4 things Panthers can learn from Super Bowl-winning Bucs
By Dean Jones
Protection is everything
A quarterback is only as good as the protection he receives. Fortunately for Tom Brady, he played in front of an elite offensive line in 2020 and this was a significant factor in their convincing Super Bowl win that simply couldn’t have gone any better.
Given Brady’s age, this was absolutely pivotal to Tampa’s eventual triumph. Mobility isn’t what it used to be for the signal-caller. But in all honesty, this has been a critique of him throughout his career.
Not having to rely on moving out of the pocket to make plays has prolonged his career. So having strong blockers following his shock departure from the New England Patriots was essential for an instant turnaround in the team’s fortunes.
The Buccaneers gave up just 1.4 sacks-per-game during the regular season – ranked No. 3 in the NFL – and they took this momentum into a phenomenal postseason run that saw them topple the New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers, and Kansas City Chiefs when they weren’t exactly favored to do so.
Their physicality was simply too much for the Chiefs’ defensive front. The Carolina Panthers would give anything for this sort of prolific play from their protectors and if they are serious about making a postseason challenge next time around, things must improve.
Giving Taylor Moton a long-term deal is the first objective. Then perhaps spend a couple of picks on the interior or even for a long-term Russell Okung replacement should the opportunity arise.
As Patrick Mahomes displayed – not having the right people in front of even the most talented player can have a detrimental impact on their performance.