Tag: panthers power rankings

Panthers drop to No. 28 in Week 15 power rankings

Whoever the next general manager of the Panthers is, they’ll have a lot of work to do.

Whoever the next general manager of the Panthers is, they’ll have a lot of work to do. The team’s latest loss (their eighth in their last nine games) dropped them to 4-10 on the season and down to No. 28 in Touchdown Wire’s weekly NFL power rankings.

Most of the year their young defense has been the problem, but Carolina actually came through strong on that side of the ball in Green Bay. Now it’s the offense that’s raising all the wrong kinds of questions – like if they need to make a change at the most important position. Here’s Mark Schofield on the QB situation.

“Questions about the offense, and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, are sure to linger. Perhaps the most important play of the game was a fumble by Bridgewater on a 1st-and-goal attempted quarterback sneak midway through the second quarter. Bridgewater tried to leap over the pile and the football was punched out, and the Packers recovered. Green Bay would score a touchdown on their ensuing possession, a potential 14-point swing. With these questions swirling about Bridgewater, the likelihood that Carolina looks at a quarterback in the first round increases.”

The great conjunction that peaked last night is supposed to bring on important changes. Right now, it certainly looks like the stars are aligning against Bridgewater.

While he doesn’t quite have the gravity of a planet, team owner David Tepper’s opinion matters the most in the building and he seems to be souring on No. 5. His comments to the media following the news of Marty Hurney’s firing hinted that Bridgewater’s welcome has indeed been worn out.

With their quarterback underperforming even modest expectations and a top-five pick possibly in the mix, there’s a real chance we will see the Panthers select a new franchise QB in the upcoming draft. Buckle up.

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Panthers jump 4 spots in Week 11 power rankings after win over Lions

The win improved their record to 4-7 on the season and boosted them up four spots in Touchdown Wire’s weekly power rankings.

The Carolina Panthers snapped a five-game losing streak on Sunday with a win over the Detroit Lions. It was the best defensive performance they’ve put on in several seasons, holding their opponents scoreless and under 200 total yards of offense.

The win improved their record to 4-7 on the season and boosted them up four spots in Touchdown Wire’s weekly power rankings. They are now sitting at No. 20 on the list. Here’s Mark Schofield on an unlikely QB controversy possible developing in Carolina.

“Does this game spell a permanent switch to Walker? Probably not, as we here at Touchdown Wire are on record as favoring Bridgewater for 2021 and beyond. But for now, Panthers fans should feel that between the two, the QB room is in good hands. Something tells me at least pockets of Carolina fans – if not more – disagree.”

We’re not ready to jump on board the P.J. Walker train just yet.

That said, he showed enough potential against Detroit to be worth another start this season. It will be hard to keep Teddy Bridgewater out of the lineup with a chance for a revenge game against the Minnesota Vikings. If he’s anything less than 100% though the idea is worth considering.

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Panthers dip to No. 17 in Week 7 power rankings after another loss

The Carolina Panthers are a more competitive team than anybody thought they would be this season.

The Carolina Panthers are a more competitive team than anybody thought they would be this season. Even though they are now below .500, they have had a chance to win every game they have played and all four teams they’ve lost to are respectable opponents.

It’s easy to exceed expectations when they are extremely low, though. Their record and a lot of advanced stats suggest this team is about as average as they come in the NFL. The latest Touchdown Wire power rankings reflect that, too. Carolina dipped to No. 17 following their latest loss. Here’s what Mark Schofield had to say about the Panthers’ situation.

“Now, Carolina sits at 3-4, behind both the Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the division. They have been better than expected this season, especially with the injury to Christian McCaffrey, but time is running short in the NFC South.”

It is and if the Panthers are going to close the gap between them and the Saints and the Bucs, they’ll need some upgrades at key positions. With the trade deadline coming up, Carolina should be looking to deal for red zone weapons and playmakers for the back-seven of their defense.

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Panthers rise 4 spots in Week 3 power rankings following first win

These 2020 Carolina Panthers might not be as bad as we have been told.

These 2020 Carolina Panthers might not be as bad as we have been told. All offseason, the predictions and projections for this young team ranged from bad to worst-in-the-NFL. While there are many areas that they can improve on, overall this group has been more competitive than most people were expecting going into this season.

Carolina lost its first two games of the year against the Raiders and Buccaneers. Both contests were winnable, though. The Panthers earned their first win of the season on Sunday against the Chargers, improving their record to 1-2. They also made a jump in Touchdown Wire’s power rankings, rising from No. 24 to No. 20. Here’s what Doug Farrar had to say about their upset victory in Inglewood.

“Sunday was a good day for Panthers head coach Matt Rhule, who got his first NFL win with a 21-16 victory over the Chargers. And they did it without running back Christian McCaffrey, who will be out 4-6 weeks with an ankle injury. The Panthers were able to do this in part by doing what they most decidedly did not do in their two losses — provide a consistent pass rush. Justin Herbert was sacked twice and hit eight times. Those two sacks marked the first of the season for Carolina, and while they’re still at the bottom of the NFL in sacks, total pressures, and quarterback knockdowns, Sunday was a step in the right direction.”

That it was.

If they’re going to keep building momentum, the Panthers will need to have better luck in the health department. This week, the team’s best playmaker (Christian McCaffrey) and two of its top four linemen (Kawann Short and Russell Okung) all sat out due to injuries. No matter what else is going on with the roster, Carolina can’t afford to lose multiple starters in the trenches for any significant length of time.

Next up, they’ll host Kyler Murray and the Cardinals. Once again they’re the underdogs.

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Panthers place higher than expected in first power rankings of 2020 season

In the first power rankings of the new season from Doug Farrar at Touchdown Wire, Carolina came in at No. 24 – which is better than we expected.

The Panthers lost their first game of the season against the Raiders, 34-30. However, it was a close, competitive contest which was winnable right down until the final minutes. We also saw some encouraging signs from a defense that came into this year projected to be the worst in the NFL.

In the first power rankings of the new season from Doug Farrar at Touchdown Wire, Carolina came in at No. 24 – which is better than we expected. Here’s what Farrar said about this team’s debut.

“The rebuilding Panthers stayed competitive with the Raiders in a 34-30 loss, but one thing they’re going to have to figure out is how to fix a run defense that was the NFL’s worst in 2019. Raiders running back Josh Jacobs riddled Carolina’s fronts for three touchdowns, despite the presence of first-round defensive tackle Derrick Brown.”

The flashes from Brown were arguably the most exciting development from Week 1. He had a tough matchup against Raiders right guard Gabe Jackson, but he overpowered Jackson several times and was disruptive enough to bother Derek Carr on a few passes.

The Panthers also saw some flashes from second-round pick Jeremy Chinn, who started at SAM linebacker finished with eight combined tackles. Only Shaq Thompson (12) totaled more.

On offense, there were some painful long-ball misses from quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, but he was able to hit Robby Anderson on a critical 75-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. Bridgewater also did a good job taking care of the ball (zero turnovers) and avoiding sacks (one).

That said, there’s a ton of work for this team to do. They couldn’t tackle, couldn’t stop the run, couldn’t rush the passer and dropped too many passes.

Next up, the Panthers visit the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay. They opened as eight-point underdogs.

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Panthers still near the bottom of Touchdown Wire’s summer power rankings

Patience is the name of the game for Panthers fans this year.

Patience is the name of the game for Panthers fans this year. While there are some exceptional young talents on the roster, the team is at the beginning of a rebuilding period and it’s going to take time for them to become competitive again.

As is appropriate, the team has been consistently ranked near the bottom of most power rankings all offseason. The latest batch from Touchdown Wire has Carolina placed at No. 28. Only Cincinnati, Washington, the Jets and the Jaguars were ranked lower. Here’s what Doug Farrar had to say about these Panthers going into the summer.

“Change has come to the Panthers, as both the quarterback and head coach that captained the team since 2011 — Cam Newton and Ron Rivera — were both cashiered. Now, it’s up to Teddy Bridgewater and Matt Rhule to bring the franchise back to the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Bridgewater is capable of doing that when he’s healthy, and Christian McCaffrey may be the most valuable running back in the NFL. First-round defensive tackle Derrick Brown will help what was the league’s worst run defense last season, but the Panthers are not quite where they need to be overall to compete in what will be a brutally competitive NFC South just yet.”

Adding more talent at a few positions of need could help. Realistically, there’s not much left they can do, though. According to Over the Cap, the team has just $11,113,926 of salary cap space left for the year.

After signing former Giants and Saints cornerback Eli Apple, the defensive personnel is probably set for the year. Phil Snow will have no choice but to rely heavily on unproven players.

On offense, the weakest spots are the offensive line and tight end.

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Panthers No. 28 in Touchdown Wire’s mid-free agency power rankings

The Carolina Panthers brought in Matt Rhule to engineer the same kind of rebuild he pulled off in his previous stops at Temple and Baylor.

The Carolina Panthers brought in Matt Rhule to engineer the same kind of rebuild he pulled off in his previous stops at Temple and Baylor.

No matter what kind of culture Rhule brings in or the number of talents they’re able to acquire this offseason, odds are it’s going to take some time and the franchise has a long road ahead before it’ll be competitive again.

In a new mid-free agency power rankings list by Mark Schofield at Touchdown Wire, the Panthers came in at No. 28, up from No. 31 last time. Here’s what he said about some of their early moves.

“Pharoh Cooper and Seth DeValve are interesting pieces on the offensive side of the football, and do not overlook P.J. Walker. The face of the XFL showed that he has the athletic ability and prowess outside of the pocket that fit in the modern NFL, and he should also be an ideal fit in Brady’s system. Finally, they added Robby Anderson, perhaps the best wide receiver remaining on the market at a rather reasonable deal for two years. Not a bad start to the Matt Rhule era.”

Not a bad start is true. In particular, the team is loaded at the skill positions on offense. Going from Cam Newton to Teddy Bridgewater is a step down at quarterback, but that’s the only complaint so far.

The trouble is on the other side of the ball.

While there are some solid foundational pieces like Brian Burns and Shaq Thompson, this unit has been absolutely devastated by free agent losses and Luke Kuechly’s retirement. In fact, right now it looks like the worst defense in the league on paper. The team needs to add more depth/talent at every position, especially cornerback.

If the Panthers don’t plan on a defense-heavy 2020 draft class, then they’re doing it wrong.

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Panthers No. 27 in ESPN’s way-too-early 2020 power rankings

That’s what happens when you finish 5-11 and have a ton of roster holes to fill and questions to answer. 

The Carolina Panthers have a long way to go before they’re ready to compete with contenders like the San Francisco 49ers and the world champion Kansas City Chiefs. Looking ahead towards next season, Carolina might be one of the worst teams in the league, at least according to ESPN. They have ranked the Panthers No. 27 in their way-too-early 2020 power rankings.

That’s what happens when you finish 5-11 and have a ton of roster holes to fill and questions to answer. That said, we really don’t know what this Panthers team is going to be like under new coach Matt Rhule.

He faces a significant challenge trying to rebuild a team on the fly. However, that’s one of the best qualities Rhule brings to the table. In his previous stops at Temple and Baylor, he turned around two awful college programs and molded them into strong ones in just a couple of years.

Even if Rhule’s rebuilding wizardry translates to the pro level, he’s going to need a lot of help from his front office if this team is going to be competitive again anytime soon.

The 2020 free agency period and the upcoming NFL draft will be critical in determining how fast he can turn things around.

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Panthers come in at No. 26 in Week 17 power rankings

The Carolina Panthers have hit rock bottom.

The Carolina Panthers have hit rock bottom. Sunday’s loss guaranteed they would finish in last place in the NFC South for the first time since 2016. It also dropped them to No. 26 in Touchdown Wire’s weekly power rankings. Here’s what they had to say about the coaching situation.

“The Panthers might be in the most disarray they’ve been in since coach George Seifert’s final year, a 1-15 season in 2001. Interim coach Perry Fewell hasn’t come close to winning a game since taking over when Ron Rivera was fired. It’s become obvious that Fewell will not get the permanent job.”

Indeed. As to who will get the job, we finally have some concrete reporting. Former Packers coach Mike McCarthy has been a rumored candidate for several weeks. Yesterday, Adam Schefter at ESPN reported the team interviewed him for the head coach opening Sunday.

Based on our Twitter mentions, most fans would be… not thrilled if McCarthy is hired. That group should not panic too much as of yet. McCarthy has some Pittsburgh connections, which gives him a link with team owner David Tepper. However, right now his biggest advantage is availability. Because he’s out of the league McCarthy can interview, whereas candidates who are in the middle of a playoff run like Greg Roman cannot.

McCarthy had an impressive run of success with the Packers when Aaron Rodgers was at his peak (Monday night’s game indicates that’s definitely past). At one point, they made the playoffs eight years in a row, peaking with a Super Bowl win in the 2010 season.

Then again, when Rodgers was at his best it would have been hard for most NFL coaches not to do well. By the end of his time in Green Bay, McCarthy’s offensive concepts were coming under heavy criticism and Rodgers seemed tuned out.

Coaches can improve just like any player, though. If McCarthy has earnestly spent the last year self-scouting and trying to improve he might be much better. Whether it’s in Carolina or somewhere else, odds are McCarthy will get a chance to prove himself again.

For now, the search will continue.

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Panthers fall to No. 25 in Week 16 power rankings

For the second straight year, the Panthers are finishing their season with an embarrassing losing streak.

For the second straight year, the Panthers are finishing their season with an embarrassing losing streak. In 2018, they were able to break it only at the last minute with a meaningless win over the Saints, who weren’t playing their stars with a top seed already secured.

This year, a moral victory like that seems unlikely given how bad things have gotten over the last six games. According to Touchdown Wire’s latest power rankings, Carolina is at No. 25 going into Week 16.

“The Panthers now are 2-5 at home this season. That’s embarrassing because the Panthers have good fans, and Bank of America Stadium has given the team a home-field advantage in the past. But the Panthers have lost six games in a row, and their future has more questions than answers.”

One of those questions is what the Panthers got when they picked Will Grier in the third round. We will finally get to see him in action this week as he’s expected to start on the road against the Colts.

Aside from seeing what Grier is all about, there’s very little to hold Carolina fans’ interest over the last two games.

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