Panthers Tracks: 5 things we want to see when we finally get to watch training camp
After a week of negative coronavirus tests, and a number of Zoom calls asking players and Panthers’ coach Matt Rhule how the team looks in practice, we’ll finally get to see it for ourselves.
Players reported to training camp July 28 and began practicing earlier this month. But Sunday is the first day media members will be allowed to view the Panthers’ training camp practices.
The Panthers have had a two-week acclimation period to get their bodies ready, and will begin full-contact practices Monday.
Rhule and his staff are tasked with rebuilding a team that hasn’t made it past the wild-card round of the playoffs since 2015. The Panthers finished 5-11 last season, and moved on from their longtime coach, Ron Rivera, and franchise quarterback, Cam Newton.
Here are five things we’ll be watching for at practice:
Teddy Bridgewater
The Panthers’ coaching staff has given Bridgewater the keys to run this offense, and he said last week that he feels like this is his team already. Earlier this spring, Bridgewater hosted throwing sessions to create chemistry with his new teammates. It’s apparent Bridgewater has earned their respect.
“Teddy’s a pro,” Panthers’ running back Christian McCaffrey said last week. “Obviously he’s very gifted, but I think you look at what he does every single day in practice and his attention to detail, where he throws the ball, after he makes the throw going through all his progressions. And I saw him today before practice, he’s in the ice tub with the script going over all his progressions.”
Panthers wide receiver Robby Anderson was one of many players who praised Bridgewater’s leadership.
“He’s a natural born leader,” Anderson said. “Certain people, they walk into a room and you can see people move to their beat. So he’s a great football player, he’s a great person, so it’s easy to play with a quarterback like that.”
This will be the first time Bridgewater will begin the season as a starter since the 2015 season in which he suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for nearly two years. Until the season begins, there will be questions about whether Bridgewater can take over a new team.
Last season, he showed what’s possible. Bridgewater played in nine games for the Saints and started in five after Drew Brees went down with a thumb injury.
Bridgewater was 5-0 in those starts, throwing for 1,384 yards, nine touchdowns and only two interceptions for a 99.4 passer rating. He completed 67.9 percent of his passes.
How will Joe Brady’s offense look?
One of the biggest question marks heading into the 2020 season will be how new offensive coordinator Joe Brady’s offense will translate to the NFL. Brady was the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach for LSU last season, but prior to that spent two years as an offensive assistant with the Saints.
Much of what he took from his time with the Saints was utilized at LSU, which had the top-ranked offense in the country in 2019. The Tigers also won the national championship.
Brady has said that his offense will be based on what his players do best. The biggest benefit Brady will have is a quarterback who knows his offense. Bridgewater played with the Saints while Brady was there.
Anderson called the offense creative and smart.
“It’s going to put everybody in their fair element,” Anderson said. “Everybody is going to get a fair chance to do what they can do on a consistent basis. We just have to do our part.”
With playmakers like Anderson, McCaffrey, D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel, that would seem to bode well for the Panthers.
Kawann Short’s return from injury
After a dismal 2019 season, it was clear that the Panthers missed defensive tackle Kawann Short.
Short, who has been a consistent player for the Panthers since he was drafted in 2013, suffered a partially torn rotator cuff in Week 2 last season and missed the rest of the season.
The Panthers were historically bad at stopping the run, giving up 31 rushing touchdowns last season — eight more than the second-worst team, the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Short said he’s feeling well since his surgery last season.
“I’m still working on the little kinks just as far as just getting a range of motion, but other than that, I feel good, the shoulder surgery was an awesome success,” Short said earlier this month.
At 31, and the oldest player on the Panthers’ defense, Short is expected to be one of the leaders of a young defense. He’ll be lined up beside rookie defensive tackle Derrick Brown, who was taken No. 7 overall in the draft.
“We’ve got to be disciplined,” Short said. “We’ve all got to come in with the right mindset and the most common goal is to win.”
D.J. Moore’s improvement
Earlier this month, Rhule said he wanted Moore to be a No. 1 wide receiver. He wanted him to take on the opposing team’s best corner and dominate.
Moore played well in 2019. He had 87 receptions for 1,175 yards and four touchdowns. But taking another step will be critical toward reaching that goal.
“I tell D.J. every day, you’re one of the best,” Panthers cornerback Donte Jackson said. “And he definitely believes it and I think he’s buying into taking it to the next level. Like he’s not just saying it. He’s just doing everything different. He’s locking in different.”
Moore said he was ready to accept Rhule’s challenge. He’s said he’s also motivated after not making the Pro Bowl in 2019. Brady’s offense, and the attention defenses will likely pay towards McCaffrey, will open up things for Moore.
Can the young players adapt quickly?
The Panthers’ defense had many departures this offseason, including starters Luke Kuechly, Mario Addison, Eric Reid, James Bradberry and Gerald McCoy. As a result, they drafted seven defensive players in the April draft, and will likely rely heavily on them this season.
With a shortened offseason, and no preseason games, that means they’ll have to grow up quick.
Brown will likely start opposite of Short. Rookie defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos will likely get playing time this year also. And the Panthers will also rely on rookie safety Jeremy Chinn, who defensive coordinator Phil Snow said could also play multiple positions, including linebacker.
Cornerback Troy Pride Jr. will likely play at nickel and will back up Jackson and Eli Apple.
“They’re mixing and matching guys all over the place right now,” Gross-Matos said. “Versatility is important, so I’m just trying to make myself available anywhere that they want me to be or need me to be. I’m going to be able to do it.”
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO READ?
As The Observer plans Panthers’ coverage over training camp and the 2020 season, we want to know what you want to read. What are some topics you want to know more about? What isn’t covered enough? Send ideas, suggestions or questions to agetzenberg@charlotteobserver.com and jalexander@charlotteobserver.com.
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