4 things that must change for the Carolina Panthers in 2021
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers in press coverage
Getting off the field on third down was a real problem for the Carolina Panthers in 2020. This was down in no small part to a lack of productivity in press or man coverage, leaving defensive coordinator Phil Snow with no option other than to go with a zone scheme that enabled opposing quarterbacks to pick them apart at will.
Hopefully, this will not be the case this time around.
The Panthers clearly identified this as an area that needed some substantial improvement this offseason. Rasul Douglas and Corn Elder are no longer around, with the duo replaced by two players that can immediately change the team’s fortunes.
A.J. Bouye provides a veteran presence who’s played at a Pro Bowl level before. Carolina’s decision to select Jaycee Horn at No. 8 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft something else that might just shift the pendulum in a positive direction.
Couple this with fifth-rounder Keith Taylor Jr. also excelling in press situations and a defensive front that is set to generate more pressure, and hopes are high regarding some real progress next season.
Much will depend on how the new recruits fit in, but the acquisitions give Snow much more in the way of options he can put to good use.