Sam Darnold leading group of young Panthers players through minicamp, including Matt Corral
Sam Darnold needed an adjustment day.
Day 1 of the Panthers’ three-day minicamp featured an assortment of pass-catchers Darnold is not used to throwing to. D.J. Moore, Robbie Anderson, Ian Thomas, and Christian McCaffrey (along with about 10 other veterans) were all held out of practice for different reasons.
Essentially coach Matt Rhule’s decision to convert some of his veterans into temporary coaches allowed younger players first-team opportunities, which meant Darnold was throwing to unfamiliar targets.
Second-year receiver Terrace Marshall Jr., newcomer Rashard Higgins and undrafted rookies Andrew Parchment, Derek Wright and Ra’Shaun Henry are earning a lot of snaps along with returners Brandon Zylstra and Shi Smith.
Of Darnold’s available targets, Zylstra caught 18 passes, Marshall took in 17 balls and Smith grabbed six of his 11 targets. New options combined with a new system create obvious offensive growing pains. Darnold wasn’t as crisp on Day 1 but bounced back Wednesday during the Panthers’ second of three minicamp practices, which conclude Thursday.
He completed 10 of 12 passes during competitive seven-on-seven and full-team drills, looking poised and decisive in his decision-making and technique.
“We played OK. We have correct a lot of things. It wasn’t very clean,” Darnold said. “It’s just knowing what to do, trying to get guys lined up. If someone asks you, as a quarterback, I have an obligation to understand their job as well.”
Darnold is grasping new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo’s offense while fighting off exterior distractions about Carolina potentially bringing in a veteran quarterback. The team has been linked to Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield and San Francisco’s Jimmy Garoppolo.
He admitted his approach might be cliche, but he said all he can do is focus on mastering the new offense and ignoring anything going on outside the building.
“No matter what they are always going to do what is best for the team. Whether that is (general manager) Scott (Fitterer) going out getting someone he feels can do a better job, that is not for me to judge,” Darnold said. “He is going to do his job to the best of his ability. I got to hold up my end of the bargain. If I’m the starting quarterback for this team, I have to go out and play good football, not turn the ball over and put the ball in the end zone.”
It was a shorter practice than originally scheduled thanks to a 56-yard Zane Gonzalez field goal, which he buried while the entire team watched, hoping to escape the nearly 100-degree temperatures on the practice fields behind Bank of America Stadium.
During the brisk 60-minute practice (about 20 minutes shorter than Tuesday), quarterback Matt Corral saw an uptick in reps. The rookie completed 5 of 7 passes during seven-on-seven sessions. He split time more evenly with fellow backup P.J. Walker.
His short throws are accurate. He took more deep shots than any of the other quarterbacks on Wednesday but did not complete any of them. Once he mishandled a low snap, turned his back to the defense, grabbed the ball and slung it 40 yards deep, and still slightly overthrew a sprinting Keith Kirkwood.
It’s encouraging Corral earned more reps, but the team remains vocal about bringing the Ole Miss product along slowly.
“He has a good spirit, a good demeanor about him when he walks in the building. And I think he understands there’s no timetable for him,” Rhule said Tuesday. “I think he has that sense of urgency when he works. I respect the way he works. But he has a lot to learn. A lot to learn.”
One of the many areas Corral must improve is his dropback game. He doesn’t look nearly as comfortable as Darnold or Walker when taking a snap under center and either dropping to throw or booting.
At practice, Darnold put a perfect ball on undrafted free agent Derek Wright following a play-action fake to a single-set running back. Darnold threw with rhythm, releasing the ball as his back foot reached its third step, even with a defender in his face. Wright fell directly under a high-arching pass, kept his feet, and scored a 30-yard touchdown.
That’s where Darnold flashes his veteran chops. He’s also helping Corral adjust to NFL life.
“I remember being a rookie and going from a college system to an NFL system. It’s a huge jump,” Darnold said. “There’s a lot of things that you got to learn. I’ve been very open to helping him out. So it’s been a fun process, and Matt’s a great dude.”
Panthers minicamp concludes Thursday with one more practice before coaches and players break until training camp. Once again the team will head down to Spartanburg, South Carolina, in late July and stay at Wofford College for three weeks in preparation for the upcoming season.
Wednesday’s heat wave served as a preview of what’s to come in a few short weeks.
“I had a couple of guys on their walk out today saying, ‘Welcome to Wofford,’ “ Rhule said. “Which I think is good, because it’s gonna be hot there.”
Notes
▪ Free agent defensive end Carlos Dunlap spent Monday and Tuesday visiting the Panthers. After undergoing physicals on Monday, Dunlap met with coaches on Tuesday and flew back to Florida that evening, according to reports. Talks are expected to continue between both parties but nothing is imminent.
“Defensive lineman at that position is something that we’re always looking for guys. We have all kinds of exploratory talks with guys,” Rhule said. “I can’t say that anything is imminent. But we know we’re always looking for guys who can obviously win on the line of scrimmage and affect the quarterback.”
As a member of the Seahawks last season, Dunlap recorded a team-high 8.5 sacks along with a forced fumble and seven pass deflections. He notched at least six sacks in 11 of his 12 pro seasons. At 33 years old, he’d likely command a team-friendly one-year deal. His 96 career sacks are eighth-most among active players.
▪ Receiver Robbie Anderson is back with the Panthers but is not doing much physically during minicamp. On Tuesday, he worked on the side before escaping to the team bubble with a trainer. His Wednesday practice lasted about 30 minutes before a team official drove him back to the locker room.
Tweets about retirement aside, Anderson is playing catch-up learning the team’s new offense.
“He hasn’t been here,” Rhule said. “So he’s got work to do in that regard, during training camp.”
However, the team is not concerned with Anderson and expects him to be a major contributor this season.
“In this offense, Robbie will have a ton of production,” Rhule said. “I think last year was a confluence of many different events. And I think in this offense, the way we’re doing things, I think he’ll have a ton of production.”
This story was originally published June 16, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
