Going into the bye week - Observations and plans

[Bronn]

Going into the bye week, the Panthers should reflect on the hits and misses of the first three games, and also take the extra time to adjust their plans for the rest of the season.

First off, our offensive line play has been pretty decent, considering the shuffle that has taken place there. We could still get better, obviously, but this should no longer be considered, at least with their play thus far, as a weakness for this team.

Our WR play has been spotty. Both Funch and Smith had better plays this week than the previous. Jarius Wright has made some clutch catches all year. Nobody else has really shown up, either from not being given an opportunity, or from not being healthy. I'm hoping Samuel and Byrd can return to the mix soon, and that we give DJ way more reps. It is obvious that our offense will revolve around CMC, both in the run and the pass, but we have to get our WRs experience.

Our run defense improved this week, but is still looking a little rough. Our safety play is still pretty poor. Gaulden needs to step up. Obada and Cox had some good plays in the pass-rush game, and I hope they stay active. We'll have one more game without TD, but once he comes back, our second level defense will be able to help out better in both phases. Bradberry has played decent, and Jackson is looking like the DROY. If Bradberry could pick up some swag and play a little tougher, I think we're good for a long time at CB1 and CB2. At this point, though, I really think Munnerlyn shouldn't be our Nickel. He's pretty bad now in coverage, and only really does well when he's blitzing. He might become more effective once TD returns, as Shaq will be covering some of his duties then.

The two biggest unsung heroes thus far are Alex Armah and Ian Thomas. Armah has done a very very very good job of lead blocking and taking on the tradition FB role, which is a lost art in today's league. Thomas has shown improvement each week, and has done well in Greg's absence. Both players have had key blocks on some of our best plays, and have also contributed when touching the ball.

Moving forward, I really think we have a couple key changes we need to make. We have to get safety help. I don't care if we get someone off their couch, Colin Jones can't be out there holding it down each week. I still advocate making a trade for someone like Sean Davis from Pittsburgh if we can. If we refuse to go that route, Gaulden has to step up.

Also, in terms of our secondary, we still run too much soft zone. That is what allows teams to hang with us in the passing game, and for runners to gash us for big runs. We consistently play 8-10 yards off the opposition at the line and try to keep the plays in front of us. When we do that, teams just gash us for 7-15 yards a play, and then we fall back on trying to not break in the red zone. You can't keep doing this in today's passing league. You have to bump wideouts from time to time. You have to get physical. Zone is okay, but don't let guys just walk right into the weak spots! This is the most infuriating thing to watch about our defense every week. We sit down in zones and let them pass right into the open spots.

Another thing we need to do is keep guys like Obada and Cox in the DE rotation, as well as bring guys like Haynes up to give them a shot. Our pass rush seemed improved this week, and I think it can continue to get better. Better pass rush equates to the ability to play the softer zone we like to play in the back of the defense.

Keep giving CMC the rock, but don't force it. CJ has done well in his limited PT, and we haven't even seen CAP (trade him maybe?)

Cam is doing a great job so far. Sure, he isn't perfect, but he's an elite QB. I'm glad he's ours, and I hope he keeps doing what he's doing.

Overall, we're looking like, at least, a 12-4 team. If we make slight improvements, like acquiring another safety, we could easily have another 15-1 run.

TLDR: Panthers look good so far, need to keep improving (get a GD safety,) stop being soft in the secondary, and keep bringing the heat in the pass rush.

[hepcat]

Early returns on the offense are great. A little nervous how much they are leaning on McCaffrey, and maybe that's why we only see Anderson in limited action to preserve him just in case. But overall there's no way to tell how good this team is yet. Beat two bad teams at home, lost to a good division opponent on the road. Defense has looked pretty bad at times. Not going to know how good this team is until at least Week 8.

[joemac]

15-1 is a little generous considering we still have Atlanta, NO x 2, and TB x 2. But yeah I agree we’re on the road to great things....just need to tighten up in some spots.

[RumHam]

28 minutes ago, hepcat said:

Early returns on the offense are great. A little nervous how much they are leaning on McCaffrey, and maybe that's why we only see Anderson in limited action to preserve him just in case. But overall there's no way to tell how good this team is yet. Beat two bad teams at home, lost to a good division opponent on the road. Defense has looked pretty bad at times. Not going to know how good this team is until at least Week 8.

Cincinnati is not a bad team.

[hepcat]

1 minute ago, RumHam said:

Cincinnati is not a bad team.

They're certainly not a good team. Finished 7-9 and 6-9-1 in the last two seasons playing in the obviously less talented AFC. They will probably get swept by the NFC South this season.

[KB_fan]

Well written OP.

I totally agree, Oline is no longer a major concern.  Between the guys we've seen step up, and Norv's ability to play call (and Cam & CMC being able to execute) to scheme around any Oline weakness (e.g. last week with all those FAST checkdowns), I'm not too worried.

Safety on the other hand.... Yikes.  We really need help.  Get it done Marty.  PLEASE.

WRs:  I'm hopeful Samuel can get back after the bye and that he and Byrd can open up some fun deep stuff with their speed.  

TE: Ian Thomas is impressing with all he's taken on in Greg's absence.  Very encouraged.  It hurts to have Greg missing, but we seem to be dealing with it better than last  year.  Assuming Greg can get back on the field, having a more experienced Thomas available to spell him, or allow for 2 TE sets is a good thing.  

WEAPONS and mixing the game plan up week to week:  I've got a crush on Norv.  Our offense has looked pretty different each of the 3 games we've played.  Can you imagine trying to gameplan against us when Norv can mix and match weapons and feature different looks each week?  One week Cam the leading rusher.  The next week CMC catching 14 of 14.  Then CMC exploding for 184 yrds, only 2 receptions.  Hopefully some deep passing action will get in the mix after the bye.  But with Norv knowing how to scheme for an opponent's weakness / how to best exploit matchups, AND our diversity of skills and talents on offense...  wow, this could be pretty special.

[KB_fan]

Let me add just a few comments on Defense too.  I didn't want to make my above comment too long.

D-line:  Yes, there have been lapses, but overall yesterday's game was good.  We got pressure when we really needed the D to get stops in the 4th Q.  They did.  QBs that can are throwing fast against us.  Makes it hard on our rush.  But yesterday even before the stats started showing up, they were getting good penetration.  I watched one play where either KK or Mario had a bead on Dalton and should have sacked him, but he got that pass out lightning quick.

Not sure I'm seeing all I'd hoped for out of Poe.  Some penalties and not a lot of impact yet that I've seen.  Hopefully he'll get there.  But KK, Mario, Kyle Love, Wes, have all looked solid.  They've each made big plays.  Peppers was beginning to make a difference yesterday.   Hopefully we pace him well so that his maximum impact is at the times and in the games most needed.  Obada:  WHAT A GAME!  Hopefully there won't be any kind of Delaire syndrome once teams have film on him that he disappears.  But exciting if we have some young pass rush talent emerging!  Butler:  is there anything to say?  Is there ANY spark or flash?  Still seems like such a wasted pick.  Makes me sad.

LBs:  It will be GOOD to have TD back.  Shaq has stepped up pretty well.  But Mayo isn't very good on the outside.  He's better as depth at MLB and on Special Teams.  TD is just special.  Need his heart & passion as well as his extra pass rush skill.  And he & Luke are just an incredible tandem.  Hope when TD's back, (and especially if this were to be TD's final season), that the two of them can have a season for the ages.

Secndary:  CBs:  Liking this pairing of Bradberry & Jackson!  Can't believe Jackson already has 3 INTs.  SWEET!  Took until Dec 10th [vs. Vikings] last year for any of our CBs (Worley) to snag one!!

Safety: WE NEED HELP.

[Bronn]

32 minutes ago, KB_fan said:

D-line:  Yes, there have been lapses, but overall yesterday's game was good.  We got pressure when we really needed the D to get stops in the 4th Q.  They did.  QBs that can are throwing fast against us.  Makes it hard on our rush.  But yesterday even before the stats started showing up, they were getting good penetration.  I watched one play where either KK or Mario had a bead on Dalton and should have sacked him, but he got that pass out lightning quick.

 

I really think those quick passes are a byproduct of the soft zone stuff I was hinting at. Opposing WRs have been able to sink down on quick routes because our DBs are playing so far off them at the line. It is terrible sometimes.

[ericr0319]

My  biggest takeaways from the first 3 games are:

1. Colin Jones at S is brutal. 

2. We miss Thomas Davis. 

3. T. Smith does not help this team, but hurts it. 

4. C.J. Anderson needs a few more touches a game. 

[Toomers]

   Call Chuckie

 offer 5th for Karl Joseph

  don’t let him hang up

[Bronn]

We have guys that other teams could use. Case in point, Vernon Butler and Cameron Artis-Payne.

VB has been a disappointment in limited play time this year. Let another team that is struggling against the run deal with molding him into an all around DT.

CAP isn't needed right now. Yeah, it's nice to have a 3rd string RB, but we could pick someone up in a pinch if it came to it. Let a team that needs a RB or even depth have him.

WE NEED A SAFETY!

[Cpt slay a ho]

We need a safety like yesterday, a solid safety will put us over the top, I’d bring in a vet safety and STILL push to trade for one, 3rd or 4th rounder, Thomas is a pipe dream. 

D line coach needs to preach containment, we got absolutely murdered the last two weeks because the qb were able to get outside the pocket. 

Overall we’re a good team and will be in the playoff hunt, however proactively addressing the safety position by trading for someone will put us over the top, another year where the nfc looks vulnerable, our guys are injured but only Williams is a guy that may be out for the season.

[trueblade]

9 minutes ago, Bronn said:

We have guys that other teams could use. Case in point, Vernon Butler and Cameron Artis-Payne.

VB has been a disappointment in limited play time this year. Let another team that is struggling against the run deal with molding him into an all around DT.

CAP isn't needed right now. Yeah, it's nice to have a 3rd string RB, but we could pick someone up in a pinch if it came to it. Let a team that needs a RB or even depth have him.

WE NEED A SAFETY!

Offer CAP and VB for a safety, sign Barner back as our 3rd RB (is he still available?)

[Bronn]

Lets talk safety candidates.

First you have the OFF THE COUCH guys. The pickings are sorta slim, and have some controversy.

Eric Reid - suing the NFL, but a pretty good player

Mike Mitchell - only decent year was here imho, and old
Travell Dixon - some familiarity there, but not an upgrade imho
LJ McCray - some familiarity, but injury concerns and not an upgrade
Dezmen Southward - familiar, not an upgrade
Jairus Byrd - familiar, unimpressed with him, old
Quintin Demps - old
Fish Smithson - I liked him coming out, but he hasn't done much in the league
Quin Blanding - another guy I liked coming out of college, might be worth a look

Now, lets look at players we might could trade for:

2019 free agents:
Landon Collins - excluding him because of Gettleman
Adrian Amos - decent prospect
Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix - likely too costly, but a solid player
Clayton Geathers - solid strong safety prospect, but mid-career

2020 free agents:
Sean Davis - my favorite of the bunch
Damarious Randall - solid depth guy, could start

2021 free agents:
Budda Baker - likely too expensive, not sure Wilks would part with him
Desmond King - liked him coming out
John Johnson - really liked him coming out, doubt Rams would part with him
Josh Jones - liked him coming out, local, but bit by injury bug a bit
Marcus Maye - liked him coming out, solid player, dinged up, doubt Jets would move him
Eddie Jackson - like him coming out, destroyed us when we played Chicago recently

To me, the best candidate is Sean Davis. The Steelers could use either Butler or CAP.

The 2021 guys are probably going to be tougher to get, as they still have time on their contracts and are young/cheap.

Randall could be a target too, but what do we have that the Browns would want?

All of the contract year guys look pretty good to me, especially over what we have. I doubt we'd trade with the Giants. But could Chicago, Green Bay, or Indy use any of what we've got to trade?