3 reasons versatility will be crucial for the Panthers in 2021
By Dean Jones
Maintaining a high tempo
Versatility can help the Carolina Panthers in a variety of different ways. One of the most important is maintaining a high tempo in all phases of play providing there are no complications with conditioning or certain individuals not pulling their weight.
Opposing defensive schemes will have no idea what the Panthers are going to do with their skill position players in a high-tempo setting. Sam Darnold has the keys to the kingdom after Carolina shipped Teddy Bridgewater to the Denver Broncos for a sixth-round pick, so if the offensive line can hold out then Joe Brady has an embarrassment of riches that he can line up almost anywhere with equal effect.
The same applies to Carolina’s defense.
Perhaps even more so.
This appears to be an energetic group that doesn’t have many weak links heading into the season, with the additions of Haason Reddick, Jaycee Horn, Denzel Perryman, and DaQuan Jones only adding to the quality already on the roster.
If the Panthers can generate some early momentum during favorable games over the first month of the campaign, then it will stand them in enormously good stead.
As the old saying goes – speed kills. If this dynamic group is able to hit the ground running and use versatility to their advantage, the sky is the limit.