Panthers: Offense looks to be vertical threat in 2018
The Carolina Panthers look to open up their offense in 2018…
Much ado has been made about the Carolina Panthers and their new offensive coordinator Norv Turner. It sounds as though he is going to try to reignite the offense and has a couple of ideas on how to make that happen.
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Friday, Stephen Igoe of 247Sports wrote a piece detailing how the offense might open up more under Turner. One of the problems in the offense lack year was the lack of a true deep threat and the ability of Cam Newton to throw the ball downfield. This year with all of the vertical threats, that may no longer be a concern.
"With the speed of Ted Ginn Jr. no longer on the roster, the Panthers lacked a true downfield option, and defenses often played press coverage and packed it in on the Panthers’ offense, creating small throwing windows for Newton. Carolina addressed the need of a vertical threat by bringing in veteran Torrey Smith via trade and also drafting speedy D.J. Moore in the first round. Smith has made a living on running go routes and should give Newton a chance to open up defenses down the field."
This would be a welcome change for the offense. One of the things that has made Cam Newton (and the offense for that matter) so explosive over the last couple of seasons is the downfield, running quarterback combination. It forces the defense to play on their heels and creates a sense of confusion on their part. “Do we let Newton beat us, or do we let the downfield receiver beat us?” Now, Newton has defenses exactly where he wants them and forces them to show their hand so to speak. It gives the offense the ability to be multidimensional.
Just looking at this from a divisional perspective, the three other teams in the division possess vertical threats that allow them to take advantage of defenses. Now, the Carolina Panthers have that as well, and it will make them much tougher to gameplan against.
Next: Norv Turner could unleash Christian McCaffrey
They have the personnel to formulate a truly prolific offense. Now, it needs to be put to the test. We will get our first look at it come preseason.