4 bold changes the Carolina Panthers should consider vs. the Vikings
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers should put Deonte Brown at RG
John Miller is not playing well. Whether it’s lingering effects of contracting COVID-19 when unvaccinated is impacting his ability to produce on the field is up for debate, but unless substantial improvements are made, his time in the starting lineup could be short-lived.
This wasn’t exactly unexpected for Miller, who struggled in pass protection more often than not during the 2020 season before he was brought back on a team-friendly deal in free agency. However, his time as a starter is hanging by a thread and the Carolina Panthers are under increasing pressure to replace him with rookie Deonte Brown.
The sixth-round pick was a commanding interior force during his time at Alabama. But the Panthers are keen to bring him along slowly as he adjusts to life at the next level.
Although Brown is a stout presence against the run, there are some concerns about his pass blocking against fast defensive tackles who’ll punish every mistake.
However, Miller hasn’t exactly set a high bar in this statistical category, and Carolina needs to see what it has with Brown one way or another.
One potential problem that could emerge with starting Brown against the Minnesota Vikings is their impressive defensive tackle trio of Dalvin Tomlinson, Michael Pierce, and Sheldon Richardson. Proven players that can alter the dynamic of a game if provided enough space.