4 most disappointing Carolina Panthers in Week 1 win vs. NY Jets

Joe Brady – Carolina Panthers OC

The fact this game was so close heading into the final quarter was frustrating. Especially considering how dominant the Carolina Panthers were throughout the first half.

This was down to the same old problems emerging. Red zone inefficiency and a conservative approach when ahead that proved to be Carolina’s undoing on more than one occasion in 2020.

If offensive coordinator Joe Brady doesn’t solve this riddle as the season progresses, it’s going to be a problem against the better teams on the schedule. They got away with it this time, but organizations with more playoff hopes are going to punish the Panthers.

Brady has a reputation for being one of the league’s most progressive offensive minds. He got a bunch of head coaching jobs after just one season calling plays at the next level, which tells you the level of esteem to which he is held.

However, there are some complications regarding this system. Not only this, but the team’s failure to make the necessary adjustments at the half is something else that almost caused them to lose their grip on a game they had well in hand.

There were some nice moments, especially in the second quarter when Sam Darnold got into a rhythm. But opposing defensive coordinators aren’t stupid and they now know what happens to the offense when pressure can be generated.

Of course, some of this was down to poor execution from the players. One cannot escape that fact.

Carolina doesn’t seem to have a Plan B other than just dump it off to Christian McCaffrey and hope for the best. And we all know the problems that can emerge from that.