Top 5 things to watch against Buffalo

[Jeremy Igo]

Here are my top 5 things I will be watching closely during the Panthers vs Bills preseason game. 

 

1. Michael Oher

Oher had a shaky start to training camp but has improved since. Tonight will be the best indicator on the progress he has made in the transition back to left tackle. Buffalo presents a real challenge as the team with the most sacks of 2014. If Michael Oher can perform adequately this evening, you will hear a collective exhale as Panthers fans across the nation relax a bit. 

2. Special Teams

Special teams is one aspect of a team that really cannot be assessed during training camp. There has not been a single live drill with actual contact from which to draw conclusions. Returns, kickoffs, field goals, punts... all simulated. Up until now, no one has had a single clue on how the Panthers special teams units will perform this season. Tomorrow at this time, we all will have a much better perspective. 

3. That 6th Receiver 

One, maybe two, wide receiver positions are still up for grabs. Brenton Bersin, Mike Brown, Jarrett Boykin and rookie Damiere Byrd are all in the mix. This evening provides an opportunity for one of these receivers to pull away from the rest. Ron Rivera stated this week that he will also be watching this carefully this evening. Who will step up and seize the moment? 

4. Rookie Backs 

On offense the Panthers have three intriguing prospects lining up behind the quarterback. Cameron Artis-Payne, Brandon Wegher, and fullback Lee Ward should all see plenty of action this evening. Wegher has had limited reps in practice just due to the numbers, but has shown promise. He is a tough kid that may excel once contact is allowed. Lee Ward is on the bubble and could possibly grab a roster spot if he can prove to the Panthers he improves the run game, pass protection, and special teams. It won't be enough for him to simply do well. He needs to make the Panthers coaching staff believe they are not nearly as good without him. 

5. Offensive Intangibles

This year in training camp the Panthers offense has been less than sharp. Play confusion, miscues, overthrows, wrong routes, slow play development all have been on show. Can the Panthers pull it together and execute in and out of the huddle? Can they minimize mental mistakes and show they are ready for the regular season? Lets hope so. 

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[SOJA]

that's disconcerting to hear about the offense 

[uncfan888]

It sucks to hear about all those offensive woes in a Mike Shula offense..  But we all know which of our coordinators needs to be voted off the island.

[top dawg]

It sucks to hear about all those offensive woes in a Mike Shula offense..  But we all know which of our coordinators needs to be voted off the island.

Yeah, Shula doesn't know how to torch defenses anyway.

[stirs]

Our Oline will get extreme pressure in the 1st qtr as new coach Ryan will want to put his stamp on the Defense and give his normal, "we are going to the Super Bowl" presser afterwards.

[MadHatter]

Blaming Shula because the offense isn't executing....,yep, sounds like The Huddle,

[!stUp]

Here are my top 5 things I will be watching closely during the Panthers vs Bills preseason game.

Number 6. Buffalo Women

[juliosantos]

Cant wait to see how our first team offense is vs the bills defense.

[panthers55]

Blaming Shula because the offense isn't executing....,yep, sounds like The Huddle,

He seems the whipping boy for every offensive problem while the players like Cam get a pass because people recognize he didn't have a great supporting cast. What is funnier still is that everyone commends Cam for all his accomplishments without mentioning that Shuls took him from a guy who knew very little and has improved him every year.

Edited August 14, 2015 by panthers55

[L-TownCat]

@MadHatter  yes I blame Shula for lack of creativity and poor execution.  It's hard to execute when you know it's not gonna work.

eg: Bubble screen to B. Bersin on 3rd and long.

might as well bubble screen Brentson Buckner

[pantherclaw]

Blaming Shula because the offense isn't executing....,yep, sounds like The Huddle,

before the frist preseason game is even played.

[pantherclaw]

Poor creativity - More creative than all but one previous Panther OC (Chud). I don't want Chud back, thanks anyways. 

Execution falls on the players. 

They are the ones that suit up, are coached up, and are out on the field. If the offense isn't overly complex (like most claim) then it should be expected that the players don't make as many mistakes when on the field executing the bland, boring, predictable offense. 

Can't have it both ways, but don't let common sense and l logic get in the way of the coach bashing.

[pantherclaw]

Yes, pull a guy before the line has time to build continuity during the first preseason game!!

[TheRed]

He seems the whipping boy for every offensive problem while the players like Cam get a pass because people recognize he didn't have a great supporting cast. What is funnier still is that everyone commends Cam for all his accomplishments without mentioning that Shuls took him from a guy who knew very little and has improved him every year.

There is a pretty big difference between being a QB coach, versus actually calling plays, and overseeing a whole offense.

Some of the Shula hate is unwarranted. But when it's met with responses like "well why does Cam get a pass!?", that's even more ridiculous. Anyone who has read these boards the last 4 years knows that Newton has certainly not gotten a pass overall. We've finally just begun to clean this place up actually.

Edited August 14, 2015 by TheRed