4 Panthers players who underperformed against the Raiders
By Dean Jones
D.J. Moore – Carolina Panthers WR
Big things are expected of D.J. Moore this season. The Carolina Panthers are looking for their former first-round pick to elevate himself into the elite category in 2020. But the start he made against the Las Vegas Raiders leaves plenty of room for improvement.
Moore was shadowed by Raiders’ No. 1 cornerback option Trayvon Mullen during the contest and he found it difficult to get open consistently. This restricted the wideout to four receptions for 54 receiving yards at a yards-per-catch average of 13.5.
The timing between Moore and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater seemed off at times. This is sure to improve with more time on the field in a competitive setting. But this was a real opportunity for the Maryland product to hit the ground running that he failed to make the most out of.
A player with Moore’s talent should improve considerably as the season goes on. And he was still the Panthers’ second-best wideout in terms of overall stats.
That being said, if Moore wants to reach the heights of DeAndre Hopkins, Julio Jones, and Michael Thomas in 2020 and beyond, then he will have to brush up his ability to create separation quickly in order to succeed.
Moore’s frustrations were there for all to see on a play when he showed petulance in the second half. The player will know that he needs to do better, and he has too much talent not to start trending on an upward curve sooner rather than later.