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Tankathon: Where we stand on draft position…..
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lol this team would be better off trusting its messageboard fans -
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By raleigh-panther · Posted
1. Get more aggressive with the play calling This applies to both Canales and defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, whose 3-4 scheme relies on a bend-but-don’t-break principle that at times feels too passive. The Panthers are blitzing 23.4 percent of the time, which ranks 20th in the NFL. Appropriately, that’s one spot ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles, whose defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is one of Evero’s mentors. The problem is the Panthers are generating next to no pressure out of their base. Carolina has a league-worst two sacks — and one of those was by Turk Wharton on a Drake Maye scramble Sunday for no gain. The Panthers’ 1.7 percent sack rate is also an NFL low. It didn’t help that the Panthers played without starting edge rushers Pat Jones and D.J. Wonnum at New England. Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen, the second- and third-round picks, are still developing. In the meantime, Evero should increase his blitz rate, even if it means some one-on-one matchups in the secondary. “We have young guys out there. These guys, they try their best,” Wharton said. “Just being able to give them the knowledge, what’s going on out there, so when we rush together, we rush as one, we start getting pressure on these quarterbacks.” As for Canales, he arrived in Charlotte with the reputation as a quarterback whisperer following his work with Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield. But he only had one year of previous play-calling experience, and too often he looks like he’s afraid to take chances. Canales’ scripted first series at New England produced a touchdown. Leading 6-0, the Panthers were driving again on their second possession before facing a third-and-10 from the Patriots’ 43. Canales called a draw for Rico Dowdle, who picked up 2 yards. The Panthers punted in Patriots’ territory and Marcus Jones returned it 87 yards for a touchdown, the first of 42 consecutive points for New England. Canales hoped the play would gain enough so the Panthers could go for it on fourth or give Ryan Fitzgerald a shot at a field goal. Thought we had an advantage in some of the fronts we were getting. Thought we had a clean look right there to try to steal some yards, potentially get us into a four-down situation where we can keep the drive going and try to get a touchdown out of it,” Canales said. “So we were kind of in that zone. The run did not work out.” It didn’t work out when Canales did the same thing later in the game, with the same result: A 2-yard gain on a Dowdle draw on third-and-15 with the Panthers trailing 21-6. Again, the Panthers punted, and again Jones had a huge return (61 yards) that helped put the game out of reach. 2. Give Chuba Hubbard the rock Speaking of Dowdle, Canales has been insistent on having him share carries with Hubbard in the hopes of keeping both backs fresh. That’s nice in principle, but Hubbard is a power back who gets stronger as the game goes on and can wear down a defense. He’s not getting the chance to do so — in part because the Panthers keep getting behind early, but also because Canales will sub him out for Dowdle, who’s averaging 3.0 yards a carry and 4.0 yards a reception. Hubbard is averaging 4.1 yards per rush and 7.2 yards per catch. “I just believe that with the players we have in the backfield, if we can sustain drives, if we can play these games that way, then we have a full-speed runner, a violent runner in every time,” said Canales, adding that Hubbard’s calf injury last week wasn’t a factor in how the RB reps were divided. Dowdle ran for 1,079 yards last year in Dallas and can be a nice, change-of-pace back. But the Panthers paid Hubbard last year because of his leadership, work ethic and punishing running style. Feed him. 3. Put Brady Christensen in the starting lineup and leave him there Matt Rhule’s staff thought Christensen’s arms were too short to play tackle. It’s unclear what Canales’ staff has against the versatile offensive lineman. Christensen was the third choice at right guard Sunday, watching as the Panthers sent in Brandon Walton, a practice-squad player who’d been elevated Saturday, to replace Chandler Zavala when Zavala left with a knee injury in the first half. When the Panthers finally went with Christensen in the second half, all he did was finish as the team’s highest-graded offensive player by Pro Football Focus, which gave him an 83.5 percent overall grade and 84.9 pass blocking score. Zavala was the Panthers’ lowest-rated offensive player by PFF, with a Blutarsky-like 0.0 pass blocking grade. Canales said he didn’t initially use Christensen, the backup center, in case something happened to starting center Cade Mays. Even after Christensen’s strong showing, Canales didn’t totally commit to starting him this week, mentioning Zavala’s status. Maybe Canales just didn’t want Miami to know the Panthers’ plans early in the week. The Panthers might also think having Christensen at center and Mays at guard gives them their best five up front. Whatever the configuration, Christensen has to be a part of it. 4. Get some speed on the field The Panthers looked slow on their punt coverage team and at receiver on Sunday. The two were related: When wideouts David Moore and Dalevon Campbell left with injuries, it also caused a ripple effect on special teams. Canales needs to inject speed and energy into both units. Enter rookie wideout Jimmy Horn Jr., who should be active for the first time this week against the Dolphins. The Panthers thought Horn needed more seasoning and didn’t love the idea of having two short receivers — Horn and Hunter Renfrow — as part of the rotation. But the injuries — Moore likely will miss multiple weeks with an elbow issue — forced Canales’ hand. “We’ll get to see Jimmy Horn,” Canales said of the 5-foot-8 wideout, who ran a 4.40-second 40 at Colorado’s pro day. “Want to make sure he’s able to go out there and give us significant reps. We’ll carve out a role because there’s certainly things he can bring to our offense with his speed and ability to carry the ball and make yards.” The Panthers also could get Xavier Legette back from a hamstring injury this week. Legette is off to a disappointing start, but has good straight-ahead speed. Jalen Coker (quad) is eligible to come off injured reserve this week, although Canales said he’s still week to week. In the meantime, leading receiver Tetairoa McMillan believes Horn will make the most of his chance. “He’s a guy that brings a ton of energy, a guy that is willing to play. All he cares about is the team and he wants to win,” McMillan said. “Obviously, everybody knows his potential and what he can offer on the field. I’m super excited to see him get his first shot, just see what the future holds for him.” 5. Commit to the draft picks on defense McMillan might already be the Panthers’ best player. It’s time to find out what the rookies on defense can do. Even if Jones and Wonnum are healthy this week, Evero should look for ways for Scourton and Umanmielen to impact the game. The same goes for hard-hitting safety Lathan Ransom. The fourth-round pick from Ohio State played 15 defensive reps against the Patriots, most of them in the big nickel package. That still is a drop in the bucket compared to Nick Scott’s 47 defensive reps. Getting Ransom in more of a rotation with Scott, who had another missed tackle Sunday, seems prudent. Nose tackle Cam Jackson has been getting eased into the interior rotation after he was inactive in Week 1. His nine snaps against the Patriots were the most in his brief career.
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