5 big Carolina Panthers storylines to watch during 2021 season
By Jason Huber
Can the offensive red-zone struggles be resolved?
If there was one issue that stands out above the rest last season, it would be how bad the Panthers’ offense struggled in the red zone.
Carolina scored a touchdown just 50.8% of its trips in the red zone, ranking 28th of 32 teams, and was tied for 28th in successful play rate during the two-minute drill at 39%, according to Sharp Football Stats.
To make matters worse, former quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who was under center in the offense, said in a podcast earlier this offseason that the Panthers didn’t do much 2-minute drill and red-zone practice.
Whether that is true or not, offensive coordinator Joe Brady enters year two in Carolina and must prove doubters wrong with a Sam Darnold now at quarterback and running back Christian McCaffrey returning healthy.
Not only were the Panthers bad in the red zone, but they also struggled on third-down conversions, converting just 38.97% of their opportunities.
Rookie running back Chuba Hubbard and recent waiver claim Royce Freeman will provide more depth behind McCaffrey and the additions of Dan Arnold and Tommy Tremble at tight end will bring bigger red-zone targets.
If Carolina can’t figure this issue out once again, the team will struggle to find any success.