What changes must the Carolina Panthers make immediately heading into their Week 5 contest at the red-hot Detroit Lions?
Things are not looking good for the Carolina Panthers. The team is in turmoil in terms of results, is dealing with some injury issues on both sides of the football, and is reportedly seeking a genuine No. 1 wide receiver via trade to provide quarterback Bryce Young with a dependable weapon moving forward.
That is a damning indictment of recruitment this offseason, in all honesty. Giving up assets at 0-4 with a real chance of being 0-6 at the bye week reeks of desperation as general manager Scott Fitterer tries to relieve the mounting pressure coming his way from the fanbase.
Whether the Panthers can work something out with a team that might actually be willing remains to be seen. That might not be in time for this weekend, which is another stiff test of the team's credentials versus the Detroit Lions - a well-run organization these days with clear direction.
With this in mind, here are three changes the Panthers must make immediately heading into Week 5 at the Lions.
Carolina Panthers must sit Miles Sanders
It's clear there's something amiss with Miles Sanders. The running back remains sluggish in terms of on-field vision and explosiveness, which indicates the groin complication that's been bothering him for weeks is having an adverse effect on his performance levels.
If Sanders is becoming more of a hindrance, then the best thing the Carolina Panthers could do is sit the Penn State product and let Chuba Hubbard take over the lead-back role in Week 5. This might sting in the short term and would probably be against the player's wishes, but it could reap some long-term rewards as the campaign goes on.
The former second-round pick is finding life difficult behind a less-than-stellar offensive line, reflected in 19 rushing yards from 13 carries against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4. Sometimes, the coaching staff needs to save players from themselves.
Carolina Panthers must take Chandler Zavala out of the firing line
Putting Chandler Zavala into the starting lineup despite his distinct lack of NFL experience was a needs-must situation for the Carolina Panthers. Not having Austin Corbett to begin the campaign and losing Brady Christensen in Week 1 left the offensive line without its starting guard tandem from 2022, which was far from an ideal situation all things considered.
With no real depth to call upon, the Panthers threw their fourth-round selection into the fire right out of the gate. It's come as no surprise to Zavala's struggles, with Pro Football Focus counting 28 pressures to his name through four games.
To put that into context, no other offensive lineman has more than 14. This is a damning indictment of his overall performance and one has to wonder just how much long-term damage this might do to a development project if the Panthers keep him in the firing line.
Random but completely absurd stat:#Panthers LG Chandler Zavala has allowed 28 pressures this season. No other guard has allowed more than 14.
— Justin Fried (@JustinTFried) October 2, 2023
In Week 3 alone, Zavala allowed 14 pressures. In one game.
That’s the same total as any other guard has allowed ALL SEASON.
This is something we touched on last week, but it bears more significance now. The Detroit Lions have a decent defensive front and Dan Campbell's men will be out for revenge after Carolina gave them a Christmas Eve thumping at Bank of America Stadium under interim head coach Steve Wilks in 2022.
Just who the Panthers could put in his place is the bigger question. Corbett hasn't been designated to make a return from the Physically Unable to Perform list as yet, which leaves Cade Mays, Nash Jensen, or perhaps Justin McCray.
Preference might be for McCray given his veteran presence. Either way, the Panthers cannot continue with Zavala for much longer - for the player's sake if nothing else.
Carolina Panthers play-calling
Stop me if you've heard this one before.
Another game, another bland schematic concept implementation from the Carolina Panthers. The number of inside runs and screens was extraordinary - something the Minnesota Vikings figured out quickly to come from behind and attain their first win of the campaign.
This is an increasing frustration. There is an obvious lack of confidence in Bryce Young's ability to get the football downfield, especially when one considers the difference in Frank Reich's strategy when Andy Dalton went under center at the Seattle Seahawks.
You drafted the guy No. 1 overall for a reason. Now is the time to take off the training wheels and let Young do what he does best - dictate tempo with quick releases, improvise on the move, and rely on supreme accuracy at all three levels of the field.
Young made the best of a bad situation in Week 4, but he needs help from a scheme standpoint. It doesn't look like Reich is going to give up play-calling anytime soon, but incorporating some more innovative ideas from offensive coordinator Thomas Brown is absolutely imperative at the Detroit Lions and beyond.
Use some pre-snap motion, get creative on running plays rather than just bash Miles Sanders up the middle, and maybe even try a trick play here or there depending on the situation. What's the worst that could happen?
If it doesn't work, so what? It's not like Carolina's offense is setting the world alight as it is and who knows, it might be a shock the Lions don't see coming.