Panthers rookie impresses in his first action on defense, as Evero searches for answers
The Carolina Panthers have allowed more points through eight games than any other team in the NFL. Only one team — the Panthers’ Week 9 opponents, the New Orleans Saints — has given up more yardage during that same period.
Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero’s unit is surrendering 33.8 points per game, 5.6 points more than the next largest average of allowance.
“Obviously, this season has not gone the way we wanted, but there’s a lot of ball ahead of us,” Evero said Thursday. “And I really commend (the defensive players) for their professionalism, the work ethic — in the classroom and on the field — and we’re going to continue to pound away at this thing. And we know that our process is right, and as we continue to work through it, hopefully, the results will follow.”
Development of Demani Richardson on defense
But tucked in between the dismay and doldrums of an injury-riddled, mistake-laden start to the season are pockets of potential and development on defense.
Jaycee Horn has grown into the leader and playmaker in the secondary that the previous regime hoped he’d become when he was drafted in the first round of the 2021 draft. Trevin Wallace, this year’s third-round pick, has started five games and produced two forced fumbles in that span.
And then there’s undrafted rookie safety Demani Richardson. The 24-year-old defensive back received his first regular-season defensive snaps in Week 8 against the Denver Broncos and played every single rep in the 28-14 road loss. While the outing wasn’t a successful one for the defense or the team, Richardson had himself a promising first start with Carolina.
Richardson, who signed with the Panthers in May after a strong career at Texas A&M, led the team with 11 tackles (7 solo) against Denver. Pro Football Focus also credited him with a QB hurry and graded him out exceptionally well as a tackler and run defender.
For a team that is giving up the most rushing yards per game (154.6) in the league, that type of performance from Richardson could offer a solution to at least one of the defense’s problems.
“He looked pretty good,” head coach Dave Canales said Wednesday. “He showed up in the run game, made some physical plays, he had a nice play down the field on a deep post route that they try to throw where he was in great position and really ran the route for the receiver. Still a lot of things for him to clean up his first time out there. When you get out there, just the communication that happens so quickly, but I was really proud of Demani waiting for his opportunity and then making the most of it this week.”
Respect the routine
While Richardson was credited with giving up three catches on four targets for 26 yards against Denver, the gains against him were minimal. While he gave up a 16-yard catch, he limited the other two receptions to just 10 total yards.
Richardson — who had a string of interceptions during the final two weeks of training camp in August — has impressed his bosses with his preparation and playmaking ability.
“Demani has been doing a great job since we brought him in from Texas A&M,” Evero said. “And if you kind of look back at the offseason and the training camp, he really had the most ball production out of anybody on the defense. And so from that standpoint, he’s been doing a great job.
“And then you just look at the attention to detail, the focus and the professionalism, which he displayed for a young guy. A guy that just got into the league, to have such great habits — it’s not a surprise that he was able to go into the game and function the way that he did. And just really, really proud of him and proud of the way he performed. But I’m not surprised because the work that he’s put in behind the scenes. And even when he was a practice squad (player) and not expected to play a lot, he displayed those professional habits in terms of preparation, getting ready for the game plan, always staying tapped in and tuned in, and so yeah, he did a great job.”
More than meets the eye
Before Richardson’s Week 8 debut as a safety, he had played four games exclusively on special teams. Through 67 snaps, Richardson raised his stock with special teams coordinator Tracy Smith.
Those game-by-game performances showed that no matter what he’s asked to do, Richardson is going to put his best foot forward.
“Demani has been really conscientious since he got here about learning his assignment and trying always been on top of what’s going on with special teams and defense,” Smith said. “This week, he had a much bigger defensive role than usual, so it was more of an abbreviated special teams showing. But he’s really smart, he cares a lot about the team and his position, and he always does a nice job of running and playing tough.”
With the Panthers looking for a way to stay competitive on the defensive side of the ball, the staff — which has regularly claimed to be “development-minded” — could consider sticking with Richardson with veterans like Jordan Fuller (hamstring) and Nick Scott (hamstring) sidelined. Down the stretch, Richardson’s development and learning curve could pay off in the long term for the Panthers.
At 1-7, what else do they have to lose? The results can’t get much worse.
Panthers Thursday injury participation report
Did Not Participate: OT Ikem Ekwonu (ankle), TE Feleipe Franks (concussion), DB Jammie Robinson (knee), OT Taylor Moton (rest)
Limited Participant: WR Xavier Legette (toe), WR Adam Thielen (hamstring/IR), TE Tommy Tremble (back), OLB DJ Johnson (ankle)
Full Participant: OLB Jadveon Clowney (rest), LB Josey Jewell (rest), DE A’Shawn Robinson (rest), RB Jonathon Brooks (knee/NFI), DE Jaden Crumedy (ankle/IR), QB Andy Dalton (thumb), S Jordan Fuller (hamstring/IR), OT Yosh Nijman (knee), OLB DJ Wonnum (quad/PUP)
This story was originally published October 31, 2024 at 2:34 PM.
