Norris Thornburg

A Look Ahead: Buccaneers

Game Breakdowns, Prime Cuts with Norris

Panthers 
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Buccaneers 
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Well, that’s not the way fans wanted to start the Matt Rhule Era. There were some things to like about the team (mainly on offense), but there were also some things to work on. The Carolina defense looked lost at times, but you’ll have that when there is so much inexperience. Tampa, who also went through some changes in the offseason, started off with a loss too. It was an odd week one to say the least, as most stadiums didn’t have fans in the stands to help swing momentum. Here’s a look ahead to the Bucs:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Head Coach

Bruce Arians

Offensive Coordinator

Byron Leftwich

Defensive Coordinator

Todd Bowles

Key Acquisitions

QB Tom Brady

RB Leonard Fournette

TE Rob Gronkowski

Key Losses

QB Jameis Winston

RB Peyton Barber

WR Breshad Perriman

Key Draft Picks

OT Tristan Wirf

S Antoine Winfield Jr. 

The Bucs’ offense looks a little different this year. They signed Tom Brady and Leonard Fournette and traded for Rob Gronkowski. Tampa didn’t get off to the best start, but neither did Carolina. The Bucs drafted one of the best offensive tackles in the 2020 draft, and one of the best safeties as well. 

Carolina Panthers

Head Coach

Matt Rhule 

Offensive Coordinator

Joe Brady

Defensive Coordinator

Phil Snow

Key Acquisitions

QB Teddy Bridgewater

WR Robby Anderson

LT Russell Okung

G John Miller

G Michael Schofield

LB Tahir Whitehead

CB Rasul Douglas

S Juston Burris

CB Eli Apple

KR Pharaoh Cooper

Key Losses

QB Cam Newton

DT/NT Dontari Poe 

LG Greg Van Roten 

K Graham Gano 

TE Greg Olsen

LB Luke Kuechly

DT Gerald McCoy

CB James Bradberry 

S Eric Reid

G Trai Turner

Key Draft Picks

DT Derrick Brown

DE Yatur Gross-Matos 

S/LB/N Jeremy Chinn

CB Troy Pride Jr. 

There has been more turnover on this team than any other team in the league. From coaches, to scouts, to players….This is an entirely different team. Carolina used all of their 2020 draft picks on defensive players, which is where most of their issues lied. 

Things to Watch

Carolina Panthers

Teddy Bridgewater played well for the Panthers, as he amassed 270 yards and a touchdown, with a quarterback rating of 98.9. Bridgewater will have his hands full on Sunday against the Tampa front seven, who was able to rush Drew Brees some on Sunday. Teddy does a good job of eluding pressure and stepping into the pocket. If he continues that, he should be able to take advantage of the Bucs and their lackluster secondary. Let’s hope the offensive line can hold off the Tampa pass rush. 

Christian McCaffrey started the game off slow on Sunday, but managed to get 134 total yards and 2 touchdowns against the Raiders. There’s no doubt that McCaffrey is still the best running back in the league. Last year, Tampa’s defense held McCaffrey to 110 total yards and 2 touchdowns in two games. That’s amazing when you consider he had a record breaking season. With Tampa’s front seven in-tact, the Bucs could give CMC some fits. Look for Joe Brady to get McCaffrey involved heavily in the passing game. McCaffrey should see some screens, intermediate sideline routes and possibly a deep throw or two so that he can take advantage of Tampa’s secondary. 

The Panthers have one of the fastest wide receiver trios in the league and that was put on display Sunday. Robby Anderson has a 75 yard touchdown from Bridgewater in the fourth quarter to take the lead and then capped it off with a successful two-point conversion. Fans shouldn’t worry about the offense, as they will likely get even better as the season progresses. People don’t realize how much the preseason reps are needed for an offense to sync. Especially in a year where a team has a new coaching staff, new quarterback and three new offensive linemen. Moore, Samuel and Anderson should get ample opportunities to gain separation and get a lot of yards. They must capitalize on a weak Tampa Secondary. Also, look for Carolina to get Ian Thomas involved more, as Tampa had issues shutting down Jared Cook last Sunday. 

Looks like the Carolina defense picked up where they left off from last year…..and that’s not a good thing. Josh Jacobs ran for 93 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Panthers, while Derek Carr added 239 yards and a touchdown through the air. Carolina also had no sacks or hurries on Carr, which is unheard of for a Panthers’ defense. To be fair, this is basically a new defense with a few rookies. Even though the stats aren’t there, Derrick Brown had a good game. Jeremy Chinn flew around the field and had 7 solo tackles in his NFL debut. Troy Pride Jr. played pretty well Sunday, too. He had good coverage skills but he needs to turn his head and look for the ball better. He was in perfect position to intercept that touchdown pass had he just turned his head. Pride definitely outplayed his draft position. 

Not all is bad about the defense, though. Jacobs didn’t break off any big runs and he only averaged 3.7 yards per carry. Teams last year averaged 5.7 yards per carry against Carolina. There was a lot to like about this young defense, but also a lot to work on. Kawann Short struggled against times, but he’s coming off a two game season and shoulder surgery with no preseason to get conditioned. He will get back to his form. Look for Phil Snow to incorporate a few defensive wrinkles to create pressure on Brady. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Tom Brady struggled throughout the first half against the Saints, but started to get into a rhythm as the game wore on. Brady has some weapons to work with, but his offensive line looks a little shaky. 

Tampa has two very good running backs in Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones. Jones will get the start, but Fournette will likely get a few carries this week now that he’s getting acclimated to the offense. They should have some success against the Panthers’ defense. 

The Bucs have a really good receiving group in Godwin, Evans and Scotty Miller. They also have 3 solid tight ends in Gronkowski, Howard and Brate. Look for Brady to try and expose rookie Troy Pride Jr. and also veteran Tahir Whitehead, who struggled in coverage. 

The Tampa defense has a strong and fast front seven who can stop the run and rush the passer. Their secondary struggled last week at times and will need to get to Bridgewater if they want to have a chance. 

Keys to a Carolina Victory

• Get McCaffrey involved heavily in the pass game. Try and establish the run game with CMC and Mike Davis. Tampa only allowed 82 yards rushing last week, but Carolina still needs to let McCaffrey run. He’s a volume runner. Eventually he will break one or two runs off. 

• Protect Teddy. Bridgewater does well under pressure and steps into the pocket, but the offensive line needs to do their best to keep Teddy clean so he can expose the Tampa secondary. 

• Protect the ball. No turnovers!

• Contain Scotty Miller. Brady loves the small slot receivers and will likely feed the ball to Miller. 

• Maintain gap discipline on defense. Also, set the edge. Can’t let Tampa break off runs on the outside or through holes. 

• Utilize the receivers’ speed. Carolina has three wide outs that can take the top off the defense and gain separation. Go after the Tampa secondary. 

• Win the time of possession battle. The offense needs to sustain long scoring drives to keep the defense fresh and take the pressure off of them. 

• Get pressure and hurry Brady. It should be easier this week against the Tampa offensive line. 

Key Matchups

• McCaffrey VS Buccaneers defensive line

• Bridgewater VS Buccaneers defensive line

• Pride Jr. and Douglas VS Evans and Godwin

• Carolina’s pass rush VS Brady

• Carolina offensive line VS Tampa’s defensive line

Injury Report

Carolina

DT Kawann Short OUT

DE Yetur Gross-Matos OUT

G Dennis Daley OUT

Tampa Bay

WR Chris Godwin DOUBTFUL

TE Anthony Auclair OUT

Prediction

You can never discount Tom Brady, even at 43 years old. Once he gets into rhythm, he’s hard to beat. However, there’s a possibility he may be without his top receiver, as Chris Godwin is in concussion protocol and will need to clear it if he wants to play. Carolina will come out with a solid game plan and pull out a 35-29 victory in Tampa. McCaffrey will get 160 total yards and 2 touchdowns. DJ Moore will have 110 yards and a touchdown. Robby Anderson will also have a touchdown. Carolina’s defense will get their first sack of the year and end the game with 4 sacks. Troy Pride Jr. will get his first career interception. 

Meet the New Guys: 2020 Draft Class

College Prospect Visits, NFL Draft, Prime Cuts with Norris


Well, this was an exciting draft, wasn’t it? After using free agency to fix the offense, Carolina came into the draft with a plan to fix the defense. Matt Rhule and Marty Hurney had a solid plan and executed it to perfection. On paper, they fixed the run defense, pass rush and began fixing the secondary. They’ll probably have to sign a corner or two in free agency, but there are a few from which to choose. Without further adieu, here are your 2020 Carolina Panthers’ draft picks:

2019 STAT LINE: 54 tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss, 4 sacks, 4 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumbles recovered

Derrick Brown fills several needs for the Panthers, as he will help stop the run and rush the passer. Brown is the most disruptive tackle in the 2020 NFL Draft and absolutely worth the number seven pick. He has an unreal motor and is quick for a player of his size. Brown is powerful and knows how to knock a lineman off of his feet. His feet never stop churning and he is relentless when getting past blockers. He has a bevy of rush moves at his disposal and knows when to use them. Brown will wreak havoc and disrupt the flow of the opponent’s offense.

Brown is an extremely explosive player. His first step is unreal. Carolina should have no problem against the run anymore, as Brown has the ability to swallow up running backs in the middle. There really is no weakness to Brown’s game, as he is the most balanced defensive tackle to come out of college in the last few years. Brown was a top three player in the draft and the Panthers lucked out with him being there.

Brown is not only a great player on the field, but he’s also a great person off the field. He was a leader in college and was a man among boys. Brown had the opportunity to be a first round pick in the 2019 NFL draft, but opted to return to Auburn for his senior season. He’s going to anchor this defense for years to come and Rhule has to be happy about this pick. Check out this outstanding breakdown on Derrick Brown here.

4 Man Mock: JaDarius

4 Man Mocks, NFL Draft

In this scenario, I decided against trading up. Here are the possibilities if the Panthers stand pat with the picks we have.

ROUND 1

PICK 7

CB CJ Henderson, Florida

The Panthers could decide to trade back into the early teens for a chance at Henderson. But I believe that the Panthers will look at their cornerback room before the pick, and grab their guy. Coach Matt Rhule recruited Henderson, so it’s no secret Rhule is familiar with his game. Much needed boost to a barren position.

ROUND 2

PICK 38

DL Ross Blacklock, TCU

If the pick happens to be a non-defensive lineman in the first, the Panthers must not pass again come day 2. Ross Blacklock would help fill a room that is frankly bare bones. He has the athletic profile to be dominant in the middle. He provides flexibility to be able to play the 1 and 3 techniques in an even front.

ROUND 3

PICK 69

OLB Willie Gay Jr., Mississippi State

There aren’t many linebackers that can move like Gay Jr. He ran faster than 4.5 seconds in his 40-yard dash and is good at pass coverage. He has an attitude that can help set the tone on defense. Some red flags are the reason he lasts this long. Otherwise, he’d be hearing his name called much sooner. Rhule has the personality to reel in those concerns. A match made in virtual draft heaven.

ROUND 4

PICK 113

CB Amik Robertson, Louisiana Tech

Amik plays with a boulder-sized chip on his shoulder. What he lacks in stature, he makes up for in big-play ability. Whether it’s sticking his nose in the run game or returning interceptions, he’s nothing short of a firecracker. He would make a home at nickel in Snow’s defense right away.

ROUND 5

PICK 148

WR Tyler Johnson, Minnesota

Teams love dependable wideouts. Tyler Johnson is one of them. He did not participate in athletic testing, but he consistently won on the field in Minnesota. Wide Receiver is one of the lesser-known needs on the roster, with all free agent WRs signing deals under three years long. It might take him a while to get snaps with the talent at the position, but this pick is playing the long game through 2024.

ROUND 5

PICK 152

DL James Lynch, Baylor

A player with whom Phil Snow and Matt Rhule are familiar. They know his strengths and weaknesses well, and it helps that he is a talented player with a good motor. Lynch adds versatility along the DL; he can line up anywhere. Because of the lack of depth, he can compete right away for snaps.

ROUND 6

PICK 184

SS Tanner Muse, Clemson

He’s no Isaiah Simmons, but he provides intriguing size (6’2” 230 lbs)  and blazing speed (4.41 40 yard dash). I believe he’ll be more suited at LB at the next level because he isn’t as fluid as you’d like for a defensive back. Not bad at coming up to tackle. His coverage experience from time as a DB will help him matchup against opposing TEs and RBs. A welcome addition in a division with so many offensive weapons. Well worth a late-round pick.

ROUND 7

PICK 221

DT Benito Jones, Ole Miss

Adding bodies to the interior is a focus of the draft. The Panthers sneak in one final addition to the interior DL. Jones isn’t much of a pass rusher, but he makes his money by stuffing the run. If coaches can help him make dents in the pocket, he would be well worth the low-risk selection.

4 Man Mocks: Norris

4 Man Mocks, NFL Draft, Prime Cuts with Norris

The time is finally upon us. It’s draft week and Panther Nation is awaiting to see who Carolina picks. The Panthers could go multiple ways in the draft, but they have a lot of holes on the defensive side of the ball. Here’s my final mock of the season:

ROUND 1

**TRADE**

**The Cleveland Browns have traded picks 10, 74 and 97 to the Carolina Panthers for pick 7. (For an offensive tackle)**

PICK 10 **From Cleveland**

CB CJ Henderson – Florida

Carolina trades back, gains a couple of extra picks and still gets their man. The Panthers have a serious need at corner with Bradberry signing with the Giants. After trading back, it’s the perfect time to pull the trigger on Henderson. He’s a lock-down corner who would instantly make this defense better. Henderson has All-Pro potential and will fill an immediate need. His athletic profile fits what Matt Rhule is looking for and his ball hawk ability is something needed in Carolina. Henderson has all the tools you’d want in a starting corner and his flaws can be coached. He has good speed, length, agility and ball skills. In 2019, he had 9 deflected passes (mainly because no one threw his way), which is better than his first round competition, Jeff Okudah. There have been multiple rumors that Carolina is high on Henderson and that he is one of their targets in the first.

ROUND 2

PICK 38

DT Ross Blacklock – TCU

He’s the best interior defensive tackle in the draft, not named Derrick Brown or Javon Kinlaw. Blacklock is an absolute stud on the inside and would fill a huge need. He’s a dominating force in the middle with outstanding power and a high motor. Blacklock is athletic and explosive, which is something that Coach Rhule is looking for. In 2019, Blacklock had 9 tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks. By comparison, consensus number one defensive tackle Derrick Brown has 11 tackles for a loss and 4 sacks in 2019. He is an exciting player that you can build your defense around and would be a steal at pick 38.

ROUND 3

PICK 69

LB Willie Gay Jr. – Mississippi St.


If Isaiah Simmons wouldn’t have had such a great combine, everyone would’ve been talking about Willie Gay’s dominating performance in Indy. He has the second highest athletic profile for linebackers in this class. Gay is an every-down linebacker who will deliver bone-crushing hits when given the opportunity. He has great sideline to sideline speed and has good coverage skills for an outside linebacker. Getting a starting linebacker at pick 69 is a huge win for Marty and Company.

PICK 74 **From Cleveland**

C Matt Hennessy

Hennessy is a solid prospect at center who understands all of the nuances of the game. His football IQ is off the charts and is one of the toughest players in the draft. He possesses all of the tools you’d want for a starting center. Hennessy is smart, mobile, strong and tough. He may have to sit the bench this season, but Hennessy could overtake the starting spot in 2021.

PICK 97 **From Cleveland**

TE Harrison Bryant – FAU

Bryant is ascending up draft boards, and for good reason. He has good hands and can gain separation on nearly anyone with his route running and speed. He’s a fairly decent blocker, as he is a former high school offensive tackle. Bryant is a versatile receiving threat that can line up at almost every receiver position. He can come in on day one and make this offense even more explosive.

ROUND 4

PICK 113

DE Alex Highsmith – Charlotte

Highsmith is a local product who has been climbing draft boards. He has a high motor and has the chance to be productive when given the opportunity. Highsmith has good inside and outside moves when rushing the passer and he has a quick first step. He will get work with special teams at the next level, as well as being worked into the edge rusher rotation.

ROUND 5

PICK 148 **From Washington**

CB Amik Robertson – Louisiana Tech

Robertson is a physical corner who has that dog mentality. He has outstanding ball skills and anticipates routes to perfection. Robertson could play outside corner in a pinch, but may be better as a nickel at the next level. He is solid in coverage and one of the better tackling corners in the draft. Robertson is better at run support that most of the corners this year, too. It’s possible that Robertson could fight for a starting corner spot in 2020 or 2021.

PICK 152

WR Quintez Cephus

The Panthers have the speed at wide receiver, especially now with the addition of Robby Anderson. However, they could use a possession receiver who knows how to attack the defense. Cephus doesn’t have great speed but uses his solid route running ability to expose coverages and gain separation. He won’t get outmuscled and uses his hands to catch away from his body. Cephus has strong hands and good concentration. He’s a physical receiver who can produce in a multitude of ways. Great player to get in the fifth round.

ROUND 6

PICK 184

G Damien Lewis

Lewis is a familiar face to new offensive coordinator Joe Brady. He has the mean streak and aggressiveness you want in run blocking. His pass blocking could use a little work, but it can be coached. Lewis is already familiar with Brady’s offense, so it may not take him as long getting acclimated. He is a solid pick and would be a starter in a year or two, as long as he cleans up a few things.

ROUND 7

PICK 221

DT Bravvion Roy – Baylor

Carolina goes with another familiar face and picks the former Baylor Bear. Roy is a space eater who would be primarily used on run downs. He has a lot of power and is also quick for a guy his size. If anyone knows how to use Roy’s ability, it’s Coach Matt Rhule. In 2019, he had 13 tackles for a loss and 5.5 sacks, which is good production for a nose tackle. Roy could work his way into be a consistent part of the rotation in two to three years.

A Look Ahead: NFL Draft First Round

NFL Draft, Prime Cuts with Norris


The NFL draft is less than a week away, and the Carolina Panthers should have a lot of options at pick seven. With the team concentrating on offense in free agency, they will likely look at mostly defense in the draft. They will look at every option available, but there’s no doubt that Carolina has big holes at certain positions on the defensive side of the ball.

There are a lot of ways Carolina could go, and every possible avenue will be exhausted. They could trade back, trade up, or stand pat, and there’s really no wrong strategy. Obviously trading up from seven would cost too much, but everything is on the table. There are a lot of positions from which to choose, and a lot of talent at Carolina’s positions of need.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

In 2019, Carolina had the fourth worst run defense in the NFL, as teams averaged 143.5 yards rushing against them. There were missed tackles, players in the wrong places, injuries and lack of gap discipline which caused the issues against the run. The Panthers could use a dominant defensive tackle to help against the run, and there are a few in the 2020 draft that could help.

DERRICK BROWN

Brown is the best defensive tackle prospect in the draft. He’s great against the run and as a pass rusher. Brown is quick off the line, especially for a guy his size. He has a bevy of pass rush moves and is rarely contained at the line. He’s a hard worker and a good teammate. Brown exemplifies the type of player that Coach Rhule is looking for. If Brown is there at seven, expect the team to look hard at drafting him.

JAVON KINLAW

Kinlaw is close behind Brown as a defensive tackle prospect. He’s a rocket off the line and has a lot of pass rush moves. He isn’t as mentally sound as Brown, but that can be coached. Some argue that Kinlaw’s upside is higher than Brown. Either way, they can’t go wrong with either player. Carolina could look at trading back a few spots to accumulate more picks, as well as drafting Kinlaw.

The 4 Man Fix Part 4: How to Make the Panthers Great Again

NFL Draft, Prime Cuts with Norris


This is part four of the five part series about how Carolina can become relevant sooner rather than later. Part three was about some free agents that Carolina could look at to fill some open spots on their roster. This article is about some players that need to be targeted in the draft.

This is a very important draft for Matt Rhule and the Carolina Panthers and they need to get these picks right. Marty Hurney hasn’t been very good at getting talent outside of the first round, but it sounds like Rhule, Brady and Snow will have a hand in who Hurney selects. There are sources that believe that Hurney will head to Washington after the draft to be the General Manager, so Rhule and Co. will make sure to pick the right guys. The goal of the draft is to get starters in at least the first three rounds, so that’s what we will cover in this article.

FIRST ROUND


LB Isaiah Simmons – Clemson

Not sure he will be there at pick seven, as his combine probably boosted his value into the top five range. However, if he is there, Carolina should run to the podium with his name on their draft card. He is a position-less player, which means he can play multiple positions well and he’s an insane athlete, and that’s exactly what Rhule is looking for. Simmons is the most versatile player in this draft. At 6’4 and 238 pounds, Simmons ran a 4.39 40 yard dash. There is only one linebacker to run faster than Simmons since the NFL started releasing combine information to the public in 2006. In 2018, Shaquem Griffin ran a 4.38 40, but also weighed 11 less pounds than Simmons.

At Clemson, Simmons didn’t have a certain position, because he played so many different ones. He took 218 snaps at safety, 286 snaps at slot corner, 168 snaps at outside linebacker, 120 snaps at inside linebacker and 17 snaps at outside corner. Simmons also rushed the passer 71 times and had 7 sacks. The former Tiger mentioned that he wants to play weak-side linebacker, which will play right into his athleticism. With Shaq Thompson getting the chance to play middle linebacker, Simmons would thrive on the outside. There’s no way the Panthers can pass up on Simmons at seven if he’s there.


CB Jeff Okudah – Ohio St. 

Like Simmons, it’s not likely that Okudah will make it to pick seven. Okudah is the next big thing out of Corner University (Ohio St.). Okudah has the length and speed that coaches love in corners. He has good ball skills, as he had 3 interceptions last year. Okudah is an outstanding athlete that has quick feet and fluid hips. He can play a variety of coverages, while doing it well. Okudah fits the athletic profile that Matt Rhule is looking for. The Draft Network says that Okudah plays like Jalen Ramsey, which is a really good comparison. Okudah would come into Carolina and take over for James Bradberry, who Carolina is likely letting walk in free agency. The Panthers would have a Pro Bowl caliber corner for at least the next five years with this selection.


OT Mekhi Becton – Louisville

Even though the Panthers just traded for Russell Okung, they will still consider taking a tackle in the draft. Especially since Taylor Moton’s contract is up at the end of this year. Becton is 6’7 and 369 pounds with only 17% body fat. He can do everything you’d want a left tackle to do, and do it well. Becton shows good footwork, drive and awareness in pass sets. He has powerful hands and uses them well. At 6’7, he has a wingspan of over 7 feet. He’s strong, powerful and faster than someone his size should be. His wide frame allows him to eat up a lot of space. It’s almost like this kid was built in the same lab as Cam Newton. Becton was born to play left tackle and he’s going to maul edge rushers for years to come.


DT Derrick Brown – Auburn

Some people fell off the Brown train after his combine performance, which is unfortunate. When looking at a player, you watch the film and look at his potential. Brown’s film was really good. He is one of the best all-around defensive linemen prospects in a long time. Brown is so powerful when rushing the passer or stopping the run. He has a bevy of pass rush moves and counters. The Auburn standout has a high motor and is extremely competitive. His hands are powerful and precise, and can toss blockers aside with ease. Brown has incredible bend and flexibility for a player his size. He will crush you if you run at him. Brown would anchor this defensive line for a long time. He is going to be a dominant force for whoever picks him. Judging by how bad Carolina’s run defense was last year, he should probably be the pick at seven.

Honorable Mentions: Jerry Jeudy, Ceedee Lamb, Andrew Thomas, Javon Kinlaw, Tristan Wirfs