Tag: Chris Tabor

Panthers likely to start Cade Mays at LG in Week 15

The Panthers will seemingly be rolling with Cade Mays at LG in Week 15.

The instability of the Carolina Panthers’ interior offensive line will continue into Week 15. But perhaps a bit of promise from Week 14 can help get them through the rest of a rough campaign.

On Wednesday, interim head coach Chris Tabor did not rule out the possibility that Justin McCray, who started at left guard in last Sunday’s loss to the New Orleans Saints, will miss the rest of the season with a calf injury. He did, however, just about confirm that Cade Mays—who came on in relief of McCray—will get the nod against the Atlanta Falcons this weekend.

Mays played in 79 of the offense’s 80 snaps in Week 15. His outing yielded an 89.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus—the highest single-game mark for any Panthers offensive lineman this season.

Tabor was asked what that performance told him about the second-year hog molly.

“It talks a lot about him, obviously, as player, No. 2—about his preparation and his process,” Tabor replied. “And that he’s locked in, ready to go. So that he’s getting, whether it be scout team reps, those reps matter. And I think that’s what the kid did and I’m proud of him.”

With injuries to their usual guards in Brady Christensen and Austin Corbett, the Panthers have been forced to use five different starters on the left and six different starters on the right.

[lawrence-related id=687238,687226,687220]

Panthers using ‘blanket-type device’ to keep field warm for Week 15

The Bank of America Stadium turf is keeping warm this winter.

Even artificial turf could use a blanket this time of year.

Week 15’s matchup against the Atlanta Falcons will mark the first December home game of the season for the Carolina Panthers. And with the weather outside becoming a tad frightful (or at least a lot colder), the field over at Bank of America Stadium is apparently getting some extra attention . . .

As Person notes, the field conditions during last year’s Christmas Eve clash with the Detroit Lions were, well, less than ideal. In what was the coldest home game in franchise history, the frosty Bank of America Stadium turf received blistering reviews from Lions players and, eventually, the NFL Players Association.

NFLPA president J.C. Tretter penned a scathing indictment of the field back in April:

We currently have a single test for all field surfaces called the “Clegg” test, which simply measures a field’s hardness. While we are working diligently and collaboratively with the NFL’s engineering experts to devise more advanced ways to measure field performance and safety, this test is all that we currently have. However, even this simple measure was too much for the NFL to adhere to when push came to shove in Carolina.

Last year on Christmas Eve, Carolina’s field failed the Clegg test. For a surface to pass this test, it must measure below 100g (units of gravities), and the meter for this test goes up to a maximum of 150g. When the field in Carolina was tested during the pregame check, it came back as — you guessed it — 150g.

Players reached out and told us the field was way too hard, describing it as concrete. Players reported that they couldn’t even wear cleats because they wouldn’t sink into the turf. When we reached out to the league, they told us they were aware of these concerns and were working to remedy them.

However, instead of delaying the game or finding another way to fix the issue, the league gave the green light to kick off the game as scheduled. Afterward, the league told us that late in the first half, the field finally did fall below the 100g max. But the fact remains that the players in that game had to play on a field that the league acknowledges was not safe. That is beyond frustrating to players and unacceptable in the eyes of our union.

While he did tell reporters on Wednesday that the “blanket-type device” was there to keep the turf warm, interim head coach Chris Tabor could not confirm if the use of that device is related to those complaints.

[lawrence-related id=687226,687215,687210]

Brian Burns, 10 others held out of practice on Wednesday

Brian Burns (ankle) was among 11 Panthers who did not participate in Wednesday’s practice.

The Carolina Panthers were without more than a handful of players on Wednesday, including their two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher.

Outside linebacker Brian Burns did not participate in this afternoon’s practice because of an ankle injury. Burns underwent ankle surgery this past spring, but has only missed one game this season due to a concussion.

Interim Chris Tabor, right after the release of today’s injury report, was asked about Burns’ status leading up to the team’s Week 15 contest against the Atlanta Falcons. He told reporters that he’s not concerned about his availability this Sunday, stating the star defender was just “a little sore.”

Burns was among the 11 players who did not participate in the session, with four taking rest days.

Here’s the entire report:

Injury Wednesday Thursday Friday Game status
OLB Brian Burns Ankle DNP
CB Troy Hill Rest DNP
CB Jaycee Horn Rest DNP
TE Hayden Hurst Concussion DNP
CB D’Shawn Jamison Illness DNP
OLB DJ Johnson Illness DNP
G Justin McCray Calf DNP
OT Taylor Moton Rest/knee DNP
S Jammie Robinson Illness DNP
WR Adam Thielen Rest DNP
TE Ian Thomas Ankle DNP
OLB Marquis Haynes Sr. Back Limited
TE Tommy Tremble Hip Limited
DT DeShawn Williams Knee Limited
P Johnny Hekker Shin Full

[lawrence-related id=687220,687215,687200]

Thomas Brown reportedly ‘pushing more accountability’ with Bryce Young

According to SI’s Albert Breer, the Panthers have been taking a different approach with Bryce Young after the firing of Frank Reich.

With former head coach Frank Reich out of the picture, the Carolina Panthers may be taking a different approach with the face of their franchise.

As part of his Week 14 takeaways, Sports Illustrated senior NFL reporter Albert Breer disclosed a bit of information he’s heard regarding quarterback Bryce Young and the team’s coaching staff (or whatever’s left of it). Breer, after Carolina’s 28-6 loss to the New Orleans Saints, wrote the following:

Bryce Young didn’t look much better Sunday, going 13-of-36 for 137 yards and a 48.0 passer rating. But the Panthers are trying to do more to get him going. With QBs coach Josh McCown gone, Jim Caldwell is now in the quarterback room every day, and interim coach Chris Tabor has pushed, in colorful language, for a tougher approach with the quarterback. The good news is that, as I’ve heard it, OC Thomas Brown was already an advocate for pushing more accountability with the team’s No. 1 pick.

Last week’s report from Joe Person and Dianna Russini of The Athletic noted that some within the organization believed Reich and former quarterbacks Josh McCown “weren’t tough enough” on the 22-year-old rookie. McCown and assistant head coach and running backs coach Duce Staley were dismissed by interim head coach Chris Tabor just hours after Reich’s firing on Nov. 27.

Taking accountability, however, certainly hasn’t been a weakness for Young—who has repeatedly shouldered the blame for the offense’s ongoing struggles.

Either way, Brown, Young and the rest of their unit—through 14 painful weeks—keep leaving us with more questions than answers.

[lawrence-related id=687150,687072,686923]

Where do the Panthers stand in NFL power rankings heading into Week 15?

Well, at least the Panthers are consistent.

Sunday afternoon’s 28-6 loss to the New Orleans Saints sent the struggling Carolina Panthers to a 1-12 mark on the campaign. The Week 14 thrashing marked their sixth straight defeat, now giving them their second six-game losing streak of the campaign.

So, maybe you can already tell where they sit across this week’s power rankings . . .

Chris Tabor doesn’t think Bryce Young could benefit from being benched

Panthers interim HC Chris Tabor was asked if he sees any benefit to benching Bryce Young for Andy Dalton.

Carolina Panthers interim head coach Chris Tabor is not going to bench Bryce Young. He explained why on Monday.

Week 14 brought yet another frustratingly similar result for the now 1-12 Panthers, who ate a sour 28-6 loss at the hands of the New Orleans Saints. The defeat featured a particularly paltry passing performance, as the offense finished with of all 99 yards through the air.

During this afternoon’s talk with reporters, Tabor said he doesn’t believe benching Young would benefit the struggling rookie quarterback.

“Well, I think one way to become a better football player is playin’ football,” replied Tabor, who was asked about sitting Young for veteran Andy Dalton. “That’s a pretty simple statement. The only way you’re gonna gain experience in the National Football League is by playing.

“And I have a tremendous amount of confidence in Bryce. And I know that there’s plays that he’s gonna want back. But, no, that hasn’t come into play.”

Young offered up one of his worst games of the year, finishing with 137 passing yards and a season-low 36.1 percent completion rate. He was also, in an attempt to be more aggressive downfield, just 1 of 9 on throws of at least 20 air yards.

While a handful of those misses should be attributed to the misuse of hands from his wide receivers, there’s no skirting away from Young’s rough afternoon. But, as Tabor noted, it’ll be just another learning experience for the No. 1 overall pick.

[lawrence-related id=687152,687143,687094]

Chris Tabor speaks on failures of Panthers’ passing game in Week 14

Panthers interim HC Chris Tabor spoke about his offense’s struggling passing game.

The Carolina Panthers had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day on offense in Week 14—particularly through the air. Interim head coach Chris Tabor talked about those struggles this afternoon.

Tabor, during his media availability on Monday, was asked about the shortcomings of his team’s downfield passing approach in the 28-6 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

“I think you’re always lookin’ to take shots when you can,” he replied. “They really just played man-to-man the whole game. So you’re gonna be able to take some shots. We didn’t connect when we wanted to, and that’s another area we have to improve on. Unfortunately, we didn’t convert enough on some of those third and fourth downs, and I think there’s a lot of things that go into that.”

Not a lot went into the box score for the unit, as the Panthers finished with just 99 passing yards. They converted on just eight of their 20 third-down tries and one of their seven looks on fourth down.

Following the defeat, quarterback Bryce Young told reporters that the offense was looking to be aggressive—which may explain his nine passes of at least 20 air yards. Those throws, however, resulted in just one completion for the rookie.

“We just wanna be aggressive,” Young said on Sunday. “It was kinda a reaction of a little bit of how they were playin’ us too. And be able to take what the defense gives us.”

Young ended the performance with a career-low 36.1-percent completion rate.

[lawrence-related id=687143,687094,687087]

Panthers fans react to excruciating Week 14 loss to Saints

Although Panthers fans are used to it at this point, Sunday’s loss to the Saints was particularly painful to experience.

Sunday brought another painfully familiar result for the Carolina Panthers, who took a 28-6 defeat to the host New Orleans Saints. They’ve now lost six games in a row and, overall, 12 of their 13 outings on the season.

We know interim head coach Chris Tabor is frustrated by it. We know quarterback Bryce Young is sick and tired of it. So, how about the folks watching it?

Here’s how the Panthers fans reacted to the excruciating Week 14 loss . . .

Chris Tabor vents frustration after Panthers’ Week 14 loss to Saints

Panthers interim HC Chris Tabor after loss to Saints: Everything’s frustrating right now, if I can be completely honest

At least the 2023 Carolina Panthers are consistent.

Sunday marked the team’s sixth straight loss and the 12th in their 13 games this season, as they took a 28-6 drubbing at the altar of the New Orleans Saints. And this defeat looked just like all the others—with the struggling offense letting down the solid defense.

Interim head coach Chris Tabor was asked why that’s been the case during his postgame presser.

“Because we haven’t won yet,” Tabor replied. “We need to figure out how to win. That’s what we gotta get done. And you have to keep chopping wood and keep going in order to break through.

“It’s just not gonna magically happen for you. When your number’s called, you gotta make a play. And you never know in this game when it’s gonna happen. So that’s what took place here.”

What took place at Caesars Superdome was another commendable performance from defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero’s unit—which limited the Saints to just 207 total yards on the afternoon. The group also held New Orleans to just one touchdown through the game’s first 54 minutes.

Alas, the fellas on the other side of the ball never returned the favor. While productive on the ground with a season-high 204 yards, the offense mustered up all of 99 passing yards.

Quarterback Bryce Young turned in one of his worst performances of what’s been a particularly rough rookie campaign. The No. 1 overall pick, who didn’t get much help from his receivers nor his offensive line (again), completed just 13 of his 36 throws for 137 yards.

So even though there’s not much to be said, Tabor tried anyway.

“Everything’s frustrating right now, if I can be completely honest,” he added. “As I said—how are you gonna handle it? This is tough, after this loss. But we gotta keep goin’.”

[lawrence-related id=687064,687040,686603]

Chris Tabor explains what happened on Johnny Hekker’s fumble

Panthers interim HC Chris Tabor doesn’t care about your fantasy team.

So, did the New Orleans Saints cause a blocked punt or a fumble of Johnny Hekker on Sunday? Whatever it was, it didn’t matter to Carolina Panthers interim head coach Chris Tabor.

In the second quarter of Week 14’s eventual 28-6 loss, the Panthers opened up the flood gates on Hekker—as linebacker Saints Nephi Sewell went untouched to the All-Pro punter. Sewell then blocked, or forced a fumble, on Hekker—giving way to an 8-yard return for a touchdown by Spartanburg native D’Marco Jackson.

Tabor, who is also still Carolina’s special teams coordinator, was asked about the play to kick off his postgame press conference.

“It was a blocked punt,” he said. “Man didn’t go out and block the guy like he was supposed to. So, that’s a mistake that obviously cannot happen.”

At first, the play was ruled as a blocked punt. But since Hekker never actually punted the ball, the league changed it to a fumble.

Either way, it was a bad result.

“To me, it’s a blocked punt,” Tabor later added. “It’s a blocked punt, they scored off it. However people wanna score it in fantasy football, it doesn’t matter to me. We made a mistake, didn’t do our job and that hurt us there.”

Well, hopefully all of your fantasy teams had a fine performance this week, regardless.

[lawrence-related id=687047,687040,686976]