It might just be time to get excited about the Carolina Panthers and their chances in 2020.
Things are now looking more promising for the Carolina Panthers than they have any stage over the last 18 months. Their new-look roster has shown some real signs of life in recent weeks, which culminated in a complete performance to secure an eye-catching victory over the Arizona Cardinals at Bank of America Stadium.
This fast development might be unexpected to those on the outside looking in, but it is clear that head coach Matt Rhule was confident that his team could generate some impressive results from the outset. Little was expected of the Carolina Panthers after wholesale changes across the board this offseason and this has allowed them to express themselves in the right sort of way to come alive once competitive action finally got underway.
Getting back to a .500 record after losing their first two contests can be considered a significant achievement. Things looked bleak following their disappointing loss at the Buccaneers in Week 2, but the Panthers have shown tremendous resolve and a belief that they can become one of the 2020 season’s surprise packages if they continue to develop with every passing game.
There was more than a little skepticism regarding just what sort of direction Carolina was heading in. This was down in no small part to the departures of iconic quarterback Cam Newton and perennial All-Pro linebacker Luke Kuechly following his shock retirement after the 2019 season.
Those concerns have now been turned into excitement with just a quarter of the campaign in the books. Let’s take a look at four reasons why it’s right for Panthers’ fans to feel excited about what they’ve seen from the team through four weeks.
The Carolina Panthers have a potent offense
Things look incredibly promising for the Carolina Panthers from an offensive standpoint. This has been more significant in the absence of star running back Christian McCaffrey, who hasn’t even been on the field during their two-game winning streak.
That tells us all we need to know about the standard of weapons that offensive coordinator Joe Brady has at his disposal. The play-caller took some time settling into his new role after leading LSU’s passing attack to a historic 2019 that ended with a dominant National Championship, but it now appears he has found the right sort of formula to get the most out of some outstanding playmakers.
Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater might not possess the physical attributes of Cam Newton, but few would deny he hasn’t made an exceptional start to life in Carolina. The free-agent signing has completed 73 percent of his passes for 1,147 yards and four touchdowns on his way to an eye-catching QBR of 71.8, which represents some positive production and something that is sure to stand the Panthers in good stead going forward.
The protection Bridgewater is receiving from his offensive line has been nothing short of phenomenal. This was an area of real concern going into the campaign, but the unit has somehow come together quickly to ensure they hit the ground running.
Robby Anderson looks like the No. 1 receiving option after a sensational opening to the season. D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel might not have hit their stride just yet, but both have made some nice plays through four weeks.
They do need to get more from their tight end duo of Ian Thomas and Chris Manhertz, which would help significantly. But the high level of play from reserve running back Mike Davis has more than made up for their lack of involvement on short routes.
The Carolina Panthers have young, exciting players on defense
In addition to the dangerous weapons on offense, the Carolina Panthers also have some dynamic young pieces on the defensive side of the ball.
This was a group that did go through its fair share of struggles during the first two weeks of the season. However, they have progressed with every game and there is just no telling how much another big confidence boost like this is going to do for their chances going forward.
Defensive coordinator Phil Snow has learned lessons from the first two weeks of the campaign which came with some strange decisions. This has resulted in a complete turnaround in their fortunes and the outlook looks incredibly promising for this group.
The likes of Brian Burns, Derrick Brown, and Jeremy Chinn are all just relative puppies in NFL terms, but they are making their presence felt on the defensive front in no uncertain terms.
Chinn’s contribution as a rookie has been superb. He leads all first-year players in tackles and the energy he has brought to the second level has evidently inspired others around him.
They were seen as a work in progress, but that won’t be the case for much longer if things continue as they are. Each player seems to have bought into the scheme and the Panthers are playing with athleticism and physicality on defense that hasn’t been seen in Carolina for some time.
The Carolina Panthers have a leader to believe in
Matt Rhule didn’t have the easiest of starts to his time at the helm of the Carolina Panthers. He came into the organization amid great change and wasn’t exactly helped by an extremely disrupted preseason period that left normal preparations in tatters due to COVID-19 health concerns.
The Panthers invested a lot to bring in Rhule from Baylor after they fired long-time coach Ron Rivers late in the 2019 season. They gave him a seven-year, $60 million deal in the hope he could buck the recent concerning trend of college coaches failing miserably in prominent positions at the next level. And after a rocky start, it looks like he is now the right man for the job.
There is still a long way to go, and Rhule is eager for his roster to keep their feet on the ground. That being said, wins are hard to come by in the NFL and it is becoming evident that the players have full belief that their head coach can take them back into contention.
Having this sort of faith in your coach can only mean good things for Rhule and the Panthers going forward. They were competitive in their opening two losses despite not getting anything from them, but now the team has rolled off two successive triumphs, Carolina might just become a force to be reckoned with.
The Carolina Panthers still have Christian McCaffrey
If you needed any more evidence regarding the excitement surrounding the Carolina Panthers, then it might be worth remembering that they are doing all this without the services of Christian McCaffrey. The star running back is currently on the reserve/injured list with a high ankle sprain, but the roster hasn’t missed a beat in his absence.
This is enormously encouraging, to put it mildly. There seems to be a good balance on offense that should ensure McCaffrey isn’t tasked with too much when he returns, which is sure to maximize his production at one of the more violent positions on the field.
The emergence of Mike Davis has been a welcome boost over the last fortnight and one that should almost guarantee the veteran still has a part to play once McCaffrey is healthy enough to return. He has provided an assured presence running the ball and has come up with some nice grabs in the passing game, which is has benefitted Teddy Bridgewater immensely.
Joe Brady has an embarrassment of riches on offense, which will only get greater with McCaffrey in the lineup. If he can continue to share target distribution, keep defenses guessing, and resist the temptation of leaning too heavily on the former first-round pick, then the sky truly is the limit.