5 players the Panthers missed most at the Saints in Week 7

John Miller – Carolina Panthers OG

One of the primary areas where the Carolina Panthers struggled at the Saints was their interior protection. They were unable to create running lanes efficiently and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater had to pull every trick in the book to keep plays alive in the face of some consistent pressure.

Their task wasn’t aided by the loss of John Miller, who was unable to prove his fitness in time to take his place in the lineup. The free-agent signing has been a big part of the Panthers’ offensive line through the first six weeks of the season and his dependability was something the team missed greatly in New Orleans.

Miller isn’t the greatest guard in the NFL, not by any stretch of the imagination. However, he does provide an assured presence in running situations and is incredibly difficult to move off the block in pass protection.

The former third-round pick took some time to adjust, which was to be expected with no preseason games on the schedule. Miller has given up three penalties and two sacks from 400 snaps on his way to a 59.7 grade from Pro Football Focus. But there appears little doubt that the Panthers need him back at the earliest possible opportunity to bolster their chances against some stiff competition in the coming weeks.