Reviewing film for the Panthers’ top performers from preseason game vs. Jets

Before we jump into the Panthers’ preseason finale on Saturday, let’s hit the film for some standouts from last week’s outing.

The Carolina Panthers fell short to the New York Jets in their second preseason game last Saturday—where the team’s starters were, once again, held out of action. So, this left even more meaningful playing time to those whose jobs aren’t exactly secure.

Unfortunately, some of the players who took advantage of their opportunities are no longer on the roster—most notably running back Dillon Johnson and cornerback Lamar Jackson. But after taking a deep dive into the All-22 film from the contest, we still have three standouts to highlight . . .

LG Jack Anderson

Anderson has already made quite a few stops since entering the league as a seventh-round pick in 2021. Carolina, who reeled in the Texas Tech product on Aug. 11 to counter the injuries along their offensive line, became his sixth.

I came away not only thoroughly impressed, but also surprised by how seamlessly he played against the Jets’ second-team defensive line—which featured a couple of players who could’ve been starters elsewhere.

Anderson did some good work on duo blocks, creating creases for Johnson and fellow running back Mike Boone. He displayed the mobility to work effortlessly to the second level, and impressed with his movement skills and flexibility—which allowed him to wash out looping pass rushers. 

The 6-foot-4, 313-pounder did a nice job of getting his pads low and winning with leverage. He was looking for extra defenders to block or help his fellow linemen with and put multiple defenders in the ground.

While he isn’t a lock for the Panthers’ initial 53-man roster, Anderson could make for a solid depth piece or practice squad player in another opportunity.

TE Ja’Tavion Sanders

Sanders, who has continued to grow into the chances he’s received due to injuries at his position, was one of a few rookie standouts on the night.

It wasn’t long ago that the former Texas Longhorn was the No. 3 tight end on the depth chart. With Ian Thomas and Tommy Tremble banged up, that allowed the team’s fourth-round selection to get his time in the spotlight.

There was a concern that the rookie would need to allocate some time as a big slot as he developed his in-line skill set. Instead, Sanders seems quite comfortable as an in-line Y and blocker.

He’s displaying more effort and willingness to stay attached to blocks. This allowed for some decent yardage for Boone and wide receiver Jonathan Mingo at times. Early in the game—off a play-action bootleg—Sanders ran a flat route to the boundary, catching it in stride and lowering his shoulder to bulldoze a would-be tackler. 

With Thomas still dealing with an injury and Tremble having another potential hamstring issue after practice on Thursday, Sanders could be in line to have not only significant playing time in Week 1, but make his first career start in the NFL.

LB Trevin Wallace

A raw linebacker out of Kentucky, Wallace was arguably the most questionable selection by Carolina in the 2024 draft. And that rawness still shows, as he must continue to work on not overthinking each play and moving with the flow of the game.

But Wallace put on a show that made Panthers fans giddy for the future of the middle of their defense.

The former All-SEC defender displayed the sideline-to-sideline range and elite athletic ability that intrigued general manager Dan Morgan. Wallace brings a good amount of pop at the tackle point while flashing consistent technique as a tackler.

Remember how vicious Luke Kuechly’s tackles were? There were some shades of that, as Wallace sifted through traffic well while displaying good run fits and tackles in space.

Other standouts

  • Rookie cornerback Chau Smith-Wade was impressive with his reps at outside corner and at the nickel. He displayed good effort and willingness to come downhill in run support. There were also instances of him upending ball carriers. Don’t be surprised if he’s in line to start Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints at nickel.
  • Smith-Wade’s teammate, second-year defensive back Jammie Robinson, had an outstanding game against the Jets. He showed physicality in the run game, making physical tackles in the open field while being a great run support and defender in coverage. 
  • Outside linebacker D.J. Johnson and interior defensive lineman T.J. Smith were two performers that stood out to me as well, especially in the first half. I appreciated Johnson’s effort and ability to seal off the backside of inside or outside zone runs. The Panthers’ 2023 third-round selection made some good plays against the run. Smith continued his strong preseason with great effort and his second sack in as many weeks. He has become a top candidate for the practice squad heading into the final game of the preseason.

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