By: Sam Neumann
For the Carolina Panthers, the 2014-2015 season has been disappointing and embarrassing, to say the least. After a surprising 12-4 finish last season, the Panthers will likely finish in last place or close to it this season.
First and foremost the Panthers lack talented players on both sides of the football. They lost players who helped them on their great run last season, such as Captain Munnerlyn, Mike Mitchell, Steve Smith, Brandon LaFell, Ted Ginn Jr., Bruce Campbell, Jordan Senn and Drayton Florence. Not keeping those players and focusing on Greg Hardy and Graham Gano in the off-season proved costly.
I had the opportunity to speak with Scott Fowler, who covers the Panthers for the Charlotte Observer. He feels that “Not getting a big-time offensive tackle in either the NFL draft or via free agency was a big mistake, as was allowing both Brandon LaFell and Ted Ginn Jr. to leave. The talent level this season has simply not been as good.”
Obviously the Panthers’ problems go beyond that: their personnel failed to establish an adequate offensive line. They are setting up their franchise quarterback, Cam Newton, for failure. In the National Football League, you cannot have an inexperienced offensive line, which is not ready to play in front of a talented quarterback; you just can’t. On the other side of the ball, the Panthers have regressed defensively. They were ranked the second overall defense in the NFL last season, right behind the Seattle Seahawks. This season they are ranked 29th out of 32 teams. All of that has to do with Hardy being away from the team, Charles Johnson being injured and the secondary being worse than brutal.
For Fowler, defense is everything; not having a pass rush has weakened the defense as a whole. The secondary wasn’t so spectacular last season either, but “it was better than this group, which has been exposed by the lack of pass rush.” You could argue with anyone that the Panthers have the worst offensive line and secondary in the entire NFL.
Getting past the mediocre roster and inexperienced players, the Panthers’ coaching has not been pretty. The head coach, “Riverboat Ron,” is still coaching poorly. He is nothing more than a defensive coordinator, who likes to go for it on fourth down. Mike Shula is part of the reason that Newton’s growth has stunted: his non-aggressive play calling has been head-scratching at times. Sean McDermott, the defensive coordinator, should get a free pass because he does not construct the roster and has little to work with on defense.
Fowler thinks it is likely that Rivera will still be the Panthers’ head coach in 2015, but adds, “I believe two years like this in a row might be the end, but the 12-4 year bought him some time and a new contract that runs through 2017. He may not be here to fulfill all of it, but I believe he will be here in 2015.”
Whether it is this season or next, the Panthers are going to have to look for a new coaching staff. Last season bought them some time, but they’re running out of it. The Panthers have not historically been a good team, but they fully expect to win. If this coaching staff can’t win, then they will be gone.
Comments