3 major Carolina Panthers concerns that must be removed vs. Lions

Carolina Panthers pass-rush

This isn’t exactly big news. But if Brian Burns cannot take over games, nobody else seems capable of generating the pressure needed to trouble opposing quarterbacks.

It’s been the tale of the tape all season. Burns is enjoying a phenomenal campaign despite extra attention coming his way from protection schemes, but the Pittsburgh Steelers came up with a nice game plan to limit his threat and allowed Mitchell Trubisky all day in the pocket.

Yetur Gross-Matos was a bystander despite seeing the field plenty. The Panthers don’t seem confident in Marquis Haynes from a starting role and Amare Barno is still learning his craft, which is not surprising for a sixth-round selection.

The Detroit Lions have an exceptional bookend tackle tandem in Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell. Their offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is also gaining a lofty reputation for taking advantage of weaknesses from week to week.

Not generating pressure comes with untold problems. It makes life difficult for the defensive backs and leaves the second-level exposed if more blitzes are required to accomplish this feat.

Burns will be looking to finish the season strongly after getting his second consecutive Pro Bowl distinction. But the onus is also on others to raise their respective performance levels.

Otherwise, the Panthers will find people that can this offseason.