CAROLINA PANTHERS
2020 Record - 5-11-0
Head Coach - Matt Rhule
Key Additions - Sam Darnold (QB), A.J. Bouye (DB), Dan Arnold (TE), David Moore (WR), Denzel Perryman (LB), Pat Elflein (OL), Cameron Erving (OL), Morgan Fox (DL), DaQuan Jones (DL), Haason Reddick (LB)
OFFENSE - Sam Darnold comes over from the New York Jets to be the starting quarterback. In the 2020 season, Darnold had 2,208 passing yards with nine touchdowns and eleven interceptions. P.J. Walker (368 passing yards with one TD and five INT) will be the backup quarterback.Will Grier and Tommy Stevens are also in training camp as reserve quarterbacks.
Christian McCaffrey (225 rushing yards with a 3.8 ypc average and five TD) will return as the primary running back after an injury plagued 2020 season. Rookie Chuba Hubbard (Oklahoma State) will likely be the top reserve this season in the backfield. Reggie Bonnafon provides more depth.
The wideouts include Robby Anderson, who had 95 receptions last year for 1,096 yards and three touchdowns. Also in the mix is speedster D.J. Moore (66, 1,193, four TD), David Moore (35, 417, six TD with Seattle) and rookies Shi Smith (South Carolina) and Terrace Marshall, Jr. (LSU) along with Keith Kirkwood. Ian Thomas, Dan Arnold (31, 438, four TD with Arizona) and rookie Tommy Tremble (Notre Dame) will be the tight ends.
DEFENSE - Defensive End Brian Burns (nine quarterback sacks) returns up front along with Yetur Gross-Matos, DaQuan Jones and Derick Brown. Shaq Thompson is back at linebacker along with newcomers Denzell Perryman and Haason Reddick, who had 12 1/2 sacks last season with Arizona. In reserve are Jermaine Carter, Jr. and Frankie Luvu.
In the defensive backfield are A.J. Bouye, Donte Jackson (three interceptions) and rookie Jaycee Horn (South Carolina) at the corner spots along with safeties Juston Burris and Jeremy Chinn, who led the team with 117 tackles last season.
The Panthers defense finished 18th overall last year, allowing 360 yards per game while registering 29 QB sacks and getting only seven interceptions. The run defense allowed 121 YPG (20th) and the pass defense ranked 18th while giving up 239 yards per game. Carolina allowed 25.1 points per game last season.
2021 SEASON OUTLOOK - The Panthers are starting fresh on offense this year after former starting QB Teddy Bridgewater was traded to the Denver Broncos. Sam Darnold comes over from the New York Jets after three tumultuous seasons to take over the offense.
Head Coach Matt Rhule is going into his second season with the team and wants the offense to click better than it did a year ago. Having all everything running back Christian McCaffrey healthy again should be a huge boost to the offense. The Panthers finished 21st on offense last year, gaining 350 yards per game. The passing game averaged 243 yards (18th in NFL) and the run game averaged 107 yards, which ranked 21st overall. The Panthers averaged 21.9 PPG last year.
If Darnold is able to form a good chemistry with his wide receivers, the passing game should be adequate along with the running game, which was among one of the better ones in the NFL in 2019 when McCaffrey was having a monster season. On the other side of the football, the Panthers need to create more turnovers and get better pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Facing the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers twice in the final three weeks of the season will be a test for sure. The NFC South has been tough in recent years with New Orleans and now Tampa Bay as the top dogs. The Panthers must do well in divisional games if they hope to get back to the playoffs for the first time in four years. However, another five-win season looks to be in store this year which would mean a 5-12 finish as the team adjusts to new personnel on both offense and defense.
2021 SCHEDULE
Week 1 - vs. N.Y. Jets
Week 2 - vs. New Orleans
Week 3 - at Houston
Week 4 - at Dallas
Week 5 - vs. Philadelphia
Week 6 - vs. Minnesota
Week 7 - at N.Y. Giants
Week 8 - at Atlanta
Week 9 - vs. New England
Week 10 - at Arizona
Week 11 - vs. Washington
Week 12 - at Miami
Week 13 - BYE
Week 14 - vs. Atlanta
Week 15 - at Buffalo
Week 16 - vs. Tampa Bay
Week 17 - at New Orleans
Week 18 - at Tampa Bay
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