Bryce Young's slow development early in his career was largely a product of the Carolina Panthers setting him up to fail. In his first year, former head coach Frank Reich reportedly changed the playbook three times before Young ever played his first snap in a live game, for example.
Things improved with current head coach Dave Canales calling the plays in 2024 and 2025. But the Panthers have seen a quantum leap forward in play-calling this year under offensive coordinator Brad Idzik.
Idzik may be the most unsung offensive play-caller in the game right now, leading Carolina to a top-five offense in both yardage and scoring one month into the season.
No matter. His players know how valuable Idzik's direction has been to their success.
Here's what
wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan said about it after his monster game (14 catches, 192 receiving yards, two touchdowns) in Sunday night's win over the Detroit Lions, per Mike Kaye at ESPN . . .
"Really, he just does a good job as far as putting everybody in the right positions," McMillan said. "He gives a chance to everybody across the board. He gives everybody a chance and an opportunity at the ball. And he's good at communicating throughout the week. Just to see what everybody is feeling, see what we like, what Bryce likes. He likes to communicate in that way as far as getting our opinions. He's humble in that way as far as just asking everybody for their opinions."
Idzik's formula for success has no jaw-dropping trick plays you'll often see from Chicago's Ben Johnson and San Francisco's Kyle Shanahan—nor does it have the endless number of wrinkles of a Sean McVay offense. Instead, it's a relatively simple thing that's working so well for the Panthers—he's scheming receivers open and making Young's job easier. Ultimately, that's the most sustainable dynamic for a good play-caller.
His genius has especially shined through in having to account for atrocious offensive line play, as Carolina has allowed more quarterback pressures than any other team in the league so far this season. The quick reads and run-pass options that have become a staple for this offense have given Young the easy answers that had been missing from the equation his first three years.
The only downside here is the future—as great offensive play-callers almost invariably move on to get head-coaching jobs eventually. It's still early in the process, but the Panthers have to do their best to pay Idzik well and keep him happy so they don't lose him to another team.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Tetairoa McMillan praises red-hot Panthers OC Brad Idzik
