4 areas Panthers QB Baker Mayfield must improve in Week 4 vs. Cardinals

Baker Mayfield must get D.J. Moore the football

A recent article from Joe Person of The Athletic centering on wide receiver D.J. Moore’s supposed inability to get open was not taken well by Carolina Panthers fans on social media. This criticism of someone that’s gone over 1,000 receiving yards for three straight seasons despite no quarterback consistency was harsh and something that was also labeled at Odell Beckham Jr. during his stint on the Cleveland Browns with Baker Mayfield.

While Mayfield might be the common denominator in all this, he is far from the only problem.

Carolina’s offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo has to shoulder a large part of the blame for an ineffective offense that isn’t translating to the modern-day NFL. Whether alterations can be made before Week 4 against the Arizona Cardinals is another matter entirely.

In fairness to McAdoo, the running game is firing thanks in no small part to Christian McCaffrey and the offensive line’s blocking concepts are working out well. But this will count for nothing if Mayfield can not get on the same page with his primary playmakers in the passing game.

This also counts for Robbie Anderson and McCaffrey as well as Moore. Getting the football in their hands and allowing them to create yards after the catch – something they do best – is of critical importance next Sunday and beyond.

McAdoo has to do better. But Mayfield must also improve accuracy in pursuit of finally getting this offense back on track.