Carolina Panthers’ position battles to keep an eye on during training camp
Learning is at a premium this NFL preseason. Perhaps no team exhibits that more than the Panthers. The team has a revamped roster and a new coaching staff in addition to the unprecedented challenges of the 2020 season.
Among all 32 NFL teams, the Panthers’ current roster has the third-least number of games played in the NFL. Of course that is subject to change as rosters are cut down to 53 players, but it also shows Carolina’s inexperience. With kicker Graham Gano’s release Thursday, the team is down to just five players who are 30 years or older.
While coach Matt Rhule has preached the importance and desire for competition throughout the roster, for the Panthers that will come somewhat naturally due to youth and the number of new players on the team. The players won’t be fully in pads together on the field until midway through August, giving players limited opportunities to prove what they can do.
“This is truly a time for our players, young players, old players, if they have a meeting, whether it’s virtual or in person, they’ve got to be great at it,” Rhule said this week. “They go out to the practice field, they get a couple reps, they’ve got to be great at them. They’ve got to really show what they can do in a controlled environment.”
As the Panthers prepare to figure out their final 53-man (with an additional 16 players on the practice squad), here are some position battles to keep an eye on:
Offensive guard
John Miller, Michael Schofield, Dennis Daley, Chris Reed, Tyler Larsen, Sam Tecklenburg and Mike Horton
The Panthers did not address offensive line (or any offensive position) in the draft. But they did bring in multiple undrafted free agents, including Sam Tecklenburg, a former Baylor player that had been retired from football.
They also agreed to a one-year deal with veteran guard Michael Schofield. He spent the past three years with the Chargers after three years in Denver and joins former Chargers offensive line coach Pat Meyer and teammates Russell Okung and Matt Paradis (from the Broncos) in Carolina.
What does that mean for the offensive line?
The Panthers are all set at tackle with Okung and Taylor Moton expected to take the starting spots with second-year left tackle Greg Little, currently on the physically unable to perform list with a knee injury, directly behind them.
Guard isn’t quite as simple.
John Miller was also added on a one-year deal in free agency, a season after he was cut by the Bengals just one year into a three-year, $16.5 million contract. Before Schofield agreed to a contract, Miller appeared to have the lead at right guard after starting with both the Bills and the Bengals in his career. But Schofield started every game at right guard for the Chargers the past two years.
Miller has the added experience of starting 46 games at left guard at Louisville protecting Teddy Bridgewater.
Daley was also a candidate for the left guard spot after playing in 14 games, including nine starts in 2019, primarily at left tackle. He’s not penciled in as a starter, but that can always change. The other two players have plenty of starts under their belts and Schofield has significant experience with Meyer.
Defensive end
Brian Burns, Stephen Weatherly, Efe Obada, Yetur Gross-Matos, Christian Miller, Marquis Haynes
The interior of the Panthers’ defensive line doesn’t involve many question marks. Kawann Short, who is now down to 315 pounds per Rhule after missing almost all of last season, and first-round pick Derrick Brown seem set to start at defensive tackle. The two players that start at the end spots, however, are not as clear.
The Panthers will likely have some sort of defensive rotation on the line, but it will be interesting to see who emerges over the next month as the starters. Burns is entering his second year and transitioning from Ron Rivera’s 3-4 base to a 4-3 base, but seems likely to earn a starting spot after showcasing a lot of potential in his rookie season. The most veteran player among the group, Weatherly, entering his fifth season, signed as a free agent from the Vikings and earned praise from defensive coordinator Phil Snow recently.
“I think he can become an elite pass rusher at this level,” Snow said.
Obada, who had 24 tackles last year, has been mentioned by Rhule as someone the team is excited about and could get an opportunity. Gross-Matos, one of the Panthers’ two second-round picks this year, may have the toughest path to starting from the get go simply because it is his rookie season.
The Panthers defensive line did a 180 this offseason and is going to be much younger.
Cornerback
Donte Jackson, Eli Apple, Troy Pride Jr., Corn Elder, Stan Thomas-Oliver III, Cole Luke, Derrek Thomas, Myles Hartsfield
The Panthers filled their holes at cornerback following the departure of James Bradberry to the Giants in free agency by signing veteran Eli Apple late in free agency after drafting Troy Pride Jr. and Stan Thomas-Oliver III in April.
“We picked Eli Apple,” Snow said in June. “You look at his size and speed, we expect him to play good. (Secondary coach) Jason Simmons wanted him. I’m anxious to see where Jason takes him, but I think we have some ability (at cornerback). Now how well they’re going to play and stuff remains to be seen, but it is our job to get them to play at a level that we need.”
The spot opposite Jackson seems destined for Apple, but cornerback deserves a spot on this list because Pride Jr. will get some sort of opportunity and it’s a position worth watching. Pride Jr. not starting right away may be beneficial, however, as it will give him more time to develop.
Backup quarterback
Starter: Teddy Bridgewater
Backups: PJ Walker, Will Grier
With Bridgewater starting at quarterback after signing a three-year deal this offseason, the battle will come down to Walker and Grier for the backup job. After Walker, the star of the XFL earlier this year, spent his entire college career with Rhule at Temple, familiarity with the coaching staff will certainly be in his favor. Grier is getting the opportunity to start over after two less than ideal starts at the end of his rookie season.
Walker also has the edge in experience overall after spending two years on an off the Colts practice squad. Both quarterbacks are new to Joe Brady’s system and each of their abilities to learn and perform in the limited time frame will go a long way.
Tight end
Starting: Ian Thomas
Backups: Chris Manhertz, Temarrick Hemingway, Giovanni Ricci, Cam Sutton, Colin Thompson, ???
Tight end is included on this list not because there’s a lot to watch for when it comes to the starting role, that’s set up for Thomas to show what he can do with Greg Olsen now in Seattle. The battle will be to see who, outside of a blocking tight end in Manhertz, can make the starting roster. The rest of the players at the position lack experience. Bringing a more veteran player in to compete would fill a hole, especially after the team released a veteran free agent they brought in this offseason, Seth DeValve, with a non-football injury in June.
There will likely be competition in camp for one other spot on the roster outside of Thomas and Manhertz. UDFA Sutton from Fresno State, a converted former wide receiver, has potential to emerge and Thompson is a former Temple player under Rhule.
