Carolina Panthers 2019 Season Preview
Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Posted on 7/19/2019.
Carolina Panthers Free Agency Recap
The Panthers got Jarius Wright and Chris Hogan in Free Agency on offense. Carolina also signed Gerald McCoy as a 4-3 defensive tackle only to continue to stockpile depth at the defensive tackle position. Carolina also got Bruce Irvin as a 4-3 left end.
Carolina Panthers Draft Recap
Florida State pass rusher Brian Burns gives Carolina someone who may be the best pass rusher they drafted out of the ACC since Julius Peppers. I highly doubt Burns has the impact Peppers had, but he gives Carolina incredible hope and optimism about their defense moving forward. Greg Little the left tackle out of Ole Miss will push the current starter Taylor Moton for the starting left tackle job. Also Will Grier, Carolina's 2019 third round pick will push Taylor Heinicke for a backup quarterback gig.
Carolina Panthers Quarterback Summary: Cam Newton was the best quarterback in the NFL three ago up until Super Bowl 50. He can still be one of the leagues best quarterbacks. It also feels like his supporting cast continues to dwindel. Carolina has Taylor Heinicke as a backup quarterback and Will Grier as a third string quarterback. Grier will push Heinicke for the backup job giving Carolina some stability at quarterback if anything happens to Cam Newton.
The father son tandem of Norv Turner and Scott Turner replaced offensive coordinator Mike Shula and quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey in 2018. Now the father son tandem of Turner's returns to Carolina for a second season.
Carolina Panthers Running Back Summary: Carolina has incredible depth in their backfield. Christian McCaffrey anchors this backfield. Cameron Artis-Payne was the third string running back, but he took over as the backup and did well enough to receive an extension. Carolina also drafted Jordan Scarlett out of Florida. Kenyon Barner is the fourth string running back. Running backs coach Jake Peetz is the new running backs coach. He lacks experience from an NFL standpoint. Peetz was an offensive assistant under Nick Saban at Alabama.
Carolina Panthers Wide Receiver Summary: D.J. Moore is Carolina's top receiving target now. I wasn't high on Moore coming out of Maryland so this is a make or break year for Moore with the 2018 first round pick being the go-to-guy. Carolina also has Jarius Wright, Chris Hogan, and Torrey Smith returning.
Jim Hostler was a passing game coordinator with the Green Bay Packers. Now he is the wide receivers coach with the Carolina Panthers.
Carolina Panthers Tight End Summary: Greg Olsen probably has the best work ethic and composure of any tight end in the NFL. He was the first Panthers tight end to have three consecutive seasons with 1,000 receiving yards. Olsen is probably the safest target that Cam Newton has at the moment. Pete Hoener returns as the tight ends coach.
Carolina Panthers Offensive Line Summary: Taylor Moton is now Carolina's blindside. Greg Little the rookie out of Ole Miss, is pushing Moton for that left tackle job. Carolina still has one of the leagues more effective right guards in Taylor Moton. The Panthers swapped one injury prone center Ryan Kalil with another in Matt Paradis who dealt with a season ending injury in 2018. Carolina does not have an offensive line coach so Norv Turner will be coaching the offensive line as well as coordinating the offense.
The Panthers have Cam Newton and a very strong running game. I expect a top 10 rushing offense. I also see a middle of the pack offense in terms of point scored, total yards, and passing yards. Carolina has a lot of depth at wide receiver, but they lack that number one target that Cam Newton can rely on. That's difficult for me to look past.
Carolina Panthers Defensive Line Summary: Carolina has Brian Burns at 4-3 right end and Bruce Irvin at 4-3 left end. Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe are the starting defensive tackles. Kawaan Short is also capable of starting. Vernon Butler is a nice depth player, but he looks like he will remain an extra until his contract runs out. Carolina is loaded at defensive tackle to the point where Burns and Irvin can both focus solely on hijacking the line of scrimmage with rip moves and swim moves. Both Burns and Irvin are speed rushers off the edge as well so the Panthers speed rushers off the edge compliment the block shedders and road grinders on the inside very well.
Eric Washington got promoted to defensive coordinator last year and did well at that position after previously being the defensive line coach. Sam Mills III took over for Eric Washington after being the assistant defensive line coach with Carolina and did well enough to retain his job as a defensive line coach. Now Sam Mills III has a much stronger defensive line to work with.
Carolina Panthers Linebacker Summary: Carolina has Antwoine Williams at 4-3 right outside linebacker, Luke Kuechly at 4-3 middle linebacker, and Shaq Lawson their 2015 first round pick at 4-3 left outside linebacker. Carolina no longer has Thomas Davis as their 4-3 right outside linebacker abnd that's the biggest weakness with the Carolina Panthers in my mind.
Carolina has two coaches that can develop linebackers. Head coach Ron Rivera and linebackers coach Steve Russ both return. Both coaches have experience calling plays.
Carolina Panthers Defensive Backs Summary: James Bradberry is the field cornerback. Bradberry enters the final year of his rookie contract after the Panthers drafted him out of James Madison in the 2016 NFL Draft to replace former Coastal Carolina cornerback Josh Norman. Donte Jackson is the boundary cornerback after taking the boundary cornerback job from Kevon Seymour. Kevon Seymour is competing with Ross Cockrell for the nickel cornerback job.
Carolina has Eric Reid at strong safety and Rashaad Gaulden at free safety. This secondary is solid, but not spectacular.
Perry Fewell is the new secondary coach with Carolina. He has a good group, but not a spectacular group of defensive backs to work with.
The Panthers arguably have their best defense since Super Bowl 50. The only weakness on this defense lies at right outside linebacker since Carolina failed to find a replacement for Thomas Davis in Free Agency or the 2019 NFL Draft. Ultimately, that may be what keeps Carolina from returning to the Playoffs.
Carolina Panthers Special Teams Summary: Graham Gano is a reliable kicker. Michael Palardi remains the starting punter. Curtis Samuel is the new kick returner and D.J. Moore is the new punt returner. Chase Blackburn takes over as the special teams coordinator. His job should be easy with the same kicker and punter back. He's also got really fast return specialists.
Carolina Panthers Worst Case Scenario: The Panthers go 4-12 and finish last in the NFC South Division.
Carolina Panthers Best Case Scenario: Carolina somehow is able to do enough with Cam Newton and their defense to earn a wild card spot.
Carolina Panthers 2019 NFL Schedule
Week |
Date |
Opponent |
Time |
Cable Network |
Result |
Week 1 |
September 8 |
VS  |
1 PM EST |
FOX |
L |
Week 2 |
September 12 |
VS  |
1 PM EST |
CBS |
W |
Week 3 |
September 22 |
AT  |
4:25 PM EST |
FOX |
W |
Week 4 |
September 29 |
AT  |
1 PM EST |
FOX |
L |
Week 5 |
October 6 |
VS  |
1 PM EST |
FOX |
W |
Week 6 |
October 13 |
AT |
9:30 AM EST |
NFL Network |
L |
Week 7 |
|
Bye Week |
|
|
|
Week 8 |
October 27 |
AT  |
4:05 PM EST |
FOX |
L |
Week 9 |
November 3 |
VS  |
1 PM EST |
FOX |
W |
Week 10 |
November 10 |
AT  |
1 PM EST |
ESPN |
L |
Week 11 |
November 17 |
AT  |
1 PM EST |
FOX |
L |
Week 12 |
November 24 |
AT  |
1 PM EST |
FOX |
L |
Week 13 |
December 1 |
VS  |
1 PM EST |
FOX |
L |
Week 14 |
December 8 |
AT |
1 PM EST |
FOX |
L |
Week 15 |
December 15 |
VS  |
1 PM EST |
FOX |
W |
Week 16 |
December 22 |
AT  |
1 PM EST |
FOX |
L |
Week 17 |
December 29 |
VS |
1 PM EST |
FOX |
L |
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