How are the Carolina Panthers throwing away their chance to make immediate strides under new head coach Frank Reich in 2023?
Arguably the best performance of the Carolina Panthers' 2023 season up to this point was wasted by mistakes, poor decisions, and a lack of cohesion between the players and coaches. It also added another loss to the record for a team in search of something to go right.
The loss to the Minnesota Vikings does not mean this year is already lost. But it is starting to feel like a campaign that began with optimism and hope for genuine growth looks like a lost cause only four weeks in.
As such, it comes as no surprise to see pressure on the coaching staff and front office starting to creep in.
Many things have gone wrong for the Panthers. One has to wonder if serious changes in leadership are coming if things do not turn around before the bye week. Many avoidable mishaps have happened in all of Carolina's four losses, which is unacceptable.
With that being said, here are four ways the Panthers are throwing away any chances of progress in 2023 heading into Week 5 at the Detroit Lions.
Carolina Panthers offense is disjointed
The defense did a fantastic job in Week 4 to hold down an elite offensive group. In addition, they scored a touchdown and aided the offense with field position for a field goal. But as has been the case for the season so far, Frank Reich's scheme got in its own way.
Many Carolina Panthers fans have looked at the coaching decisions and calls as the consistent issue so far in 2023, and it is hard to argue against that point. Especially after another uninspiring game plan on offense against the Minnesota Vikings.
The offensive schemes and implementation of them have been downright atrocious. Screen calls on third and long, poor clock management, delay of games, congested route concepts, and missed assignments on the line have all shown up consistently throughout the campaign to date.
Bryce Young showed visible frustration after a screen on third-and-seven that went for one yard. One cannot blame the rookie quarterback for feeling angst toward what has been a conservative and poor offensive system for most of the season.
Reich admitted in the post-game to calling a play for Adam Thielen when he was injured and getting checked on by the medical staff. That is a profound statement of the ineptitude of play-calling and how his current coaching tenure has gone so far.
To succeed in the NFL, it takes players to execute on the field. While plenty of mistakes are being made by the players, it is hard to ignore the elephant in the room - coaching.
Carolina Panthers' red-zone woes
Sunday's game was a microcosm of how things are going for the Carolina Panthers in red-zone situations. Unless this improves quickly, another long season awaits.
Carolina had two red zone trips versus the Minnesota Vikings and did not manage a touchdown on either. This included a crucial drive at the end of the game with a chance to tie that was a complete disaster.
The opening drive of Sunday's contest got inside the 10-yard line. Carolina had seven plays to get a touchdown without any success. Their best chance was a dropped pass in the end zone by tight end Ian Thomas after a great throw by Bryce Young.
The plays after that were an ugly-looking pass play that set up first and goal at the three-yard line after a defensive penalty, two Miles Sanders runs for no gain, a false start, and an incomplete pass to Terrace Marshall Jr.
On the final Panthers' drive of the game, they had four chances inside the 10-yard line but could not cash in. Despite having previous warnings, the protection just didn't have an answer for Harrison Smith coming on the blitz, which pretty much summed up 2023 so far.
Wasted opportunities cannot be normal for a Panthers team that has struggled to move the football down the field at a consistent rate. At the moment, they cannot find the end zone when it matters most.
Carolina Panthers aren't using the right offensive weapons
After being on the injury report before the contest against the Minnesota Vikings and struggling through the first three games, it is a big surprise that Miles Sanders got as much usage as he did on Sunday. Again, this is one disappointing tale from the campaign to date.
Sanders has been disappointing during his first season with the Carolina Panthers. Chuba Hubbard and Laviska Shenault are sitting on the sideline, so it is head-scratching why head coach Frank Reich and his coaching staff are not utilizing them more, especially the former second-round selection acquired via trade from the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Carolina's second-best offensive weapon behind Adam Thielen on Sunday was Hubbard. And Shenault looked really good in limited playing time as well. Add onto it that Sanders was dealing with a groin complication throughout the week, and it does not make sense why the Panthers do not give their free-agent signing time for the problem to heal.
The offensive line has been poor so far this season, but only 19 rushing yards on 13 carries is not good enough for an NFL running back no matter what team they are on. And that is what Sanders managed against the Vikings.
Shenault can play in the backfield, and Hubbard showed the ability to get consistent yardage. Even though Sanders was arguably the biggest name acquired in free agency for the Panthers, that does not mean he should get as many or more snaps than players who have been better than him so far this season.
Carolina Panthers OL has been atrocious
The worst thing that can happen to an offense besides a turnover is a negative play, and the Carolina Panthers had far too many of those on Sunday. And there were five costly sacks taken by Bryce Young behind a porous offensive line that's gone through significant hardship this season.
The strongest part of the offense for Carolina last season was the protection. But in 2023, they look like one of the worst groups in the league.
Ikem Ekwonu is having a big sophomore slump after a solid rookie season, and one has to wonder if he will ever regain that form. Rookie Chandler Zavala has allowed 28 pressures in four games, which only heightens the loss of Austin Corbett and Brady Christensen through injury.
Veteran safety Harrison Smith had three sacks in Week 4 - all of them were back-breaking plays. The first was the strip sack that was returned for a Minnesota Vikings' touchdown on a Panthers drive that got passed midfield, and the other two sacks were at the end of the game to seal another demoralizing defeat.
The mix of Young's inexperience in reading NFL defenses with the abysmal play of the offensive line is a dangerous one. Something that's been reflected in the performance levels throughout the campaign.
There are a few positives to take away from the 2023 season so far. With trips to the Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins upcoming, fans should prepare for their team being 0-6 at the bye.