Next-Gen Stats – Syndication Server

Panthers OLB Brian Burns listed as 9th-most disruptive pass rusher of 2022

According to Next Gen Stats, Panthers OLB Brian Burns was the NFL’s ninth-most disruptive pass rusher in 2022.

[anyclip pubname=”2103″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8036″]

From his new uniform aesthetic to his looming long-term extension, Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Brian Burns is playing one big numbers game this offseason. Oh, and the numbers he played with before this spring were quite eye-opening as well.

Using Next Gen Stats, Around the NFL writer Nick Shook pieced together a list of the 10 most disruptive pass rushers from the 2022 campaign. Coming in at No. 9 is the first No. 0 in Panthers history. Shook writes:

Burns doesn’t get the credit he deserves.

Perhaps it’s a product of Carolina’s struggles to field a winning team. Maybe it’s because he plays in a division that was most recently dominated by Tom Brady. Regardless of the reason, it’s about time we start giving Burns more attention because it’s very much overdue.

Burns’ 2021 numbers were solid — 48 QB pressures, 11.5% QB pressure rate, 37 hurries, nine sacks, two turnovers caused by pressure — but 2022 was the season in which he officially cleared the bar to enter this group. Burns improved on each of those totals, save for TO-QBP, breaking double digits in sacks for the first time in his career. He maximized his 16 games played, receiving his second straight Pro Bowl selection.

Those improvements saw the former first-rounder post 62 quarterback pressures, a 12.9-percent pressure rate, 42 hurries and 12.5 sacks. And not only did those marks lead, as Shook notes, to his second straight Pro Bowl selection—but it was also his second straight starting nod . . . even if the all-star festivities aren’t quite what they used to be.

As for Burns’ next number, expect that to be a pretty hefty nine-digit one.

[lawrence-related id=674943,675454,675232]

Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard may be underappreciated after all

According to Next Gen Stats, Panhters RB Chuba Hubbard may have been the league’s most efficient ball carrier in 2022.

[anyclip pubname=”2103″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8036″]

Last week, we highlighted a piece from NFL Network analytics expert Cynthia Frelund where she selected a player from each team who may be underappreciated. For the Carolina Panthers, Frelund chose backup running back Chuba Hubbard.

Now, we know what you were probably thinking then and what you’re still thinking now. How underappreciated can a second-stringer be, especially at a position that’s been drastically depreciated over the years?

Well, we dug into the numbers—specifically, the analytics—a bit more.

Hubbard, according to Next Gen Stats, was actually the most efficient rusher in the league last season. His 3.18 efficiency rating, which is calculated by taking the total distance a player traveled on rushing plays per rushing yards gained, ranked first amongst all ball carriers in 2022.

In essence, the statistic measures how well a player can get from point A to point B without wasting ground. And based off that result, Hubbard was the best North/South runner in the game.

He also, on average, spent the lowest amount of time behind the line of scrimmage. Measured to a tenth of a second, Hubbard’s mark of 2.53 seconds topped the category—further indicating his efficiency as a rusher last year.

Perhaps unfortunately for the third-year veteran, the Panthers seem intent on devoting much of their backfield work in 2023 to Miles Sanders—whom they signed to a pretty chunky four-year, $25 million pact this offseason. So it seems as though Hubbard really is a bit underappreciated.

[lawrence-related id=672055,672907,670564]

Panthers CB Ross Cockrell ranked among top 5 DBs in this stat

One under-the-radar piece who’s worth keeping around is cornerback Ross Cockrell.

The Panthers defense is going to look much different next year than it did this season. That doesn’t mean everyone should be thrown overboard, though. One under-the-radar piece who’s worth keeping around is cornerback Ross Cockrell.

According to Next Gen Stats, Cockrell only allowed 6.3 yards per target. That tied him with Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis for the fourth-lowest average in the league among defensive backs.

Cockrell appeared in 14 games in 2019 and started 11. He posted 48 solo tackles, two interceptions and eight pass breakups.

His coverage wasn’t perfect – Pro Football Focus gave him a 61.3 coverage grade – but he did a good job of limiting yards after the catch. Cockrell was also solid in run support.

Starting him 11 games is probably not ideal. He is worth considering as a backup, though. Cockrell’s contract expires at the end of this season, so the Panthers will have to pay him if he’s in their long-term plans.

[lawrence-related id=617746]

[vertical-gallery id=617718]

Brian Burns has the fastest edge pass rush get off in the NFL this year

The Panthers have two of the fastest pass rushers in the NFL this year when it comes to average time to get across the line of scrimmage.

According to Next Gen Stats, nobody is doing it quicker than first-round pick Brian Burns, who is averaging 0.72 seconds. That’s .03 seconds better than anyone else. Carolina’s veteran linebacker Bruce Irvin is also among the league leaders – he comes in at No. 5 with a 0.76-second average.

That initial burst off the line of scrimmage has helped Burns get to 4.5 sacks and 11 quarterback hits.

However, things have been slowing down for Burns the last month or so of the season. Starting in Week 4 when Bruce Irvin made his debut in the lineup, Burns saw his playing time begin to dwindle. After playing 44, 39 and 56 snaps from Weeks 1-3, he saw his defensive snap count drop to just 38 against the Texans.

Burns compounded the issue in that game by slamming his fist into the field after a partially blocked punt (he was frustrated he didn’t block it out right). He has since undergone surgery and hasn’t made as much of an impact while wearing protection on his wrist.

Things bottomed out last week when Burns only saw 11 snaps against the Packers.

While it’s good the Panthers have a plethora of quality pass rushers like Irvin and Mario Addison, their success shouldn’t come at the cost of playing time for guys like Burns, who represent the future of the defense.

Ron Rivera needs to put his first-round pick on the field more if he’s serious about staying in the playoff race and sticking around in 2020.

[lawrence-related id=614124]

[vertical-gallery id=613865]