4 Panthers players who exceeded expectations at the Bucs
By Dean Jones
Rasul Douglas – Carolina Panthers CB
The Carolina Panthers may have found a solution to their No. 2 cornerback problem in Rasul Douglas. He was a late arrival to the roster after being cut by the Philadelphia Eagles prior to Week 1. But bringing him to the organization looks to be a shrewd move by the decision-makers.
Douglas was an assured presence in coverage and made a real difference from a tackling perspective. Considering that the player is still familiarising himself with the set-up and his teammates, this represents outstanding production.
His latest contribution in Carolina’s loss at the Buccaneers more than exceeded expectations. The secondary was under plenty of pressure in the first half. But they managed to hold their own before providing a more stout presence on the backend after the break.
The former West Virginia standout has earned a 74.3 grade from Pro Football Focus over his first two games for the Panthers. To say this is an encouraging opening to Douglas’ life in a new environment would be an understatement and there could be even more to come once he fully gets up to speed.
He will need to be at the top of his game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday thanks to the wealth of offensive weapons at their disposal. The likes of Keenan Allen are renowned for their exceptional production, and Austin Ekeler’s pass-catching ability out of the backfield is another danger that shouldn’t be overlooked.