3 positives from the Panthers’ loss at the Bucs in Week 2

Defensive adjustments

Yes, the defense does need more work. But considering how they fared against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1, it was a big improvement.

The bar wasn’t exactly high for this inexperienced group going into their game at the Buccaneers. But it shows that the Carolina Panthers were willing to adjust when things weren’t going their way in the first half.

What defensive coordinator Phil Snow was doing in the way he lined up the Panthers in the first half was anyone’s guess. He had them in a 4-3 base, used 3-4 a tremendous amount, and even dropped eight on occasions that also included their best pass-rusher Brian Burns in coverage.

This is just not the smart way to go, and Snow probably realized this himself if the second period was any indication. The Panthers looked far more structured after the break and it brought around a significant upturn in their fortunes that almost got them back on level terms before the Bucs’ pulled away late on.

There is a lot of work left to do, especially with their run defense and ability to generate pressure consistently. Carolina still doesn’t have a sack to show for the season and this concerning trend has to continue to take the pressure off a secondary that has gone through some turmoil over the last fortnight.