Panthers preseason opener highlights missteps of the past
We knew this team was depth challenged, Thursday night showcased the issues.
“We need to get our football right, specifically talking about the offense.”
Those were the words uttered by Panthers Head Coach Dave Canales on the first episode of Panthers Blueprint while on a plane shortly after accepting the job.
After scoring three points, not surpassing 100 yards of total offense until the fourth quarter, going 2-for-14 on third down and four pre-snap penalties in their preseason loss to the Patriots on Thursday, saying that there’s a lot of work to be done is quite the understatement.
Yes, the Panthers did play with a third string undrafted rookie quarterback, seven active offensive linemen and a slew of other backups where it rained most of the evening.
Yes, it was the team’s first preseason game and most of those that played hadn’t received a lot of practice reps together.
Thursday’s offensive performance reinforced what Canales said earlier in the week about the team’s depth chart and their dependence on the starters. “I think probably the first group is pretty good and then after that there’s just competitions at every position,” he said.
“The evaluation process continues. Every practice is important, particularly when we get into pads and we have these move the ball periods to evaluate it. The games are going to be huge for that. There’s some stock to put into that for sure and we want those guys to know - like the guys that we’re counting on - these are the one’s and the rest of them…great opportunities to show us what they can do.”
Every team in the NFL will have weaknesses on their roster. No team is going to have 53 All-Pro caliber players or starters.
The lack of NFL caliber depth highlights where the organization has made missteps when it comes to personnel evaluation, player development and team building.
The second series of the game was a microcosm of that issue from two second round picks. On 2nd-and-10, 2021 second rounder Terrace Marshall Jr dropped a perfectly placed pass while in stride that would’ve resulted in a first down. On the next play, 2023 second rounder Jonathan Mingo dropped a pass that also would’ve extended the drive.
Marshall is on the roster bubble. Mingo is only in year two and has had a solid camp so far, but questions remain.
Questions at wide receiver led to the front office acquiring Diontae Johnson and trading up at the end of the first round to take Xavier Legette.
The offensive line allowed five sacks in total. The line was so bad last year that they spent over $100 million on guards Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt. The team opted to not draft an offensive linemen and time will tell if that proves to be another misstep.
While getting the football right on the field is up to Canales, it is up to Dan Morgan and the front office to improve the overall talent base of this organization.
Morgan has insisted there is a plan in place and it will be followed.
Time will tell if the plan ultimately works. Until then, the evaluation process continues.