Carolina Panthers: First Quarter of the Season will Haunt Team
The Carolina Panthers spent their first four games with teams that were unsettled at quarterback. They could not deliver and it is concerning.
We set the Carolina Panthers up before Week 1 with an idea of what would dominate the first quarter of the season. It was the quarterback position. Three teams in four had new quarterbacks. That was something the Panthers weren’t likely to see in a normal season.
How did they do? Blaine Gabbert was inept as always, making one wonder what exactly Colin Kaepernick did to be buried on the sideline right now for the 49ers. Trevor Siemian had some interceptions early but proved to be the caretaker the Broncos needed. Ditto for Sam Bradford, just without the interceptions (and also it being the Vikings).
Matt Ryan ripped the Panthers a new one by just matching up Julio Jones all over the place. It didn’t matter if it was a rookie or Bene Benwikere in coverage. Jones had his way with the secondary. Fortunately not every NFL team has a Jones, but some do. Atlanta appears again on the Panthers schedule after all.
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In short the Panthers did not take advantage of a good situation. They even avoided Adrian Peterson and ended up 1-3. It’s not a death sentence, but it isn’t good either. The Panthers will be relying on their divisional schedule to help rectify things (sans Atlanta). Washington, San Diego, and Los Angeles are all still on the schedule.
That won’t matter much if the Panthers can’t generate pressure from their line. The secondary is vulnerable if the line cannot get to the quarterback. Bradford, Siemian, and Ryan had too much time to figure things out. By contrast this has the season of hitting Cam Newton on the other side.
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Newton’s play has been up and down so far. That has been partially because of the target that other teams have painted on his back. He was cute when the Panthers were not threatening. Now he is getting hit far too often. Denver and Minnesota both delivered with pressure defenses. The Falcons knocked Newton out of the game on a hit near the goal line.
Cam’s other issue is holding out for the big play. Until the Falcons game, Cam was less likely to check the ball down to Fozzi Whittaker for sure yardage versus the Kelvin Benjamin highlight. Both things have their place in the Carolina offense, but one was missing until now.
Newton needs to run less except the Panthers need to replace the production of Jonathan Stewart. So they need Newton to run more. He would always have run a little bit, but it exposes him to more hits. Taking Michael Oher away last game probably didn’t help either although the Panthers did make a comeback behind Derek Anderson.
The quarterback question will only get harder as the season progresses. The Panthers had a chance to start strong, now they will have to get their form back against the likes of Drew Brees, Jameis Winston, and Russell Wilson.