Carolina Panthers lead the NFL in penalties. Matt Rhule explains what the problem is
There are a lot of reasons the Panthers are riding a four-game home losing streak and haven’t delivered their fans a win at Bank of America Stadium in over two months.
Coach Matt Rhule shared an extensive list of frustrations at his Monday press conference. He isn’t pleased with the Panthers’ run defense, lack of explosiveness or late-game execution. Most frustrating, is the Panthers league-high 81 penalties.
Carolina committed seven fouls for 65 yards in Sunday’s 27-21 loss to Washington. Three of those penalties occurred in the fourth quarter while the game was tied or the Panthers trailed.
Rhule blamed technique and a lack of focus for why the penalties keep piling up.
“We got to grow up as a team. I have to lead the way and I need my veteran players and leaders to lead the way,” Rhule said. “There has to be an accountability to the standard. You cannot grab guys and tackle them. You cannot jump offsides on a field goal block.”
Too often penalties cost the Panthers in critical moments. Early in the fourth quarter safety Juston Burris threw himself into a sliding Taylor Heinicke after an 8-yard scramble on second down. Burris was flagged for unnecessary roughness (his second penalty) and Washington picked up an additional 15 yards. That play started on Washington’s 27-yard line and ended with them at midfield.
Washington kicker Joey Syle hit a go-head 36-yard field, capping the drive and putting Washington up three with 4:18 to play. However, the kick should’ve been a 41-yard attempt but cornerback Donte Jackson jumped offside. Washington milked 6:31 off the clock for its longest scoring drive of the game.
“The reason why you have veteran players is they walk in and say, ‘Hey, this is not going to be tolerated. This is the standard,’ ’’ Rhule said. “But they have to follow through.”
Rhule sent a pointed message to his veterans because they are committing too many fouls. Guard Dennis Daley leads the team with seven. Jackson has six and tackle Taylor Moton has four.
Following Jackson’s offsides, Moton committed a hold on the next play from scrimmage. Needing a field goal to tie or touchdown to win, Carolina began on their 25 and called a wide zone run. Christian McCaffrey picked up eight yards but the play was called back. Instead of second-and-two, and possibly another McCaffrey run (he only had 10 carries, three in the second half), Carolina faced first-and-20.
Three short Newton throws gained 17 yards, setting up fourth-and-3. Carolina turned it over on downs when McCaffrey caught a two-yard option route and was pushed out of bounds short of the marker.
“You cannot have the ball twice at the end of the game and not go down in score in the National Football League,” Rhule said. “On fourth-and-3 we cannot catch a ball at three-and-a-half yards, we’ve got to get five. I put that on all of us.”
Lack of execution, mental lapses and committing penalties are all interconnected. Rhule notices his team not playing sharp. He vowed to clean it up and has a plan to do so.
“You get penalties because of poor technique. When your hands are out and all that. It comes down to technique and focus to get that done,” he said. “I can promise you there is a lot of pressure put on our assistant coaches (to fix it).”
Whether it’s Rhule, assistant coaches or team leadership, something has to change for the Panthers. Linebacker Shaq Thompson offered little insight into how he’ll answer Rhule’s call for accountability. During his Monday press conference, he repeated the phrase “Do your job” at least a dozen times.
It isn’t anyone’s job to be penalized. However, it is Thompson’s responsibility to help stop the run. Washington rushed for 190 yards on 40 carries by running a simple power scheme that gouged Carolina all afternoon. When the Panthers lose, it’s usually penalties and ground yards that cripple them.
In losses against the NFC East, Minnesota and New England, the Panthers allowed 163 rushing yards per game. In wins, opponents aren’t eclipsing 60 yards. Edge rusher Haason Reddick said Carolina is too talented not to be getting the results they want defensively and in the win column.
“We have to throw the friendships and buddy-buddy stuff out the way. We have to hold everyone accountable when they are not doing their job correctly,” Reddick said. “We have to get out of the friendship way of saying things so you don’t hurt somebody’s feeling and start saying and demanding and get it across like ‘Get your job done, now.’ ”
Carolina (5-6) has six games left to right its situation. Four of those contests are against NFC South opponents, including two games in three weeks against the Super Bowl champion Buccaneers. First, the Panthers will travel to Miami this weekend before their Week 13 bye.
Either the Panthers clean up the penalties, shore up against the run and start executing better or their three-year postseason drought will drag on.
“We have to play our best game against Miami. And then we take a week off. I want our guys to recharge,” Rhule said. Then we come back and have five games, four of which are conference games. We need to not worry about the standings and what other teams do. Just worry about ourselves and playing good football.”
This story was originally published November 22, 2021 at 5:08 PM with the headline "Carolina Panthers lead the NFL in penalties. Matt Rhule explains what the problem is."
