Carolina Panthers: Dropped passes will need to improve in 2020

Can the Carolina Panthers improve on their dropped passes problem that became a significant concern in 2019?

There are some big expectations on the shoulders of the Carolina Panthers wide receiver group in 2020. This is arguably the strongest unit on the roster and they have the ability to put up some lofty numbers under offensive coordinator Joe Brady.

This is a stark contrast from the difficulties that the Carolina Panthers went through last season. Although some inconsistent quarterback and offensive line play was the main cause of their downfall. When one explores the number of dropped passes across the board. It is hard not to attribute some of the blame on this particular statistic.

According to Pro Football Reference, the Panthers dropped 33 passes in 2019. This was the fifth-highest in the NFL and something that needs to drastically change next time around.

It is vital that the offense puts significant points on the board to give them the best possible chance of succeeding. Carolina’s defense could struggle on the back end against some formidable offenses on the schedule. So the less time they are on the field, the better it is going to be.

Can the Carolina Panthers get their dropped passes down in 2020?

There is real hope that the Carolina Panthers offense can make some significant strides under Matt Rhule and Joe Brady. The latter is coming off a historic campaign with LSU’s deadly passing attack, which eventually saw quarterback Joe Burrow go No. 1 overall to the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Dropping passes is always something that becomes an element of frustration for disappointing teams. The Panthers’ main culprit of this last season was Jarius Wright, who fumbled 13.8 percent of the catchable balls thrown his way and is now on the free-agent scrapheap as a result.

Another that will be seeking improvement is Curtis Samuel, who dropped seven passes at a percentage of 6.7 percent. He did post career numbers across the board. And he is a player that could benefit most from Brady’s high-octane scheme in the final year of his rookie deal.

All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey dropped seven passes at a rate of 4.9 percent. But this can be attributed to the monumental amount of targets thrown his way by the likes of Will Grier and Kyle Allen, who were in desperate need of a security blanket during their flustered time under center.

McCaffrey’s game-changing ability is there for all to see. And he is another that is going to be put in the best possible position to maximize his production in 2020 and beyond.

No. 1 option D.J. Moore went over 1,000-yards receiving for the first time last season despite dropping four passes (3%). As coincidence would have it, this is the same number of drops that free-agent acquisition Robby Anderson accumulated during his final campaign with the New York Jets, which resulted in a four percent drop rate.

This tandem is going to be crucial to any success that comes Carolina’s way next season. If the Panthers’ starting trio of Moore, Anderson, and Samuel can reduce their errors in 2020. It should come with some eye-catching results.

One concerning aspect of these stats is at the tight end spot with Ian Thomas. The Panthers are pinning their hopes on the player taking a substantial leap forward in a starting role now Greg Olsen has moved on. And he comes into the campaign having secured a 10 percent drop rate in 2019.

Compare that to Olsen’s 3.7%. And it is easy to see why this could be something of a problem. There is every chance that Thomas puts this problem behind him with more time on the field. But there is little in the way of notable depth behind him if the player fails to live up to his billing.

Brady will be all-too-aware of this problem going in. That is why the Panthers moved quickly to get a reliable signal-caller in Teddy Bridgewater, who boasts a career passing accuracy of 65.7 percent and a 2019 figure of 67.9% with the New Orleans Saints.

If the former first-round pick can reproduce this in Carolina, then it is going to do the fortunes of their passing attack no harm at all. However, whether those that dropped passes can improve this area in such a short space of time together before week one remains to be seen.