How the Panthers’ defense plans to get back on track against Minnesota’s potent offense
If there’s a common denominator for the Carolina Panthers’ early season struggles defensively, identifying the exact issue isn’t overly simplistic.
“Every game brings a different task,” linebacker Brian Burns said Thursday. “So, it’s pretty hard to say. From a general aspect I can say, mainly staying disciplined. That happens in every game. That’s a thing that you can always fall back on.
“But when you go from week to week, tasks change, schemes change. So, it’s a little bit more complex in that sense.”
Things aren’t about to get any easier for the Panthers (0-3) at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday. Although the Minnesota Vikings have also had their share of troubles through the season’s initial three weeks, their quick-strike offense can pile up points in a blink.
Buoyed by the combination of quarterback Kirk Cousins and wide receiver Justin Jefferson, Minnesota (0-3) has already thrown for 1,075 yards, which ranks second only behind the Miami Dolphins’ aerial attack, and the Vikings’ nine passing touchdowns are tops in the league. So is Cousins’ 358.3 yards per game.
Jefferson is feasting on opposing secondaries, racking up a league-high 458 yards. He’s also reeled in 12 receptions of 20-plus yards, comfortably placing him way ahead of the competition. To compare, Keenan Allen of the Los Angeles Chargers is second behind Jefferson in that category with seven such receptions.
“He’s arguably the best in the league — speed, change of direction, route running, after the catch,” Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero said. “He can do it all at a high level. And Kirk can get him the ball. So, this is going to be a great challenge for our defense.”
That’s because Cousins has plenty of other options, too, and can spread the ball around to a variety of targets. Tight end T.J. Hockenson and wide receivers Jordan Addison and K.J. Osborne have each snared two touchdowns, and running back Alexander Mattison has been targeted 17 times, bringing in 11 receptions.
“It’s not just one guy you’ve got to stop,” Evero said. “You’ve still got to stop 87 (Hockenson), you’ve still got to stop Addison. They’ve got weapons all over the place. They have the ability to run game and run the ball even though they haven’t committed to it so far. But we know that it’s coming. But we’ve got to be ready and we’ve got to prepare and be on top of our game on Sunday.”
Especially given the rash of injuries that have piled up for Carolina.
Carolina Panthers depth tested with loss of Shaq Thompson
Their depth is getting tested with linebacker Shaq Thompson (fibula) being out for the season and cornerback Jaycee Horn (hamstring) shelved for weeks. The Panthers got even more banged up in Seattle when safety Xavier Woods (hamstring), cornerback CJ Henderson (ankle) and linebacker Frankie Luvu (hip pointer) each were sidelined with injuries.
Luvu and Henderson participated in Thursday’s practice, which could mean they are trending toward suiting up against Minnesota. Woods, however, missed a second straight day of on-field instructional work and his absence could loom large with the Vikings’ potent attack.
“When you lose a player of that caliber or when you lose Shaq or whoever it is,” Evero said, “you can’t replace that experience. But what you can do is give those guys that are going into the game a chance to be successful. You put them in positions that they are comfortable in. And the one thing I’ll say is all the guys in that room — Sam Franklin and Jammie Robinson — they’ve done a great job of staying prepared, working each day.
“I like the fact that even before Xavier’s injury, those guys were working towards being a starter, preparing like they would be playing in a game. And now they are going to get an opportunity to show what they can do.”
The key for any of the Panthers’ defensive reserves is to fight against the urge to do too much and pressing to make a play. That’s the last thing Carolina needs.
“You’ve just got to stick to the process, and we’ve got to trust our ability and trust the guys across from us, the guy on offense, the guy on special teams,” safety Vonn Bell said. “Do that one through 11 and just come in here everyday and be intentional with our work. And just do more like coach said. He’s been harping on that.
“Do more film study, whether it be with the guys or practice reps after practice catching the ball, working on fundamentals, honing in on mastering our technique, honing in on mastering our craft, honing on mastering our opponent. It’s going to bounce back.”
Carolina’s sacks leader believes they’re close to figuring it out.
“Basically, I feel like it’s been a good defense,” Burns said. “I just feel like we can become a great defense once we get the stops that’s needed to secure the game. I think (in Seattle) it was in the fourth quarter, the game was tight and I think we were down by two or something like that. If we get that stop, that changes the game. So, we’ve got to take that next step.”
This story was originally published September 29, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
