3 essential changes the Panthers coaching staff should make in Week 4
By Preston Seyl
Carolina Panthers must get Baker Mayfield comfortable
Baker Mayfield hasn’t met expectations, to say the least so far. With just 550 passing yards and 82 attempts, it’s been a hard slog for the quarterback following his trade from the Cleveland Browns.
Mayfield needs to take the easy throws and get in a groove. Something that could set himself up for deep shots as the game goes on.
Having the league’s best security blanket in Christian McCaffrey has the potential to open everything else up. Mayfield will progress the more familiar he becomes, but for now, Ben McAdoo needs to recognize this to put him in better positions to thrive.
The former Oklahoma sensation doesn’t have a full grasp on the offense or the game plan going in. He’s had limited time learning the scheme and very little time creating chemistry after a quarterback battle in training camp put him behind schedule.
It’s not just affecting Mayfield. The entire offense looks very mundane right now and unless significant adjustments come soon, this could be an area that holds the Panthers back from genuine progression.
The quick game out of the gun simply isn’t working. Set Mayfield up with screens to McCaffrey and install play action over short to intermediate routes on the back of this.
After all, Mayfield performs best with a great running game, which takes the attention away from what he’s planning to do under center.