5 big talking points from Carolina Panthers’ loss at the Cowboys in Week 4
By Luke Gray
Carolina Panthers should leave their OL in Arlington
Let’s stop sugarcoating things when it comes to this Carolina Panthers offensive line, to put it nicely, it’s absolutely pathetic.
Sam Darnold was harassed and harried all game, going into this contest the Dallas Cowboys defense had four sacks through the first three games, once Dak Prescott had knelt out the game in Texas that number had more than doubled.
The Cowboys ended with five sacks, 16 quarterback hits, and 21 hurries. I defy any signal-caller in the league to try and operate to a high level under that kind of duress constantly.
The tone was set on the opening drive. Center Matt Paradis was bullied by former Nebraska star Randy Gregory giving up a sack. The defensive end finished with two sacks on the game going up against arguably the worst starting left tackle in the league in Cam Erving that’s no real surprise.
At times Erving looked like he had never played a snap of professional football before. He was all at sea against the Cowboys line constantly giving up pressure through missed assignments.
There are no two ways about it, Brady Christensen must get some snaps at left tackle against the Philadelphia Eagles next week.
It was baffling to see Michael Jordan and Deonte Brown once again inactive, with the constant struggles change is needed, Panthers fans saw the toll constant hits took on former MVP Cam Newton and the reluctance to give him protection led to his decline in performance.
It’s early days but one hopes the same doesn’t become of Darnold.