A story is developing in Charlotte, North Carolina. The first overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft is living up to the promise that made him so highly touted before the Carolina Panthers invested first-round draft capital to add him to their roster. That same Panthers team faces the Philadelphia Eagles next, and Vic Fangio has certainly paid attention. He has seen enough of Bryce Young to recognizehe's something special
.As the Eagles prepare for their Week 6 matchup against Carolina, Philadelphia's defensive coordinator isn't treating Young like the quarterback he saw earlier in his career. Instead, Fangio praised the youngster's progress, pointing to his ability to process defenses, make quick decisions, and anticipate where the football needs
to go.
“The quarterback has really progressed. I think I coached against him when he was a rookie, and to see the progress that he’s made from then to now, kudos to him and their coaching staff. He really good processor, makes quick decisions, [and] knows where to go with the ball. He’s elusive, he’s a scrambler, really good anticipation. Very, very impressed by him."
Those qualities become particularly challenging for a defense when a quarterback can also escape pressure and create plays with his legs. The Eagles have plenty to prepare for beyond Young himself. Still, Fangio's assessment makes one thing clear: Philadelphia cannot rely on its previous experience against the Panthers to tell the entire story of this matchup.
The Eagles cannot rely on a two-year-old tape of Bryce Young.
Fangio has faced Bryce Young before, albeit a younger version. He and the Eagles' defense had to thwart a late rally to preserve a 22-16 final score in 2024. Nearly two full years have passed, but the admiration hasn't. He knows his defense has its hands full. Because of that elusiveness, getting pressure is only part of the job. Defenders must also maintain discipline and account for a quarterback who can move away from trouble when the initial play breaks down.
Young's ability to make quick decisions presents another challenge. When a quarterback recognizes coverage and delivers the ball on time, defenders have less opportunity to recover or disrupt the play before the pass arrives. Fangio was also asked whether the film from Philadelphia's previous meeting with Carolina remained useful, given Young's development. His answer was brief: “Yeah, it’s two years ago.”
That response underscores the need to evaluate the Panthers' current offense rather than base the matchup on an outdated look. Fangio also noted that Carolina has become a balanced unit capable of producing through both the running and passing games, praising their other skill players and the team's ability to complement its approaches on early downs.
For Philadelphia, the challenge will be containing Young without losing sight of the rest of Carolina's offense. Overcommitting to the pass rush could give Young room to scramble, while too much attention to the quarterback could open space for the run.
Fangio's respect for Young won't make for an easy afternoon for the Eagles, but it shows the preparation required to defend him. Philadelphia must account for his decision-making, anticipation, and mobility while remaining disciplined against a balanced attack. If the defense can keep Young from extending plays and force Carolina into difficult situations, it will have a better chance to control the matchup.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Vic Fangio praises Bryce Young’s growth ahead of Eagles-Panthers game
