Panthers’ Frank Reich takes blame for Bryce Young turnover, expresses optimism on WRs, CBs
Frank Reich is taking responsibility for at least one of the three turnovers in Sunday’s 24-10 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
Monday, the Panthers head coach took the blame for putting quarterback Bryce Young and the offense in poor position ahead of the rookie’s first interception in the letdown loss. According to Reich, he had a miscommunication with Young, which led to a delay of game penalty toward the end of the first quarter. Reich said the miscommunication was completely his fault.
Two plays later, with the unit’s back facing the cusp of its own end zone, Young tossed a ball down the seam to tight end Hayden Hurst. Falcons osafety Jessie Bates jumped the route and picked off the pass at the Carolina 17-yard line. The interception led to an Atlanta touchdown to begin the second quarter.
“I put a lot of that interception on me,” Reich said. “We got in bad position, we got the (offensive pass interference) called, and so we’re backed up, and then we get a delay of game call. And that delay of game call was 100% on me. “
Self-accountability and optimism were the themes of Reich’s follow-up address to the media in the wake of the Week 1 loss. Reich, after watching the game tape, found positives in the team’s performance, even though he admitted the squad needs to perform better overall.
Here are six more takeaways from Reich’s Monday post-game press conference:
A ‘solid’ outing for Bryce Young
Reich said Young did a nice job of getting rid of the ball when plays weren’t there. The head coach believes that Young’s decision-making process is a good sign for the future, as he cares more about the team than his stat line.
Reich defended Young’s turnovers by taking blame for the first pick and acknowledging there were several factors that played into the second interception in the third quarter. Those two turnovers led to 10 points — tying the Carolina offense’s output for the game.
Reich said that the passing game performance was “sub-par,” but later said that Young did a “solid” job overall. He also said Young threw the ball accurately, despite his 52.6% completion percentage.
Reich wanted Brian Burns’ situation to unfold without his involvement
Reich said that Brian Burns suiting up for practice last week told him everything he needed to know about the pass rusher. Reich echoed his words from last week by explaining that he has the utmost respect and trust in Burns.
The head coach acknowledged that he wanted to let Burns’ situation play itself out without his interference. Ultimately, Burns played on Sunday and had an epic first half.
Burns finished the game with seven tackles, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble. He also forced a holding penalty in the second quarter.
Reich isn’t concerned about the run defense
Reich complimented the Falcons’ running backs, Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, for their performance on Sunday. The head coach said the talented tandem — within Atlanta’s scheme —was capable of making big plays, regardless of the Panthers’ defensive performance.
Reich said the Panthers’ staff wasn’t concerned with the tackling effort by their players, despite the team giving up 130 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries.
Reich specifically pointed out the defense’s success on first down, which led to third-and-long situations for Atlanta. The Panthers held the Falcons to a 2-of-10 conversion rate on third down, which Reich said was an 80% win for the defense. The Panthers’ offense, by comparison, had a 36% conversion rate on third down (5-of-14).
The head coach also pointed out that both teams had five explosive runs — carries of 10 or more yards — in the matchup.
Reich said that he felt the Panthers’ run game on offense performed well as well. The offense picked up 154 yards and a lost fumble on 32 combined carries against Atlanta.
Offensive line bounces back
Reich thought the offensive line performed well in both aspects of the offense after struggling in the preseason.
The head coach noted that the unit held up in pass protection until the deficit grew into the fourth quarter. The Falcons used pass rushing stunts to create late-game pressure, and the offensive line finally leaked in protection. Reich acknowledged that the line opened up holes in the running game.
Young was hit six times and sacked twice. All but one of those hits happened in the second half.
Reich believes in the wide receivers
Reich was quick to point out the positive moments of his receivers on Monday. He acknowledged well-run routes by the likes of Adam Thielen, Jonathan Mingo and Terrace Marshall. However, he also noted that the group struggled with physicality down the field. The head coach wants to find a way to neutralize that issue as the season goes along.
Thielen, Mingo and Marshall combined for six catches for 52 yards on 13 targets. Reich said the team’s lack of explosive passing plays was unacceptable.
Reich was asked about the potential return of DJ Chark (hamstring) for the team’s Week 2 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. While Reich chose not to address Chark’s return timeline, the head coach acknowledged that Chark would bring proven playmaking depth to the fold. Reich said Chark had a lot of success in the summer and they could use his ability in the offense.
Reich confident in cornerback depth
Reich confirmed that cornerback Jaycee Horn suffered a hamstring injury in the second quarter against the Falcons. Reich hopes that Horn can return soon, but the head coach said the coaching staff views the cornerback depth chart as a strength.
Reich noted that the Panthers only gave up one explosive passing play — a fourth-quarter 34-yard strike to tight end Kyle Pitts — in the loss. Reich said he thought veteran cornerback Troy Hill played well in his 16 snaps on defense against the Falcons.
With Horn out, the Panthers have Hill, Donte Jackson, CJ Henderson and recently added rookie D’Shawn Jamison — who was a healthy scratch in Week 1 — at cornerback.
The Panthers also have Stantley Thomas-Oliver and rookie Mark Milton on the practice squad. Either of those players could be elevated or promoted from the practice roster to the main group to upgrade depth in the coming days.
This story was originally published September 11, 2023 at 12:42 PM.
