The 5 most important things we learned about the Carolina Panthers from training camp
The Panthers’ 2020 training camp was probably the most unique in franchise history, but it concluded without a hiccup, considering there’s an ongoing pandemic.
Only one Panthers player — Derrek Thomas — has been placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list since testing began. He posted a picture on his Instagram story Sunday that he was on Day 2 of isolation.
While the Panthers canceled practice Saturday to discuss social justice issues, they were back on the practice fields and inside the bubble on Monday.
The Panthers’ season-opener against the Las Vegas Raiders at home is less than two weeks away.
Here is what we’ve learned about the Panthers after two weeks of training camp:
1. Teddy Bridgewater can throw it
One of the most frequently asked questions from fans is whether Teddy Bridgewater can throw the deep ball. The answer is, yes. While his passes haven’t necessarily traveled 50-plus yards, he has connected with receiver Robby Anderson on a few 40-yard passes.
Throwing it 50-plus yards is pretty. No doubt. It keeps defensive backs guessing and opens the field for receivers underneath. But it won’t be critical to the Panthers’ success this year. The little we have seen from the Panthers’ offense is mostly short- and medium-range passes that have allowed the Panthers’ receivers, tight ends and running backs to make plays.
On short- and medium-range passes, Bridgewater has been an accurate passer. And that’s what the Panthers need. They already have the receiving weapons. They just need someone to get it to them.
But when he has thrown the deep pass, Bridgewater has connected with his receivers.
2. Some receivers have been impressive, others have not
Wide receivers Curtis Samuel and D.J. Moore claimed during Zoom calls that the Panthers have the fastest wide receiver group in the NFL. With the addition of Anderson, who was the fourth-fastest wide receiver last year based on average top speed, per NFL’s NextGen Stats, that may be true.
Per NFL.com, the Panthers are projected to be the fourth-fastest team in the league in 11-personnel based on 40-yard dash times.
D.J. Moore has been one of the standouts on offense. Moore is winning one-on-one battles. His route running has been efficient. He often gets good separation from opposing cornerbacks. Backup cornerbacks have no chance against him. Even the starters have struggled to contain him.
Anderson has been good as well — with the exception of a couple of drops — often getting behind opposing cornerbacks for long touchdowns.
Samuel, though, has not been impressive. He played well in the first practice without pads. He made some tough catches in the first week. But since then, he’s been mostly absent.
Part that can be attributed to a minor hamstring injury he’s been dealing with, but he’s regressed since the first day. This is an important year for Samuel, who is on the last year of his rookie deal, and is hoping to land a bigger contract. As the No. 3 wide receiver, who can also line up in the backfield, he’ll likely have his opportunities to make plays.
“I think Curtis Samuel has had an impressive camp,” Panthers coach Matt Rhule said earlier this week.
Samuel also added that he felt like he had a good camp. He said he has a better understanding of concepts and what is going on, and he feels that will help him this season.
3. Small things could hurt Panthers
The Panthers haven’t been terrible at one particular spot, but there are small things that can add up in a game. For one, the Panthers have committed too many penalties on both sides of the ball.
There have been a number of offsides, and false-start penalties called. Defensive end Brian Burns had an offsides penalty on fourth down during a two-minute drill last Wednesday. Pass interference has also been an issue.
Then, there were the two turnover-filled practices. Friday, the Panthers quarterbacks threw four interceptions — one from Bridgewater, one from Grier and two from Walker.
A week earlier, the offense fumbled it three times, including a rare fumble from McCaffrey. McCaffrey had one fumble all season in 2019. Special teams has been shaky as well.
In one practice last week, Joey Slye missed four of his five field-goal attempts. In another practice, rookie punter Joe Charlton shanked a punt over the practice field wall. Since the addition of kicker/punter Kaare Vedvik, Charlton hasn’t been as active.
There were also some red-zone issues at Wednesday’s fan fest. The Panthers could not score a touchdown in its two-minute drill. They were forced to kick a field goal.
4. Panthers’ secondary could have some bumps and bruises
The youngest position group is the cornerbacks. And opposite of Donte Jackson, who had an interception in Friday’s practice, no other cornerback has solidified himself as the No. 2. It’s also unclear who will play nickel cornerback.
Cornerback Eli Apple has missed a few practices with a hamstring injury. That has allowed rookie Troy Pride to step up and get more playing time. And Pride has made some plays. He also had an interception last week, and a pass deflection Friday, which led to safety Kenny Robinson’s interception.
But he has had a tendency to give up big plays. Backup Corn Elder has been the same, and rookie Stantley Thomas-Oliver has simply struggled.
The Panthers may end up using rookie Jeremy Chinn at nickel, which may actually be their best option, if he’s not playing linebacker. Panthers coach Matt Rhule like’s Chinn’s size, speed and versatility. He’s been among the most impressive rookies in camp.
5. Panthers need depth at linebacker
Shaq Thompson and Tahir Whitehead are clear starters at linebacker for the Panthers. As for the third linebacker starter, that remains to be seen. The Panthers could possibly put Chinn, Jermaine Carter (who started five games for the Panthers in 2019) or Adarius Taylor, who the Panthers acquired in July. Taylor started 10 games in 2018 and was recently seen wearing a black jersey at practice, which was worn throughout camp primarily by the defensive starters.
But outside of those players, it is unclear who will be the primary backups. The backup linebackers haven’t been particularly impressive.
The Panthers lost a little depth, recently trading away former seventh-round pick Andre Smith to the Bills. Smith had been someone Rhule recently singled out as having taken a step up.
Thompson has been dealing with a nagging groin injury in recent days. He wore a red jersey at Monday’s practice for injured players. The Panthers may have to look elsewhere for help at linebacker.
This story was originally published August 31, 2020 at 6:42 PM with the headline "The 5 most important things we learned about the Carolina Panthers from training camp."
