2023 NFL Offensive Player Rankings, Week 13: How Panthers can salvage Bryce Young's rookie season

Coming into the 2023 NFL season, I had high hopes for what the Carolina Panthers might do with first overall pick Bryce Young, especially under Frank Reich's tutelage. Now, 12 weeks into the quarterback's rookie season, the organization has fired Reich and a pair of offensive assistants -- QBs coach Josh McCown and assistant HC/RBs coach Duce Staley -- after winning only one game in the first three months.

The win-loss record stands out, of course, but so does the lack of offensive production. The Panthers offense ranks in the bottom five of the league in points (15.7, 29th), total yards per game (265.9, 30th), pass yards per game (173.3, 30th), rush yards per game (92.6, 28th) and sacks allowed (43, 29th). Young has struggled behind a bad offensive line, throwing just nine TDs to eight INTs and getting sacked 40 times in his 10 starts. Owner David Tepper has handed the keys over to interim HC Chris Tabor, who previously served as the team's special teams coordinator. Senior assistant Jim Caldwell is serving as special advisor to OC Thomas Brown, who will resume play-calling, and it's time to explore how the Panthers can salvage the rookie quarterback's season.

The harsh reality in Carolina is that the offense is not very good from a talent standpoint, with a shallow pool of weapons in the pass game and an inconsistent run game. Young is being asked to do a lot and he doesn't have many answers to turn to. The focus should be on developing Young, and if the Panthers want him to be the long-term quarterback -- Tepper has said they do -- they need to empower him a little bit more.

I was in a similar situation during my rookie season with the Texans back in 2002. There was a ton on my plate and we were struggling as an offense