The Carolina Panthers were gashed defensively against the Chicago Bears. Their run defense was abysmal, which made the decision to scratch interior lineman Cam Jackson even more bizarre.
Head coach Dave Canales and defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero must have known this was coming. The Bears were among the league's most potent rushing attacks last season under Ben Johnson. And yet, one of their more physical run defenders was watching from the sidelines.
Carolina started rookie second-round pick Lee Hunter at the nose of Evero's 3-4 front. Undrafted free agent Aaron Hall and recent acquisition TeRah Edwards filled backup duties, and they were needed when Bobby Brown III missed time.
Carolina Panthers are probably regretting their decision to make Cam Jackson a healthy scratch
It placed a lot of pressure on Hunter. Aside from a few flashes, there wasn't much to shout about as the Bears controlled the line of scrimmage on their way to 291 rushing yards and a whopping six scores on the ground.
Just unacceptable in every conceivable way.
Now, Jackson is no sure thing, either. He was a Day 3 selection last year who was used sparingly as a rookie. And if the Panthers had any real confidence in his capabilities, the former Florida space-eater would have been active.
But it was still a strange decision.
Jackson is a massive man. He's strong, can anchor effectively, and knows how to absorb blocks. When things started to unravel in the trenches, there wasn't enough to hold it together. And at the very least, the second-year pro could have provided some relief for Hunter when he was clearly overwhelmed at times.
Cam Jackson could benefit from Carolina Panthers' abysmal Week 1 showing
The Panthers thought better of it. And they paid a heavy price.
While Jackson probably wouldn't have changed much in the grand scheme of things, size matters.
The Bears attacked Carolina's front from the outset, and it was completely out of sync behind them. Players missed tackles, blew assignments, and looked completely outmatched. As a result, Johnson's squad dropped 59 points to suck all the optimism out of Bank of America Stadium.
Hunter didn't look ready. Bobby Brown III fought through the pain barrier, but the strength just wasn't where it needed to be. Hall and Edwards are inexperienced, and it showed when their numbers were called. Even Pro Bowl defensive lineman Derrick Brown had an off-day by his typically high standards.
Jackson might not have been much better.
But in all honesty, he couldn't have been much worse.
Big adjustments are needed from here. Opposing teams will see the Panthers as soft in the middle now, and they'll attack it until they show more stability and competitiveness. They probably won't play this badly again, but fans should keep an eye on it.
And for Jackson, it might be his avenue to some playing time in the coming weeks. Because the only way he'll get better is by being thrown into the fire.
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