Tag: Carolina Panthers

Panthers 2019 class ranked No. 31 in production by Pro Football Focus

It’s far too early to write anybody off just yet. That said, the early returns for the Panthers’ 2019 draft class have not been promising.

It’s far too early to write anybody off just yet. That said, the early returns for the Panthers’ 2019 draft class have not been promising.

In fact, according to Pro Football Focus, they were the second-least productive group of first-year players in the league. Only Cincinnati’s rookies were ranked lower. Here is what they had to say about Carolina’s quiet class of 2019.

“Outside of pass-rusher Brian Burns‘ promising start to the season, there isn’t a whole lot to get excited about with Carolina’s 2019 class. Offensive tackles Greg Little and Dennis Daley recorded overall grades under 60.0, and third-round pick Will Grier (zero touchdown passes, four interceptions) did not look like their long-term answer at quarterback.”

This is. . . not ideal. Then again, we have to remember the context.

Burns was the only rookie who saw consistent playing time and even he was kept off the field too often in favor of much older EDGE defenders like Mario Addison and Bruce Irvin. Ron Rivera infamously put Burns to work as a gunner on special teams but didn’t use him as a pass rusher nearly enough. According to PFF, he was ranked No. 55 out of 112 qualifiers among EDGE defenders. Not a great ranking. However, we saw Burns flash enough to still believe he will become one of the elites at his position. It will take time.

Second-round pick Greg Little was limited by concussion and ankle injuries and only played 230 offensive snaps, or 20.3% of the team’s total. It would be unfair to give him anything but an incomplete grade for his rookie year. Thanks to Little’s and other injuries up front, sixth-round pick Dennis Daley was called into action a lot more than expected. He was on the field for a total of 691 snaps (61.1%) split between left tackle and left guard but he never really settled into a rhythm.

With more time to develop, they could both become starters. A lot of that will depend on what incoming offensive line coach Pat Meyer can get out of them.

If there’s one legitimate concern here it’s the play of No. 100 overall pick Will Grier. While two games is hardly enough to go on, Grier did not look much better than he did during the preseason when he bombed. His processing speed and decision making simply aren’t at the level they need to be for him to compete at this level yet. General manager Marty Hurney looks like he might have whiffed on another third-round pick here.

The rest of the 2019 class hardly saw the field at all. Jordan Scarlett was stuck behind Christian McCaffrey and Reggie Bonnafon on the depth chart, Christian Miller was hurt and then languished on the bench, often being inactive on game days. Terry Godwin was cut before the season even started.

A lot of this falls on coach Rivera, who always preferred to play veterans at the expense of rookies and younger players. Perhaps Matt Rhule will take a different approach.

Either way, fans should not panic about this class. Yet.

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Report: Panthers making 2 more changes to Matt Rhule’s staff

Matt Rhule’s new coaching staff for the Panthers is nearly complete but he’s still making tweaks.

Matt Rhule’s new coaching staff for the Panthers is nearly complete but he’s still making tweaks. A couple changes have been reported in the last hour.

According to Ian Rapoport at NFL Network, the team is moving running backs coach Jake Peetz over to the quarterbacks coach position.

The team had interviewed three former NFL head coaches for this spot, so it’s interesting that they went with Peetz. He has previously served as the quarterbacks coach for the Raiders and also worked as a QB analyst for Nick Saban at Alabama a couple of times.

In related news, Pete Thamel at Yahoo Sports reports the Panthers are hiring Jeff Nixon.

Nixon’s role has not yet been confirmed, but he has extensive experience working with running backs, so we can reasonably assume he’s taking over for Peetz.

As Thamel mentions, he brings plenty of pro experience to the table. Nixon’s first coaching job in the NFL was as an offensive/special teams assistant for the Eagles. From there, he moved on to be the running backs coach for the Dolphins five years. His most recent gig at this level was the tight ends coach for the 49ers in 2016.

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Panthers Wire Mailbag: Cam Newton, Marty Hurney, free agency options

Here are a few questions that were submitted from our Facebook page.

The Carolina Panthers are undergoing some dramatic changes. Now seems like a good time for a mailbag post to answer questions from fans.

Here are a few questions that were submitted from our Facebook page.

Dakota Austin asked: Is Cam Newton gonna be our quarterback or are they gonna trade him?

This is the million-dollar question facing the front office this year. For a long time, we have resisted the idea of trading or cutting Newton and still believe he’s the team’s best chance to win games in 2020.

That being said, we have to recognize that the franchise is beginning a major rebuild, here. Ron Rivera’s exit, Luke Kuechly’s retirement and a slew of new coaches coming in means that everything is going to be re-evaluated, even the most valuable piece on the roster.

Newton was a legitimate MVP not too long ago and he is still capable of playing quarterback at a high level, as he proved in the first half of the 2018 season before his shoulder injury. And yet, he’s now 30 years old and the chances that his best football is ahead of him are low. On some levels, it makes sense to start over with a younger QB.

As of right now, we believe Newton will be the starter Week 1. However, we no longer feel very confident about that projection. If he is traded, it would not come as a shock.

Patricia Chapman asked: Are you going to draft a quarterback as backup?

The vast majority of sportswriters don’t get hired as NFL general managers – Marty Hurney is the exception to that rule. So, we probably won’t be drafting anybody. As for the Panthers, if they are going to pick a quarterback, it likely won’t be a backup but a potential new franchise QB. Kyle Allen isn’t a starter. However, he’s a decent No. 2 option and there’s no reason not to keep him around.

As for potential QB1 candidates, there is some speculation about the team trying to trade up to No. 1 in order to pick Joe Burrow, who played for offensive coordinator Joe Brady at LSU. We think this team has too many holes to give up the amount of draft capital it would take to pull it off, though. The best fit outside of Burrow would likely be Tua Tagovailoa, but there’s no guarantee he will be there at No. 7, either. Justin Herbert and Jalen Hurts should also be on the team’s radar if they are considering a QB.

Jase K Alston asked: Why did Tepper decide to retain Hurney?

Excellent question. Based on what Tepper said during the coaching transition, it’s clear he trusts Hurney’s judgment when it comes to evaluating college talent. Tepper called him one of the best in that area.

It’s true Hurney has an impressive track record of finding stars in the first round, but there’s more to the job than that. His history after the first round is not as impressive and includes busts like Rashaan Gaulden. Hurney has also taken fair criticism for his management of the salary cap in the past.

Keeping Hurney around could be holding this franchise back from making a clean break with the Rivera era. We know they wanted to interview Eagles executive Andrew Berry. However, since the position they’re offering would have been a lateral move, Philadelphia was able to block the interview. Dysfunctional as they are, the Browns now appear to have Berry locked up as their new general manager.

Alfonso Cee asked: Who should we sign in free agency?

The Panthers are projected to have around $25 million in cap space next year, which is enough to make at least a couple of splash moves. Unfortunately, there are a ton of roster holes that have to be filled. They particularly need help at cornerback and along the defensive line.

We’ve already identified a few potential targets. Jadeveon Clowney is the dream signing but that’s probably an unrealistic hope. There are also a number of solid defensive tackles to pick from, such as D.J. Reader and Javon Hargrave. For the secondary, we like Bradley Roby, Anthony Harris and Logan Ryan.

On offense, wide receiver Robby Anderson played for Matt Rhule at Temple and would make an excellent fit for what they need. They may also need to replace Greg Olsen at tight end, in which case Eric Ebron would make for a good target. As for the offensive line, there won’t be many options out there. Brandon Scherff and Joe Thuney are the top guards, though.

Alan McCosley asked: Is Luke coming to coach?

Only Kuechly really knows the answer. For what it’s worth, we believe he will. Just days after he announced his retirement, there were reports that he has interest in a new role with the Panthers. We also know he lobbied for Al Holcomb to return, who was formerly the team’s linebackers coach and was recently hired as their new run defense coordinator. Kuechly may want a chance to work with him as an assistant.

Matt Rhule seems to like the idea, as well. He told SiriusXM in an interview last week that he hopes he can convince Kuechly to join his staff at some point. Kuechly may need some time off from the game but he can’t seem to keep himself away, either. It’s probably only a matter of time before the Panthers hire him in some capacity.

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Panthers 2020 potential free agent target profile: G Brandon Scherff

Panthers 2020 potential free agent target profile: G Brandon Scherff

The Panthers lost their star left guard Andrew Norwell to the Jaguars in free agency a couple of years ago. As expected, it’s been difficult for them to fill the void left behind by his exit. Looking forward, Greg Van Roten and Daryl Williams will both be free agents in March. That means the team may need to find a new starter at this position.

If they look internally, 2019 sixth-round pick Dennis Daley is the most logical option to fill that spot. However, there are a couple of excellent guards who are about to hit the market who they should consider. Our next potential 2020 target profile is Redskins right guard Brandon Scherff.

Career stats:

Scherff was a first-round pick by Washington in the 2015 NFL draft. He began starting games immediately and has made a positive impact for their offensive line. According to Pro Football Focus, he only allowed one sack last season and earned a strong 75.0 overall grade.

Pros:

Scherff may not be the game’s most dominant guard, but he is one of the best. He was a member of the All-Rookie team his first year and has been to the Pro Bowl three times, including this season. He just turned 28, so he should have plenty of good years left in him. Signing Scherff would eliminate the weak link in Carolina’s offensive line and make life much easier on center Matt Paradis, who needs a bounce-back year.

Cons:

Shifting over to left guard might require an adjustment period for Scherff. However, it shouldn’t be too difficult for him. Scherff also committed nine penalties this year, the second most at his position, per PFF. He has also missed a total of 13 games over the last two seasons due to injuries. Scherff was put on IR by the Redskins in the middle of December due to elbow and shoulder issues. They should not hold him out for any part of the 2020 season, though.

Probability: Low

Ron Rivera won’t want to surrender one of his best linemen, especially if he cant convince left tackle Trent Williams to return. Even if Washington doesn’t re-sign Scherff, he and Joe Thuney are the only solid guards on the market this year, so he should fetch a handsome price.

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Panthers players react to Kobe Bryant’s death on Twitter

Bryant was one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

The 2020 Pro Bowl is underway down in Orlando. It’s tough to focus on football though given the news that Kobe Bryant has died in a helicopter crash, according to a report by TMZ. Bryant was 41 years old.

Bryant was one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Over the course of a sensational 20-year career, Kobe played in 1,346 games (all with the Lakers), tallying 33,643 points. Until last night when LeBron James passed him, it was the third-highest mark in NBA history.

In fact, in Bryant’s last social media post, he shared a classy congratulations message for James.

For an entire generation of athletes, Bryant was a big deal. He was a two-time Olympic gold medalist, an 18-time All Star, a five-time NBA champion and an MVP.

Panthers players are as stunned as anybody. Their reactions are ranging from shock to sadness to disbelief. Here’s what they’re saying on Twitter.

S Eric Reid

LB Bruce Irvin

S Tre Boston

DT Kyle Love

Former RB Jonathan Stewart

LB Jermaine Carter

OT Dennis Daley

Former WR Torrey Smith

This is a sad day for the sports world. We offer our thoughts and prayers for Bryant’s family.

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Analysis: How much change does the Panthers offensive line really need?

Fixing the unit will fall on Pat Meyer, who is expected to be named the team’s new offensive line coach according to Field Yates at ESPN.

The Panthers offensive line has been a sore point since at least Super Bowl 50, when Cam Newton got pummeled by the Broncos pass rush. The unit has been steadily in decline since and nothing the front office tries to improve it seems to work out.

Fixing the unit will fall on Pat Meyer, who is expected to be named the team’s new offensive line coach according to Field Yates at ESPN. Meyer has a tough task ahead of him, but the front line does not require the total rebuild some people are calling for.

Let’s break down the offensive line one spot at a time.

1. A new coach is the best way to improve

The best way this unit is going to get better in 2020 is benefiting from fresh leadership. The big challenge for Meyer will be how to break the group out of its bad habits while continuing to encourage what it does well. Mainly, he’ll want to keep the strong run blocking going while improving the pass protection across the board. If Meyer can do that, it will make a far bigger impact than any one (or two) new linemen can.

2. Matt Paradis isn’t going anywhere

A major key to turning things around is Paradis, who had as disappointing a season as any Carolina player. He signed a three-year, $27 million deal and we expected him to be an upgrade over Ryan Kalil. Instead, Paradis was a liability in pass protection and never seemed to settle in. Many fans want him cut, but that would be short-sighted and also come with a significant dead money penalty. Remember, Paradis was coming off a broken leg from 2018 and it may take another offseason to fully recover. If Paradis gets back to being the lineman he was in Denver early in his career, many of the unit’s issues (chiefly interior pass protection) will be solved.

3. Taylor Moton and Trai Turner are perfectly fine

The left side of the line is another story, but the right tackle and right guard spots are fine the way they are. Today, Turner will be playing in his fifth Pro Bowl and Moton has been the team’s most consistent lineman for a while. Moton should get a contract extension and Turner still has a few years left on his.

4. Left guard is easy to upgrade

If there’s one position the Panthers really do need to upgrade, it’s left guard. Greg Van Roten is a solid run blocker and teammate, but there’s a reason he has been a backup most of his career. Daryl Williams is not worth bringing back for this spot, either. If general manager Marty Hurney can find a solid young starting-quality guard in the draft or free agency, it will plug a huge hole and make Paradis’ job much easier.

5. The Panthers have 2 left tackles

Now we come to the great elephant in the room: what to do on the blindside? Since Jordan Gross’ retirement, this has been a problematic position. The good news is the Panthers have two promising options here. Greg Little and Dennis Daley are true left tackles who both flashed at times during their rookie year. Ideally, Little will stay healthy and wind up as the long-term starter. That would allow Daley to play one of the other spots (perhaps LG?). A lot of fans want a tackle in round one or two, but Carolina should give these guys at least another year to prove themselves. Patience is understandably tough given the way things have gone for this group in recent years. In this case, the solution (a true franchise left tackle) could already be on the roster.

The Panthers could definitely use more depth up front. Then again, that’s also true of practically every other NFL team. As bad as this unit looked last year, a couple tweaks and some better coaching could make a world of difference.

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Report: Chargers offensive line coach Pat Meyer expected to join Panthers

The Los Angeles Chargers are losing one of their coaches to the Carolina Panthers.

Newly hired Panthers coach Matt Rhule has been hard at work to put his coaching staff together for the 2020 season.

Rhule is expected to hire Chargers offensive line coach and run game coordinator Pat Meyer, according to ESPN’s Field Yates.

Meyer has spent the past three seasons as the Chargers’ offensive line coach and run game coordinator. Before coming to Los Angeles, he was an offensive assistant for the Bills from 2015-16.

The offensive line has been a below average positional group for years now. That’s not to say Meyer is to blame, but the front office will surely be looking to fill the vacancy with a candidate that has a proven track record.

Panthers 2020 mock draft: The Senior Bowl edition

So, we came up with a new mock where we were limited to only players taking part in the Senior Bowl. Here is how the Panthers made out.

The Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama (Saturday, 2:30 p.m. ET) is the true beginning of the NFL draft season and a time when more accurate mock drafts are starting to take shape.

So, we came up with a new mock where we were limited to only players taking part in the Senior Bowl. Here is how the Panthers made out.

7. Javon Kinlaw: DT, South Carolina

Javon Kinlaw
(AP Photo/Butch Dill)

While Derrick Brown seems to be the consensus favorite among defensive tackles, he is not in Mobile and is therefore ineligible for this particular exercise. Fortunately, Kinlaw is available and there is no question he’ll make an instant impact for whichever team drafts him. He was so dominant early this week that he sat out after only a couple days of practice, having already proved himself. Kinlaw is easily the top player in Mobile and is working his way up to a potential top-10 selection.

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Panthers eliminating 900 seats to make room for bunker suites

The Panthers are eliminating some 900 seats from the west end zone of Bank of America Stadium to make room for 14 new bunker suites.

The Panthers are eliminating some 900 seats from the west end zone of Bank of America Stadium to make room for 14 new bunker suites, according to WSOC. Roughly 400 PSL owners will be impacted. The team began informing those seat holders of the news yesterday with phone calls.

Here’s a look at the area that will be affected, via the Charlotte Observer.

Some fans will no doubt be upset by this development. While we’re sympathetic to those who will lose long-held seats, it’s tough to feel too bad for them considering most fans can’t afford PSLs in the first place and can only watch on TV every week.

Expect more moves like this from David Tepper, who after all got here because he’s adept at maximizing profits.

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Panthers 2020 potential free agent target profile: S Anthony Harris

Our next potential 2020 free agency target for Carolina is Vikings safety Anthony Harris, who is coming off a career year.

The Panthers have a lot of work to do this offseason to turn around a secondary that disappointed again. From Donte Jackson’s lapses in coverage to Eric Reid’s bad angles to James Bradberry’s frustrating inconsistency, there were a ton of mistakes that need to be cleaned up.

The unit could also use some more talent. Fortunately, the team has plenty of cap room to make a splash or two and there are several quality defensive backs who are about to become free agents. Our next potential 2020 free agency target for Carolina is Vikings safety Anthony Harris, who is coming off a career year.

Career stats

Harris went undrafted after playing his college football at Virginia. It took him a while to earn his way onto the field, but he’s been extremely impressive since he began starting regularly in 2018. In 65 games, he’s posted nine interceptions, 21 pass breakups, 127 solo tackles, four fumble recoveries and a defensive touchdown.

Pros

What the back end of the Panthers’ defense needs more than anything is improvement in coverage across the board. That’s Harris’ specialty. He was one of the best cover safeties in football this year and tied Stephon Gilmore and Tre’Davious White for the league lead with six interceptions. Most of his experience is as a free safety. However, Harris can also play in the box or the slot. That would be helpful if the team decides to keep Tre Boston. Harris is also an excellent tackler (another major area this group needs to improve) and he’s still coming into his prime at 28 years old.

Cons

There’s not much to mention, here. Some critics might point to Harris only having about two seasons’ worth of starts (31 games) under his belt. That’s silly, though. Harris had to crack a tough DB rotation to become a starter and he’s been solid ever since. The real question mark is Harris’ price-tag. Since he went undrafted, he’s made just $5,375,000 in his career. Harris is going to cash in come March and the competition will be fierce.

Probability: Low

Mike Zimmer does not surrender his good DBs easily. Even if Minnesota doesn’t re-sign him, Harris should get attention from any team that needs a quality starting safety and he’s at the top of the market.

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