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2010 Carolina Panthers: What the Film Revealed

KaseKlosed

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2010 Carolina Panthers: What the Film Revealed

By ANDY BENOIT

While we wonder whether there will be a 2011 season, this is part of a series looking back at the 2010 season, with the benefit of film analysis. This week, we look at the N.F.C. South:

Offense

Carolina Panthers

On the bright side, the Panthers’ season answered once and for all the question of whether an N.F.L. team can win without a quarterback. The last coach to say a team could win sans a good quarterback was probably John Fox — and he changed his view a few years ago. Fox’s Panthers validated his new stance; neither Matt Moore nor Jimmy Clausen proved capable of executing a pro offense. Both were unable to read defenses before the snap and failed to push the ball downfield in the face of pressure. Clausen was particularly wide-eyed. He had three tricks in his bag: the checkdown, the dumpoff (usually a checkdown that occurs a second too late) and the throw away (usually a checkdown that occurs a second too early).

Because teams had zero respect for Carolina’s passing attack (which, to be fair to the quarterbacks, featured a receiving corps of ill-prepared youngsters and an unfocused Steve Smith), the ground game had no chance. It’s too bad because, aside from overwhelmed guard Mackenzy Bernadeau, the offensive line was adequate. Left tackle Jordan Gross played at his usual Pro Bowl level and center Ryan Kalil was once again agile in space and (usually) strong enough in traffic.

Defense

This would have been a top 15 defense had the safeties been a little savvier. The young starters Sherrod Martin and Charles Godfrey were not always on the same page as the cornerbacks. Everyone seemed to play a hair short of his abilities.

This wasn’t the case with the front seven. Jon Beason was his usual ravenous self at weakside and middle linebacker. Before hurting his hip, middle linebacker Dan Connolly was an excellent downhill force. And blooming authoritatively, at least early in the season, was the fifth-year pro James Anderson, who made countless solo plays against the run and pass.

Carolina’s most impressive player might have been defensive end Charles Johnson. Playing in a contract year, Johnson consistently reached the quarterback rushing inside and outside. He also proved adept in all phases of run defense. The Panthers’ problem was that not a single other pass-rusher seemed to show up (unless you count sixth-round rookie Greg Hardy, who displayed intriguing potential early on).

Myth Buster

Carolina is weak at defensive tackle

This is true from a pass-rushing standpoint, but on first and second down, the Panthers were consistently staunch inside. Undersized former Jaguar Derek Landri was tough to block because of his tirelessness and ability to penetrate. Andre Neblett played frequently down the stretch and was, at times, almost immovable. Nick Hayden had to rely on effort more than talent, which put a ceiling on his output, but he was rarely a weak spot. It would be justifiable for the Panthers to draft an explosive inside player early, but that doesn’t mean the incumbents are bums.

Something Positive

When healthy (which wasn’t often enough), DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart were shining stars, as always. But when they weren’t healthy, the Panthers were feeding the ball to Mike Goodson. The 2009 fourth-round pick turned out to be pretty intriguing. Goodson shows loose hips and speed early in runs. He accelerates well. If he learns to dance less and hones his pass-blocking, the Panthers will have, at the very least, a solid 15-touches-a-game-type back.

Andy Benoit is the founder of NFLTouchdown.com and a writer for the CBSSports.com Eye on Football blog

http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/05/2010-carolina-panthers-what-the-film-revealed/

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KSpan Grand Master

KSpan

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I think Anderson was more of a force than he is being credited with here. Other than that I am amazed that someone actually put together a well informed write up of the Panthers.

Kudos.

After about week 9 or so Anderson kinda became Na'il Diggs - solid, but anonymous. The impactful, eye-opening plays were almost all in the first half of the season.

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