Carolina Panthers: Looking at Potential Changes

The Carolina Panthers should not lose hope in this season yet, but a very high bar means its time to look at what changes they may need for next year. First of a Series.

The Carolina Panthers are 4-8. They play the 5-7 San Diego Chargers later today. The Panthers could win all their games and still win the division if the Falcons and Buccaneers were to lose all their remaining games except one each. Those are long odds.

Making them longer is the Panthers injury situation. The Panthers are missing too many critical pieces right now to make that kind of speculation valuable. Luke Kuechly is still not cleared by the concussion protocol for this week though the Panthers do get back Mario Addison.

An additional obstacle is the schedule. The Panthers get the Chargers and the Redskins to go with their two divisional opponents. San Diego is no easy out although they have some of the same issues that the Panthers do regarding injuries.

More from Carolina Panthers

• Carolina Panthers: Secondary battles to watch in training camp 2020
• Carolina Panthers: 2020 training camp kicks off on Tuesday
• Carolina Panthers: Familiarity should help offense in 2020
• Carolina Panthers: Better or worse at running back in 2020?
• Carolina Panthers: Ranking the NFC South quarterback rooms

Washington could still try a run at the Wild Card, however they also have the specter of Josh Norman playing his old team after a contentious parting. The Panthers don’t seem to fare well in games where someone wants to personally take someone down (see Steve Smith).

The trick then is to look and see what the Panthers need to do to improve themselves for next season as the final chapters of this season wind down. The core of the team is still set, but there are changes that need to be made to keep the team viable in the window of Cam Newton’s prime.

Let’s start this off with the quarterback position. Despite continuity in the position it seems to be growing clearer that a change has to be made. The Panthers need to seriously take a look at replacing Derek Anderson as the number two guy.

While Anderson is experienced and rarely sees the field, he has been ineffective in the spot duty he saw this season. He threw game killing interceptions in three games this year, against the Bucs, against the Falcons, and most recently against the Seahawks. The throw against the Seahawks was his only throw of the game.

More from Old North Banter

• Carolina Panthers: Secondary battles to watch in training camp 2020
• Carolina Panthers: 2020 training camp kicks off on Tuesday
• NC Colleges Provide Coronavirus Results from Athletic Departments
• Court alleges Zion’s Stepfather received $400k
• UNC Football gets Commitment from Top Cornerback

The point of a backup quarterback in the Panthers system is somebody who does not make mistakes even if that means they don’t make too many big plays. Anderson has violated that principle this year.

Replacing him is not easy either. The best route would be for Joe Webb to be ready to take on that role while the team grooms the first of several young quarterbacks to become Cam’s backup. Then that player would stick around until money and opportunity took them elsewhere.

Tomorrow we will look at the running back position and how it will need to change going forward.