Three takeaways from coordinators, including Bryce Young’s acting job, linebacker play, and more

“I had to check them to make sure that, ‘Do we need to face forward in the line of scrimmage?’ We’re kind of crossing our T’s and dotting our I’s. They’re doing a great job of playing the game within a game.”

This isn’t the first time Young has executed a well-done acting job. Last year, in a win against Green Bay, in a passing situation, he acted like he was pointing out a protection he wanted running back Rico Dowdle to pick up. It sold the pass to the Packers’ defense, and Dowdle broke off a 19-yard run with relative ease, putting Carolina in game-winning field-goal range.

“That’s just guys that are comfortable within what we’re asking them,” said Idzik, after referencing the Green Bay play.

“When you get guys that are, ‘Hey, I understand the play call, I understand the intent,’ now they can kind of loosen up, and you’re not loose, but you’re also, you’re not stressed out about the play, you know exactly what we’re doing.”

His acting worked again versus a stout Philly defensive front, giving Evans enough time and space to sneak under center and push forward behind the offensive line for the necessary 1-yard gain.

“I know that (Eagles) play in particular, (Bryce) doesn’t have a huge role and we’re just trying to peel off to the side and make sure Mitch gets us the first down. But those guys understand, OK, the intent of the play is to try to draw some eyes elsewhere and then hit him on the sneak,” said Idzik.

“They did a great job of putting their own flavor on it; we’ll make sure it’s legal as coaches, and then we’ll continue to do that stuff to keep the defense off-kilter.”

Not every short third or fourth down requires a QB sneak from Mitchell Evans. While the Panthers don’t employ sneaks with Young, the offense has still been incredibly efficient at converting short-yardage situations. Against the Eagles, Carolina converted four third-and-fourth-and-short plays; five if you also count the time Young drew the Eagles into an encroachment penalty.

“The attitude that we’re talking about with Robert Hunt, Tommy Tremble coming off the ball and leading through the gap, and then Chuba’s attitude runs like, we’re able to lean on that,” said Idzik. “Those guys take a ton of pride and, ‘Hey, we need a yard,’ we know where we need to go; we’re pushing guys off the ball. We’ll try to shake free the defense just a little bit to give you a little sliver of light for Chuba, and that’s all that it takes.”