Which Carolina Panthers players can thrive under the team’s new and improved coaching staff during the 2023 season?
All eyes have been on the new coaches acquired by the Carolina Panthers this week. Each speaker came across extremely well during their introductory presser, which only whets the appetite further ahead of potential improvements in 2023.
It’s been a rough ride for fans and players in recent years. Matt Rhule’s almost comical management of team affairs left their hopes of sustainable success in tatters, which Steve Wilks restored and Frank Reich has built upon further over his first few weeks in charge.
Carolina’s staff has the right blend of youth and experience. If general manager Scott Fitterer can acquire the right reinforcements via free agency and the NFL Draft, the Panthers might just be onto something.
This is great news for those currently on the roster, too. With this in mind, here are three Panthers players who stand to benefit most from the team’s coaching revamp next season.
Player No. 1
Jeremy Chinn – Carolina Panthers S
After another indifferent season of sorts at the safety position, Jeremy Chinn could be the one player who benefits most from Ejiro Evero’s arrival as defensive coordinator. The respected coach is already conjuring up ways of maximizing the player’s assets heading into the offseason period, which should see the former second-round pick line up all over the field within a creative 3-4 base that features multiple alignments.
Chinn is heading into the final year of his rookie deal, so he has a lot at stake personally. Thankfully, the presence of Evero should see the player come of age entering his fourth season with the Carolina Panthers.
Brian Burns – Carolina Panthers DE
After another season of high-quality production and a second-straight Pro Bowl appearance, Brian Burns could become a very rich man this off-season. The Carolina Panthers resisted a huge offer from the Los Angeles Rams before the trade deadline to keep hold of the defensive end, which puts the former Florida State stud in an incredibly strong bargaining position when negotiations begin.
Burns was the beating heart of Carolina’s pass rush in 2022. He is growing into a true three-down edge presence and enhancing his status as a vibrant leader within the locker room for good measure.
The Panthers need to surround Burns with better options. However, with Ejiro Evero moving to a 3-4 base scheme, the potential for another campaign of significant strides is well within the player’s capabilities.
Evero has already preached the importance of creating mismatches. Finding a weakness and exploiting it in pursuit of making things difficult for opposing offenses.
Make no mistake, Burns will be a huge part of this. Standing him up as a 3-4 outside linebacker, operating as a 3-4 defensive end, or even rushing from the second-level interior should all be contemplated by Evero thanks to the player’s elite explosiveness.
D.J. Moore – Carolina Panthers WR
D.J. Moore must be incredibly frustrated with the way things unfolded last season. The wide receiver once again had no consistent quarterback production to speak of, which saw his 1,000-yard streak broken as the Carolina Panthers missed the postseason once again.
Moore still performed well as the team’s No. 1 receiver. But until the Panthers get more consistency from the man under center, it’s hard to envisage a scenario where the former Maryland stud breaks into the elite category.
As luck would have it, Moore now has an offensive-minded NFL head coach for the first time in Frank Reich and other influential minds with great experience in this area of play. If Scott Fitterer and the staff get their signal-caller of choice, then it’s all systems go.
Offensive coordinator Thomas Brown and Reich will look to maximize Moore’s ability to get open on short routes. This puts the football in his hands with yards after the catch potential.
Again, this is all centered on exploiting matchups. Fully utilizing the best Carolina has to offer.
Everything has to go according to plan in terms of recruitment. Otherwise, all this newfound optimism will disintegrate rapidly among a fanbase that’s become almost addicted to mediocrity.
It would be a big disappointment if Carolina’s new coaching staff didn’t excel. This should be tremendous news to Moore after all he’s endured since coming into the league.