2019 Record - 5-11-0
Head Coach - Matt Rhule
New Players in 2020 - Teddy Bridgewater (QB), Robby Anderson (WR), Russell Okung (OL), Tahir Whitehead (LB), Michael Schofield (OL)
Players opting out for 2020 season (COVID-19) - Jordan Mack (LB), Christian Miller (LB)
OFFENSE - Teddy Bridgewater takes over at quarterback for Carolina this season after filling in for an injured Drew Brees for nine games last season in New Orleans. Bridgewater passed for nine touchdowns and only two interceptions and totaled 1,384 yards through the air. Will Grier and P.J. Walker will be in reserve roles.
Christian McCaffrey leads the offense as the top running back. In 2019, McCaffrey rushed for 1,387 yards (4.8 ypc average) and scored 15 touchdowns in addition to making 116 receptions for 1,005 yards and four more touchdowns for 19 total scores. Reggie Bonnafon (116 rush yards and one TD) backs him up.
The wide receivers include Robby Anderson (52 receptions, 779 yards and five TD) who comes over from the New York Jets this season. Also available are Curtis Samuel (54, 627, six TD) and D.J. Moore, who made 87 receptions for 1,175 yards and four touchdowns. Ian Thomas (16, 136, one TD) takes over at tight end this year and Chris Manhertz adds depth.
DEFENSE - Stephen Weatherly, Derrick Brown (rookie from Auburn), Kawann Short and Brian Burns (7 1/2 QB sacks) will man the defensive front this season. Yetur Gross-Matos (rookie from Penn State), Zach Kerr, Woodrow Hamilton and Efe Obada will likely back up. With Luke Kuechly retired, the linebackers now have Shaq Thompson, Tahir Whitehead and Marquis Haynes looking to start along with Andre Smith and Jermaine Carter also available.
In the secondary is safety Tre Boston, who had three interceptions last season. Along with him at the other safety spot is either rookie Jeremy Chinn (Southern Illinois) or Juston Burris and cornerbacks Donte Jackson (three picks), Corn Elder and rookie Troy Pride, Jr. from Notre Dame.
The Panthers defense gave up 29.4 points per game in 2019 and finished 23rd overall, allowing 375 yards per game. The run defense gave up 144 YPG and the pass defense, which intercepted 14 passes, allowed 231 yards per game while also getting 53 quarterback sacks, which was second in the NFL.
OUTLOOK FOR 2020 - The Panthers new Head Coach is Matt Rhule and he will lead the team in a rebuilding season after the team released quarterback Cam Newton, the face of the franchise and 2015 NFL Most Valuable Player, and All-Pro linebacker Luke Kuechly retired. In addition, six other defensive starters left in free agency.
Stopping the run is key for the Panthers defense along with maintaining a consistent pass rush, but with seven different starters on defense, the team might be looking at a rough start this season until things gel.
On offense, Bridgewater will be the quarterback and McCaffrey will once again be the main man after a monster season. The passing game averaged 228 yards a game last season and the running game went for 114 yards per game. The team scored 21.2 points a game and finished 19th in the league in total offense, averaging 342 yards per game.
With a new quarterback and three speedy receivers (including Robby Anderson coming in from the Jets this season) the Panthers should be able to mix things up and take some of the burden off McCaffrey for a more balanced offense. The O-line has to be better in pass protection as Carolina quarterbacks were sacked 58 times last season.
All in all, the 2020 season will be a rebuild for the Panthers as they contend with the likes of New Orleans, Atlanta and Tampa Bay, which now has Tom Brady playing quarterback, in the NFC South. If the Panthers can improve from the five win total of a year ago, that would be a plus, especially with the influx of young players on the defensive side. Either way, it should be an interesting season for them.
TEAM SCHEDULE
Week One - vs. Las Vegas
Week Two - at Tampa Bay
Week Three - at L.A. Chargers
Week Four - vs. Arizona
Week Five - at Atlanta
Week Six - vs. Chicago
Week Seven - at New Orleans
Week Eight - vs. Atlanta
Week Nine - at Kansas City
Week Ten - vs. Tampa Bay
Week Eleven - vs. Detroit
Week Twelve - at Minnesota
Week Thirteen - BYE
Week Fourteen - vs. Denver
Week Fifteen - at Green Bay
Week Sixteen - at Washington
Week Seventeen - vs. New Orleans
No comments:
Post a Comment