The biggest challenges the young Carolina Panthers defense will face this season
In year one of coach Matt Rhule’s tenure with the Carolina Panthers, defense may be the biggest struggle.
Although the Panthers’ offense looks somewhat familiar this season, the defense certainly looks far different.
The Panthers returned only four starters from the 2019 season, including Kawann Short, who played in only two games last year after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. From James Bradberry to Mario Addison to Eric Reid, the Panthers look totally different. Not to mention Luke Kuechly’s retirement in January.
The Panthers drafted seven players in the 2020 NFL draft to address those concerns and signed a few veterans this offseason.
Here is what you need to know about the defense:
Cornerback room may have its struggles
After Bradberry’s departure, the Panthers promoted No. 2 cornerback Donte Jackson to the top spot and signed veteran Eli Apple, in hopes Apple would fill Jackson’s former role.
But Apple has dealt with nagging injuries throughout camp, and earlier this week the Panthers placed him on the injured reserve list.
Apple will miss at least the first three games of the season.
As a result , the Panthers will lean on rookie cornerback Troy Pride Jr. to step up. Pride was drafted in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL draft out of Notre Dame. He had some downs during training camp, but he made a number of plays that show his potential at the position.
But is he ready now? The answer is a little foggy.
Behind Pride and Jackson is third-year cornerback Corn Elder, rookie Stantley Thomas-Oliver and Rasul Douglas, a fourth-year player the Panthers claimed off waivers Sunday. The Panthers value Douglas’ experience.
As for Jackson, who is entering his third season, he’ll be tasked with taking on the opposing team’s best wide receivers — something his coaches believe he’s ready for.
But it doesn’t change the fact that the Panthers’ cornerback room is the most inexperienced of all its units and will likely experience some growing pains, especially early in the season because the players didn’t have the benefit of preseason games.
“This is a young team and we’ve had a limited time to practice and get ready,” safety Tre Boston said. “But that doesn’t mean anything. Those are just excuses. For us, we’ve got to see what’s at hand, and we’ve got to attack it face forward.”
Kawann Short’s return is plus
When the Panthers lost Short for the year last season, not only did they lose a pass rusher but also a run stopper.
The Panthers struggled immensely at stopping the run in 2019, surrendering an NFL-record 31 rushing touchdowns, which was eight more than the second-worst team that season. Short had 12 tackles for loss in 2018.
Voted a captain in 2020, Short has been one of the Panthers’ best defensive lineman since he was drafted in 2013. He turned 31 this past February and is the oldest player on the Panthers’ defense.
“I’m just happy to be here and to be able to change over a new leaf from what we did last year, to what we need to do this year,” Short said Thursday.
Short said he feels pretty good health-wise heading into the season opener.
Having Short has also been a plus for rookie defensive tackle Derrick Brown. Short has been a mentor to Brown, who is expected to be a big piece for the Panthers’ future.
Whitehead, the new Mike
Kuechly’s unexpected retirement was perhaps the most devastating thing that happened to the Panthers this offseason. It left them without their defensive leader and their most consistent player for the past eight years.
But the Panthers like what they have in Tahir Whitehead, who was one of six captains selected by his teammates this week. Whitehead last played for the Las Vegas Raiders, where he played some weakside linebacker and some Mike linebacker. He had 100 tackles in 2019.
“Tahir has just been a tremendous, tremendous presence on defense,” Rhule said Thursday. “He’s a true professional. He’s most importantly a great person, great father, great husband, but also great player and teammate.”
In the Panthers mini-doc series, Whitehead is often seen giving advice to younger players like Jeremy Chinn and Sam Franklin.
“At the end of the day, I can’t try to mold myself into Luke,” Whitehead told The Observer in August. “The most I can do is make sure I’m where I need to be, do my job and lead the team as best I can, in the way I know how to do, which I’ve done for the past eight years on the teams I’ve been on.”
Can Shaq Thompson continue to elevate his game?
Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson had arguably his best season in 2019. He finished the year with a career-high 109 tackles. But his veteran mentors, like Kuechly and Thomas Davis, are now gone. Thompson now finds himself in their shoes, mentoring younger players. Thompson was also voted as one of the 2020 captains.
Thompson has been bothered in recent weeks by a groin injury, but has been a full participant in the last three practices.
Although Thompson did have his best season last year, there are still areas he can improve, particularly in coverage. He has the speed to cover fast tight ends and running backs, but he hasn’t come up with many interceptions. He has only one in his career through his first five seasons.
That was something Kuechly drastically improved on as he got older, and helped him become one of the best players of the decade. Thompson doesn’t have to be Kuechly, but his responsibilities have certainly increased.
Three to watch
1. Jeremy Chinn: The 6-3, 221-pound safety will play a number of different positions this season. He’s listed at linebacker, safety and he’ll likely play some nickel cornerback.
Chinn played well in camp. He’s fast, athletic and moves well from side to side. Panthers defensive coordinator Brian Snow said last week that fans are going to like watching Chinn play.
2. Derrick Brown: Brown, a 6-5, 325-pound defensive tackle was drafted with the intent that he’d be able to contribute immediately. He’s the future of the Panthers’ defense.
He had 12.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and two forced fumbles in his final season at Auburn.
3. Donte Jackson: After an impressive start to the 2019 season, the cornerback struggled down the stretch. He was almost benched by interim coach Perry Fewell.
But Rhule and Snow have said nothing but positive things about Jackson throughout camp. They expect him to be able to compete with the top wide receivers in the NFL. This is an important year for Jackson. He is on the second-to-last year of his rookie deal.
This story was originally published September 12, 2020 at 7:00 AM.
