Watching replays or snippets from the Carolina Panthers’ 27-0 loss to the New York Jets was just as bad the second time around, whether you were checking out the second episode of “Hard Knocks,” the HBO show that chronicled the Jets’ trip to the Carolinas, or sitting in the Panthers’ film room.
“We all looked at the result of what happened. We’re watching the film and that’s not who we want to be. That’s not what we want to put on tape,” rookie quarterback Bryce Young said. “We’ve all looked in the mirror. We’ve all responded and I think we had to learn from the tape. It’s not great tape you want to watch. But you have to watch it (and) learn from it.”
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The Panthers will have an idea of how much they learned by 10 p.m. Friday when their second exhibition against the New York Giants wraps up — and the starters should know a couple of hours earlier.
Flushing last week’s debacle and putting some better tape onto the airwaves leads the list of five storylines from the Panthers’ preseason game at MetLife Stadium.
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1. Finding an offensive rhythm
Young played three series against the Jets, which amounted to only 11 plays because the Panthers couldn’t move the ball. The first-team offense managed just one first down, coming on an 8-yard catch by Adam Thielen on a play in which Young was leveled by defensive end Solomon Thomas.
Panthers coach Frank Reich said the plan is for Young to get similar playing time against the Giants, which he hopes will come on a long, sustained drive or two rather than the short, unproductive stints versus the Jets.
“Obviously, want to have some success out there. Move the ball, make first downs, score some points. Just play more consistently as an offensive unit,” Reich said. “This isn’t just Bryce but obviously be better on third down. Get our run game going a little bit. Just overall on offense, we just need to have a better outing.”
"I probably got 10 sacks today by myself."@QuinnenWilliams was absolutely wrecking joint practices all day.#HardKnocks on @StreamOnMax pic.twitter.com/uAYJEjUlLi
— NFL (@NFL) August 16, 2023
The Panthers converted just 3-of-11 third downs and gave up five sacks, including four on backup quarterback Matt Corral. Granted, Reich used a small portion of the playbook. Still, it’s never good when the first-team offense failed to get past the Carolina 40-yard line and the Panthers’ deepest penetration of the game was the Jets’ 33.
Most of the problems started up front, which brings us to storyline No. 2.
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2. Bad week to be an offensive lineman
The Panthers’ pass blocking problems against the Jets have been well documented. But fixing them figures to be a tough task against the Giants’ potent defensive front and an aggressive scheme by defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, who has never met a blitz he didn’t like — preseason or otherwise.
If this were a regular-season game, Reich said the Panthers would spend “hours and hours and hours” preparing for Martindale’s pressure package. That wasn’t the case this week.
“I think we’ve got a good plan against the pressures that they’ll bring. But we’re rotating a lot of guys through, it’s a lot of young guys seeing a lot of exotic pressures,” he said. “That gets me excited because we get to see — can they see it? Can we function Can we operate?”
With Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams, the Giants can create problems in the interior, where the Panthers have looked vulnerable without right guard Austin Corbett. The Panthers rotated three players at Corbett’s spot last week, including Cade Mays, who’s dealing with a neck issue and won’t suit up against the Giants.
Martindale’s blitzes will be a good test for the line and Young, who was hit on three of seven dropbacks in the preseason opener. “This being a scheme that brings a lot, there’s a lot of pressures, a lot of blitz, a lot of different looks,” Young said. “I think it’s a great opportunity for us to go out and see how we fare.”
“That’s the kind of defense that will make you look bad for a series or two,” Reich added. “You’ve gotta just be patient and then all of a sudden you pop the big play.”
3. Hello, my name is Javon
If Panthers fans knew much about wide receiver Javon Wims previously, it was probably because of the punch he threw at then-New Orleans Saints defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson during a game in 2020 when Wims was a member of the Chicago Bears. But they could be a lot more familiar with Wims by the end of Friday’s game, based on his performance last week and a couple of injuries the Panthers have sustained at the position.
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With Damiere Byrd going on injured reserve with a significant hamstring injury and Terrace Marshall bothered by a back issue that could sideline him several weeks, a couple of the wideouts lower on the depth chart will have opportunities to impress at the Meadowlands. That includes Shi Smith, whose roster spot looked shaky at the start of camp, and the aforementioned Wims, the former Georgia wideout who was targeted seven times against the Jets. (Derek Wright also is in the mix for the last WR spot but injured his knee in the first preseason game.)
Wims caught two passes for 23 yards last week and could have had a couple of more receptions had Corral not overshot him. The Panthers like Wims’ size (6-4, 222), toughness and ability to play special teams. The 28-year-old is worth keeping an eye on Friday.
4. Miles to go before he plays
The Panthers were the only team to sign a running back to a substantial contract in free agency when they gave Miles Sanders a four-year, $25.4 million deal. Sanders will miss his second consecutive game with a groin injury and it’s unlikely he plays in any of the preseason games, according to Reich.
While the Panthers try to ease Sanders along to Week 1, it would be helpful if one of their other backs stepped up. Chuba Hubbard and Raheem Blackshear were bottled up in limited action versus the Jets, while Spencer Brown ran for 34 yards on eight carries.
Hubbard, the most experienced backup, has struggled with catching the ball out of the backfield. And there’s not anyone you’d call a power back. But Reich said he’s been happy with the running back room.
“Spencer ran the ball well last week. Chuba’s really been consistent. Raheem continues to do his thing. He has the added value of the special teams stuff he does as a returner,” Reich said. “It’s an interesting battle to kind of see who are the complementary guys for Miles. We’re gonna do it by committee. But those guys have looked good.”
5. On the edge of glory
Brian Burns and Justin Houston both sat out against the Jets, and Reich was noncommittal on whether the two veteran edge rushers would play Friday. They probably shouldn’t, considering Houston is a 13-year veteran who just started practicing and Burns is a two-time Pro Bowler whom the team wants to sign to a contract extension.
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Even if Burns and Houston play, it won’t be for long. So there will be ample opportunities for some of the other edge guys to make an impact. Amaré Barno, last year’s sixth-round pick, came up with the Panthers’ only sack against the Jets, while undrafted free-agent Eku Leota had the only other quarterback hit.
Kobe Jones, a 25-year-old who has impressed with athleticism, played a team-high 41 snaps against the Jets and finished with four unassisted tackles. After a quiet camp, third-round pick DJ Johnson was active against the Jets with three tackles, including one for loss.
(Top photo of Bryce Young: Grant Halverson / Getty Images)
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