs
After a busy and exciting offseason, the Carolina Panthers are heading into the 2025 campaign with a new-look team. They also might be going in with a new-look quarterback—and we're not talking about a change at the position. The Panthers returned to the practice field on Monday, for the fourth session of this year's team organized activities. And while we didn't hear from the coaches or players before or following the outing, we did come away with at least one interesting nugget from the afternoon—this photo of a fully-bearded quarterback Bryce Young: This isn't the first time Young has broke out a different look during an installment of OTAs. He showed up last May with quite a bit more muscle than he had in his rookie season. Advertisement Here's a side-by-side of Young in his final game of 2023 and at OTAs last spring: Getty Images/Panthers But is the beard, like the bulk, here to stay? Perhaps we'll find out tomorrow . . . Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content. This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers QB Bryce Young breaks out new look at Monday's OTAs
New York Times
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
What makes Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan special? Breaking down rookie's college film
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Tetairoa McMillan didn't need much of a break-in period after arriving at Arizona in 2022, and there are strong signs to suggest his transition from college to the NFL will be just as seamless. After pulling in eight touchdowns and leading all FBS freshmen in receiving, McMillan thought he had the skill set to play in the NFL. A couple of years and 2,700 receiving yards later, McMillan arrived in the league as the No. 8 pick of the Carolina Panthers, who prioritized giving Bryce Young another playmaker over adding to a defense that finished last in the league in 2024. Advertisement Young has been a fan of McMillan's since their high school teams met in 2019, and after bumping into McMillan at a training facility in Southern California before the draft, Young talked up McMillan to Panthers coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan. Among other things, Young was impressed with McMillan's ability to high point the ball. 'That's something that definitely jumped out on film throughout all the draft stuff, versus air and even (during OTAs). You could definitely see that,' Young said. 'Super smooth, has super natural hands. Great catch radius (and) super friendly to the quarterback, which is always nice.' McMillan has areas he needs to work on as he makes the jump to the pros, including his blocking and getting off physical press coverage. He's already looking to the veterans in the Panthers' receivers room for help. 'God has blessed me with a bunch of things. But I'm always looking to improve my game, especially in that room right now with Hunter Renfrow, Adam Thielen and guys like those, just the vet guys,' McMillan said. 'I look at them to kinda steal certain moves, certain things that they do to get open and create separation. Kinda just add that to my game.' Given his long frame, sure hands and deceptive quickness, McMillan's game looks NFL-ready. Part of McMillan's appeal at 6-foot-4, 219 pounds is his ability to sink and explode like a 5-11, 180-pounder — a big guy who can move like a small guy. The above clip shows off a little bit of everything McMillan brings as a receiver who can get open quickly underneath while also keeping plays alive for his quarterback. Notice how he's able to win inside, sink and sell a whip route back to the sideline without issue, before exploding upfield with one eye back on his QB. When he sees the quarterback is in trouble, McMillan slams on the brakes and fires back toward the football, then plucks the ball effortlessly. Advertisement Reps like this are all over McMillan's college tape. He was constantly working back toward the ball on scramble drills and adjusting to off-target throws while still staying in position to make yards after the catch (he ranked third among FBS receivers last year with 28 forced missed tackles). Panthers receivers coach Rob Moore believes critics underestimate McMillan's efficiency as an athlete. 'I think we can get overly enamored with speed and some of these other things,' Moore said. 'But he doesn't take a lot of false steps or bad steps. He keeps his feet up underneath him. You don't see him on the ground a whole lot. He plays with really good balance. So I think his short-area quickness is very good for someone that's 6-4, almost 6-5, and 220 pounds.' Much of the scouting focus on McMillan in the pre-draft process was about how big a threat he can be downfield and in the air. And though that's true, it overlooks the subtle parts of his athleticism that could make him more than just a 'big-play guy.' McMillan is great at the little things when it comes to route adjustments and finding ways to get open if something's not perfect. He's fearless over the middle and was always an option, even when he was the second or third receiver in a concept. The term 'quarterback-friendly' is often used to describe players who make the QB's job easier. McMillan qualifies. 'T-Mac does a phenomenal job of being friendly to your quarterback in every route he runs,' Panthers offensive coordinator Brad Idzik said. 'You talk about shaving the top of routes on in breaks to out breaks, and being a hands catcher — he does a great job in that right.' During his time at Arizona, McMillan had to deal with more off-target throws than the average high-volume receiver. Among players with at least 70 receptions last season, McMillan ranked No. 2 nationally in off-target reception percentage at 18.5, more than six points higher than the average in that category. Advertisement His balance and body control at his size are off-the-charts good. Those traits help with his ball tracking in the air, but also with his work underneath — he made a ton of catches that would've sailed into the sideline or even the stands on more ordinary receivers. 'The thing that I think separated him was his ball skills, his ability to make contested catches, the timing and body control and all those things that he has,' said Moore, an NFL wideout for 10 seasons and two-time Pro Bowler. 'Any time you have a player that doesn't need space to get open, (that) always bodes well, because this isn't a perfect game and sometimes it's just about making plays on the ball.' McMillan is not a body catcher. He attacks every target with his huge, 10-inch hands and has an elite catch radius, both because of his size and aforementioned body control. McMillan, whose mom was a volleyball player at Eastern Arizona, played volleyball and basketball himself in high school. He believes those sports have helped him as a receiver. 'Whether it's timing, high pointing the ball, body control,' McMillan said, 'being able to translate that to the game has been a huge testament to why I've been so successful for sure.' Unlike many receivers his size, McMillan is very effective against zone coverage, as his suddenness and sharp change of direction are top-notch, almost like that of a basketball player cutting and running off screens. Defensive backs cannot stop covering him because he never stops running, even when a play looks dead. 'He is a true pass catcher,' said Idzik, who was with Canales in Seattle and Tampa Bay. 'He's got the whole route tree under his belt that he can run.' In the above clip, McMillan works the middle of the field from the slot. He completely toys with the safety, showing a standard stop route before exploding behind the defender into open grass for a huge play. This play also shows off how quickly McMillan can transition from making a catch to being in a full-stride sprint. His body control is exceptional for a man his size. This is the type of stuff we see all the time from smaller receivers against zone defenders. Seattle's Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been an artist at it since college, as has Detroit's Amon-Ra St. Brown. Both of those guys stand barely 6 feet tall; McMillan can do these things at 6-4. Part of the discussion about McMillan's unimpressive time in the 40-yard dash (4.53 seconds at his pro day) touched on whether he'd be fast enough off the snap to win consistently against press coverage in the NFL. He worked from the slot plenty in college and, because of Arizona's schedule, didn't get much run versus elite corners. Advertisement Moore, the Panthers' receivers coach, spent part of rookie minicamp working with McMillan on his releases. The veteran assistant said most young receivers' release skills are underdeveloped because they don't face much press coverage in college. McMillan said he saw a lot of press while aligned toward the boundary, but concedes it will be on another level on Sundays. 'The league is different. The DBs play different. They're a lot more physical, so I've just gotta adjust to that,' McMillan said last week during a phone interview. 'I'm always looking to fine-tune my game.' As for McMillan's sprint speed, some examples suggest any concerns might be a bit overblown. Everything about McMillan's game is twitchy, quick and flexible. McMillan's hand speed, despite his long arms, is good enough to get defenders off his chest at the snap. He can stop and change direction on a dime. He can also bend his body and dip himself under a press attempt while maintaining balance and speed to get back into his route. People had similar concerns with Drake London when he was drafted out of USC in 2022. All he's done is catch 241 balls in three seasons, on a team with a QB situation that's been shaky at best. Athletically, McMillan and London are great comps. Blocking was arguably the biggest hole in McMillan's game at Arizona. He wasn't asked to block a ton, but he also wasn't very effective and showed too many examples of average (or below-average) effort when he was. In general, McMillan's 2024 season, despite his 84 catches for 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns, featured plenty of frustrating moments. His effort when he was an obvious decoy or being deployed as a blocker could be subpar, and his body language when things weren't going well (the Wildcats followed a 10-win 2023 season with a 4-8 record in 2024) was concerning. Advertisement He's acknowledged this, admitting he has to be better in those situations. McMillan also needs to continue working with Carolina's strength staff, because his lower body has always been slender and could impact his physical ceiling. But McMillan also didn't miss a game at Arizona, so with added power and seasoning, he could be a dominant No. 1 receiver in the NFL. McMillan has been a pro for a little more than a month, with only a handful of non-padded practices under his belt. But the Panthers are bullish on his abilities and envision him thriving as a favorite target for Young for years to come. Much like he goes after the ball, McMillan isn't backing away from those expectations. 'It's hard to tell now. But I've gotten this far,' he said. 'I feel like God has blessed me with a bunch of gifts and talents and opportunities. I'm just trying to take it as far as I possibly can, man.'
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
WR Tetairoa McMillan was training with QB Bryce Young before he was drafted by Panthers
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan is already quite familiar with his new quarterback. On Thursday night, McMillan was selected by the Panthers with the eighth overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft. That means he'll officially be joining fellow first-round choice and fellow California native Bryce Young over in Carolina. Advertisement But this won't be the first time the two will be linking up. As first reported by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport following the selection, McMillan and Young had been "quietly" throwing together in Los Angeles in the lead-up to the draft. McMillan, during his chat with reporters, talked about that relationship—one he's now repeatedly dubbed the "Cali-to-Cali" connection. "We played against each other in high school, so we just kinda knew of each other," he stated. "I was fortunate enough to recently meet him, probably about a month ago for the first time at 3DQB in Cali. And I was fortunate enough, it was my first time ever, catching the ball from him and running routes for him. So I guess you could say we got a head-start on our chemistry." Advertisement Hopefully for the Panthers, that chemistry between their 5-foot-10 passer and their 6-foot-4 pass catcher continues to grow. Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content. This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan was already training with QB Bryce Young
