Panthers

4 Man Rush Game Predictions: Week 1 – The Rhule Era

Vince's Vindications

A new era begins Sunday afternoon in Charlotte NC and there will be new faces all over Bank of America Stadium. With all the uncertainty and unfamiliarity surrounding the 2020 season, predicting the outcome seems almost impossible. However, I believe not having a preseason works in the Panthers favor on Sunday. The unorthodox off-season offers them an advantage over the visiting Las Vegas Raiders.

NO PRESEASON
Raiders head coach Jon Gruden has been around the NFL for decades now and he’s more than likely seen everything the league has to offer. However, COVID-19 leaves Gruden and his staff in a bind with little to no film of the Panthers and their new look schemes. Gruden has mentioned he’s opted to watch college film of both Matt Rhule and new offensive coordinator Joe Brady in order to be ready for this Sunday’s game. I don’t think it will be enough though due to Carolina jumping out to an early lead and able to hold off a late rally by Las Vegas.

Panthers 23  Raiders 20.

KEY MATCH-UPS
The Raiders boast a very good interior line of center Rodney Hudson, and guards Gabe Jackson and Richie Incognito. A newly revamped defensive front 7 for the Panthers will have their hands full getting to Derrick Carr and stopping running back Josh Jacobs. This is the biggest key to victory, limiting big plays in the pass game and stopping the running game in Week 1.

PLAYERS TO WATCH 
Rookie first round pick Derrick Brown will be key in trying to stop the Raiders run game. Carolina invested the 7th overall pick on Brown hoping he would put an end to the run game woes that plagued the Panthers in 2019. He will have veteran Pro Bowl DT Kawann Short returning from a Week 2 season ending shoulder injury from last season to help shore up the interior of the defense.

Raiders Tight End Darren Waller isn’t a house hold name. However, he’s one of the best players at his position in the league. Waller can line up all over the field causing match up problems for opposing defenses. The Panthers LB corps will look a little different without former All Pro Luke Kuechly in the middle, so limiting the effectiveness of Waller will be paramount in slowing down an explosive offense.

A Closer Look at the Disappointing Performance From The Panthers O-Line

Will Call

In limited action, the Panthers first string offense struggled to move the ball in the dress rehearsal preseason game against the New England Patriots. In the first half, the Panthers managed to gain only 29 total yards of offense and at one point in the game, the team had more penalty yards than total yards of offense. A lot of the offensive struggles started up front.

On this first play, tight end Chris Manhertz who is normally a great blocker, gets beat off of the snap. The play has no chance from the beginning.

Left tackle Daryl Williams also had his struggles. On this play, he is working against rookie edge rusher Chase Winovich. Winovich is able to gain the leverage advantage against Williams, strike his hands inside between the numbers, and as a result, this allows him to execute an effective bull rush and drive Williams into the turf. On this play, you would like to see Williams have better timing and hand placement on his initial punch.

Williams struggled with the bullrush of Winovich on this play as well. Again, Winovich has the lower pad level, is able to make the more effective strike in between the numbers and this allows him to use that lower leg drive to push Williams into the quarterback.

Newly acquired center Matt Paradis also had his struggles. On this play he is working against veteran interior defensive lineman Michael Bennett. Bennett again gets the leverage advantage by maintaining that low pad level. In addition, Paradis fails to make an effective initial punch and allows Bennett to get his hands inside. As a result, Bennett is able to use his lower body strength to drive Paradis into to the quarterback, get a good grip on his jersey, and utilize this “push-pull” technique to shove him aside.

The run blocking from the Panthers offensive line could also use some improvement. On this outside zone play, right tackle Taylor Moton and right guard Trai Turner allow the defenders to gain that leverage advantage by maintaining a lower pad level. As a result, both Moton and Turner get stood up, and allow the Patriots to make the play in the backfield.

Overall, the Panthers will need better play up front as games are won and lost in the trenches.

 

-Will Harris

Rush Review: Training Camp Day #9

Camp Wofford

#1. The Carolina Panthers practiced lighter today by wearing their “shells” which is just wearing a football helmet and shorts. NFL Network is also here doing live updates on the team. Reporting was Maurice Jones-Drew, Andrew Siciliano and Tiffany Blackmon.

#2. The following players sat out today’s practice due to injury concerns: DB Rashaan Gaulden (sore lower back), CB Kevon Seymour (hamstring) and RB Jordan Scarlett (head). Vet day off was granted to S Eric Reid and OL Tyler Larsen. DE Efe Obada was given a personal day off to handle affairs. RB coach Jake Peetz is back at practice after his wife gave birth to their son on Friday night.

#3. Here are the players who got first team reps today: LB Jermaine Carter Jr took the place of LB Luke Kuechly. CB Corn Elder took the place of CB Donte Jackson. S Colin Jones took the place of S Eric Reid. S Ross Cockrell took the place of DB Gaulden at S. LG Greg Van Roten took the place of OL Larsen at C on the second team. So OL Norman Price played second team reps at LG. CB Javien Elliott got first team reps at nickel CB.

#4. During 1 on 1 DL vs. OL drills, I was impressed with LB/DE Bruce Irvin using pure speed and low angles to beat RT Taylor Moton. I heard defensive coordinator Eric Washington scream out loud “Speed!” LB/DE Brian Burns, once again, is displaying how elite his get off timing is, along with taking the best angles low enough to beat his blocker. Today, it was fellow rookie and long time high school friend LT Greg Little who struggled keep Burns in check. I have noticed that Burns dominates Little during 1 on 1 drills, however in team drills Little does much better against him. C Matt Paradis and OT Daryl Williams finally did 1 on 1 pass rush drills today. Williams got lost on a spin move by DE/LB Mario Addison. Paradis got bull rushed quickly by NT Dontari Poe who has quietly had a very nice camp so far.  They did decent, but you can tell they need time to get up to expected levels of production.

#5. During 11 on 11 team drills, these were the plays that stood out to me as the defense had a strong day: CB James Bradberry made an excellent pass deflection on a ball thrown in the back of the end zone by QB Cam Newton to WR Curtis Samuel.  LB Carter Jr. made a big pass deflection in the end zone on a Newton pass to WR DJ Moore. S Tre Boston got his first pass deflection at Camp Wofford on a pass from QB Will Grier to WR DeAndrew White in the end zone. CB Elliott got an interception on a Grier pass to WR Andre Levrone. Later on Elliott got a pass deflection on a Newton pass to WR Jarius Wright. Now the offense did make some nice plays as well. TE Greg Olsen caught a wide open 25 yard pass from Newton. TE Ian Thomas also caught a nice intermediate pass from QB Kyle Allen. RB Christian McCaffrey had a strong day running between the tackles. It looks like he is hitting the holes faster than the defense can converge on him. RB Elijah Holyfield continues to improve as he displayed some nice cutting abilities to get free on a couple of decent runs.

#6. My impression overall from today is that the players are really focused on perfecting their individual crafts. Whenever a player rotated out, he would either seek coaching or seek advice from another player. One thing that has been constant throughout camp is plenty of communication between the players on both sides of the ball. It is definitely not quiet before the ball is snapped. Always nice seeing several players stay after practice to get extra work in as well. Not just rookie and long shot players, but starters and veterans.

 

#WhatARush #KeepPounding