In 2001, the city of Atlanta renamed International Boulevard after Andrew Young during a celebration of the civil rights icon’s 69th birthday.
Twenty-five years later, the city might as well rename the downtown thoroughfare after another Young.
Bryce Young once again carved up the Falcons’ defense, completing 22 of his 36 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns. Including Sunday, Young is 5-1 all time against Atlanta.
After week one’s debacle, Carolina’s defense had a day, limiting the Falcons to a field goal and holding the them to just 286 total net yards.
Here are more observations from the Panthres’ 34-3 route.
Violent Tranquility
When asked to describe his ‘flow state’ after the game, Devin Lloyd described it as a ‘violent tranquil’. The description was apropos as Lloyd set the tone for a defense that needed to get right and get right fast. Zakee Wheatley was credited with forcing the fumble on the Falcons’ opening drive, but Lloyd was the catalyst. His disruption helped cause the fumble and was a theme throughout the game. His ‘flow state’ produced a sack, three pass deflections, two interceptions, and a touchdown. Performances like this are the reason why Panthers GM Dan Morgan signed the former Jaguars linebacker in March.
Waller’s Impact
In my Week 2 preview I mentioned the possibility of Young finding Darren Waller early and often, because he presents mismatches for the Falcons’ defense. Sunday, Waller recorded three receptions for 33 yards and two touchdowns, becoming the first Panthers tight end since Greg Olsen in 2019 to score multiple touchdowns in a regular-season game. When Carolina signed Waller during training camp, it was clear that the offense wanted a viable red-zone threat, and so far Waller is living up to expectations.
“He understands leverage,” Panthers Head Coach Dave Canales said of Waller. “He and Bryce have spent a lot of time just working on these things on Fridays before and after our team drills and to talk through when I have this leverage, this is what it’s going to look like, and that’s a great part of having a veteran guy like Darren”
XL Excels
The adage of practicing how you play rang true for Xavier Legette. After what Panthers head coach Dave Canales described as his ‘best week of practice since he’s been here’, Legette caught two passes for 64 yards. His longest reception of the day was for 55 yards. The third-year receiver out of South Carolina has struggled to establish himself and has faded into being WR3. Caneles’ confidence in Legette has never wavered. He even predicted a breakout of sorts for XL.
“It’s coming. I truly believe it,” Caneles said earlier in the week. “And I think I said it a lot of times up here, but hard work works, and that’s what I’ve seen from him.” Legette had a breakout Week 2, displaying the potential that keeps Canales believing. A breakthrough is consistency. It’s a series of these types of games. Legette’s role and performance will be something to watch going into the next four games. If he can continue this trajectory, it’ll be safe to say that he has officially taken a leap and on his way to a breakthrough season.
BTA In The ‘A: Panthers Maul Falcons In Week 2