The season is approaching. The editorial staff of TDActu invites you to take stock of the strengths and weaknesses of the 32 franchises. Today, the Carolina Panthers 2023. You can find all the presentations by clicking on this link.
The Carolina Panthers enlivened the 2023 offseason. For starters, a new coach arrived with Frank Reich to replace Matt Rhule. Then, the Panthers climbed to 1st place in the 2023 NFL Draft to pick up Bryce Young to start a new cycle.
Hoping for a Cam Newton fate for the former Alabama.
Last season: 7 wins – 10 losses, 2nd in AFC South
Movements in the off-season
Notable arrivals: Miles Sanders (RB), Adam Thielen (WR), DJ Chark (WR), Hayden Hurst (TE), Shy Tuttle (DT), Von Bell (S), Damiere Byrd (WR)
Re-Signatures : Ian Thomas (TE), Bradley Bozeman (OL), Henry Anderson (DE), Eddy Pineiro (K), Sam Franklin (S)
Draft : Bryce Young (QB), Jonathan Mingo (WR), DJ Johnson (EDGE), Chandler Zavala (OL), Jammie Robinson (S)
Notable losses: Sam Darnold (QB), DJ Moore (WR), D’Onta Foreman (RB), Cory Littleton (LB), PJ Walker (QB), Damien Wilson (LB), Pat Elflein (OL)
In the free agencyCarolina has bet on experience with interesting additions, especially in attack.
Finalist with the Eagles, Miles Sanders comes out of a great season (1269 yards, 11 touchdowns) and will be the main ball carrier on the ground. In order to properly surround the new quarterback, the front office was aggressive: Adam Thielen and DJ Chark will bring the experience while the rookie Jonathan Mingo will learn in the shadow of these 2 players, in order to become a number 1 target in the future.
In defense, the only significant rookie is Von Bell. He will help a struggling air defense last season. On the front sevenonly DJ Johnson arrived via the Draft.
The strong points)
One word can sum up Carolina’s strengths: the floor. On offense, it was carried by Christian McAffrey and D’Onta Foreman. These 2 players left, Miles Sanders will have the heavy task of replacing them with the help of Chuba Hubbard, who has been quite shy since his NFL debut.
Conceding only 36 sacks last season, the offensive line remains of quality. With established players like Moton, Christensen, Corbett and the expected outbreak of Ikem Ekwonu, the ground game should continue to produce. On the other hand, password protection needs to do better. On this point, confidence is in order if we look at what Frank Reich managed to accomplish during his tenure in Indianapolis (despite a failed last season).
If Carolina can better protect Bryce Young, the aerial offense could look great. But, it may not be for now…
On the other side of the field, Carolina has a good group of linebackers. Led by Shaq Thompson and 2022 revelation Frankie Luvu (246 tackles in 2022 for the duo), the run defense is solid and should remain so.
The weak spots)
In Carolina, it is clear that the group of receivers seems limited since the departure of DJ Moore. If efforts were made during the offseason (Thielen, Chark, Mingo), Frank Reich and his offensive assistants still have a lot of work to develop and find a number 1 receiver.
Hayden Hurst had a good season last year with the Bengals (52 receptions) and can be a good safety valve for Young. Rewarded with a good contract, he will have to find a good connection with his new quarterback. Tommy Tremble’s potential is yet to be discovered. It therefore remains complicated on the side of the tight ends, even if there is an evolution compared to last year.
On the defense side, it’s not much better. The cornerback position has talented players (Jackson, Horn) but lacks a shutdown cornerback. The off-season could have been the right time to strengthen this position, but that was not the leaders’ choice. In 2022, Carolina has only recorded 10 interceptions, which is not much. The presence of the new safeties duo Xavier Woods – Vonn Bell should allow Jérémy Chinn to progress.
The X factor: the pass rush
In this area, at the statistical level, there is Brian Burns and the others. Last season, Carolina recorded 35 sacks, a third of which were signed by Burns (12.5).
In the offseason, only DJ Johnson and DeShawn Williams were added. So the staff has absolute confidence in Marquis Haynes Sr. or in Yetur Gross-Matos? For the latter, his future is at stake this season.
In any case, the pass rush de Carolina must have other threats than Burns because the opposing teams benefit greatly: last year, the defense of Carolina was surprised 95 times during a 3rd attempt (often aerial)! This line has the potential to be more effective.
Player to watch: Bryce Young (QB)
Who else ? On an individual level, his last two college seasons at Alabama have been very good. Best university player in 2021, he also shone in 2022 in high-stakes games.
Nevertheless, Bryce Young is a rookie and so he will make mistakes. He should not be asked to aim directly for the playoffs in his first year, but he has the potential to become the future quarterback of the Panthers for the next few years.
Learning the offensive games well and performing well on the pitch will already be two very good points for him. In a team where the quarterbacks have not lasted very long since Cam Newton (Allen, Bridgewater, Darnold, Mayfield), a fruitful return on investment is necessarily expected.
2023 Carolina Panthers Schedule
@Falcons, Saints, @Seahawks, Vikings, @Lions, @Dolphins, Texans, Colts, @Bears, Cowboys, @Titans, @Buccaneers, @Saints, Falcons, Packers, @Jaguars, Buccaneers
The audio preview of the Podcast
In summary
The Panthers have a new quarterback. They are not necessarily in reconstruction, especially in defense, the strong point of the team, despite a pair of cornerbacks still below what is best in the elite.
The offense needs time around Bryce Young. The supporters certainly expect a lot from him but he will have to be helped. Despite a staff and a committee of uncertain receivers, this team has something to scratch for several opponents.
In a division where many quarterbacks are in their first year on their new team, Carolina has a lot to play for. Given their schedule, it seems playable to go to the playoffs, the main objective of the Charlotte franchise.
The forecast: 9 wins – 8 losses
2023-08-17 11:00:58
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