CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Carolina Panthers’ first quarter report card after a 2-2 start:
Offensive line
Left tackle Byron Bell and right tackle Nate Chandler have struggled big-time in run blocking and pass protection. In Sunday’s 38-10 loss to Baltimore, they gave up a combined three sacks, five hurries and graded a negative in run blocking, according to Pro Football Focus. The interior line hasn’t performed well either as Carolina ranks 29th in rush offense.
Grade: D
Wide receivers
Remember when this was a big concern in March after the Panthers let all-time leading receiver Steve Smith go? It’s the least of their problems. Rookie Kelvin Benjamin has 21 catches for 329 yards and three touchdowns. Veterans Jerricho Cotchery and Jason Avant have been solid with a combined 23 catches. No worries here.
Grade: B
Tight ends
Greg Olsen has been arguably the team’s most consistent offensive player in terms of run blocking and receiving (21 catches, 254 yards, 2 TDs). But Ed Dickson, signed as a free agent from Baltimore, hasn’t caught a pass after looking like he would be a huge weapon in training camp. Thus, the minus.
Grade: B-
Running backs
This is a hard position to grade because of injuries and poor line play. DeAngelo Williams has looked decent when healthy, rushing for 106 yards on 25 carries. The problem is he’s missed two games completely and played less than two quarters on Sunday before going down with a foot injury that has him doubtful for this week against Chicago. Mike Tolbert (fractured knee) is on short-term injured reserve, and Jonathan Stewart (knee) missed last week’s game. But even before their injuries they did little. Again, the run offense ranks 29th.
Grade: D
Quarterback
Cam Newton has completed 63.3 percent of his passes for three touchdowns with no interceptions. The Panthers will take that all season, although they’d like a few more touchdowns. What keeps this grade from being better is Newton has been non-existent in the run game and has failed to lead the team to a first down in the red zone.
Grade: C-
Defensive line
Had I graded this group after the first two games they would have gotten an A. But after collecting only one sack in the last two games and getting very little pressure at all on the quarterback, after being gashed for almost 400 yards rushing the past two weeks, what was a strength has become a concern. Do they miss DE Greg Hardy, on the commissioner’s exempt list until his domestic violence case is resolved? Apparently.
Grade: D+
Linebackers
Middle linebacker Luke Kuechly still collects tackles better than almost anybody else in the NFL. But even the reigning Defensive Player of the Year has made mistakes the past two weeks to bring this grade down. Again, injuries make it tough to grade. Weakside linebacker Thomas Davis wasn’t himself in Week 3 with a hip injury and he didn’t play against Baltimore with a hamstring injury.
Grade: B-
Secondary
Opponents have caught eight touchdowns in four games against this group. Right cornerback Melvin White has been benched in favor of Josh Norman after losing containment on former Panthers receiver Steve Smith twice for touchdowns against Baltimore. Like the defensive front, this group might have gotten an A after the first two games. Not now.
Grade: C-
Special teams
Graham Gano is 8 for 9 on field goal attempts and has made all five PATs. Punter Brad Nortman has been arguably the team’s biggest weapon, averaging 47.8 yards. The reason this isn’t an A is because coverage hasn’t been great. Nortman’s net average ranks 10th in the NFC. The return game has been average, as well. Philly Brown’s muffed punt against Pittsburgh ended any chance Carolina had of rallying.
Grade: B-
Coaching
Coach Ron Rivera has been forced to make some tough decisions, from holding out Newton in the opener to give his fractured ribs an extra week to recover to putting Hardy on the inactive list in Game 2 under an avalanche of pressure regarding his domestic violence case, to working to put Hardy on the commissioner’s exempt list. The problem is the Hardy moves appear reactionary to what Minnesota did with Adrian Peterson. The loss of discipline on defense and two 12-men-on-the-field penalties against Baltimore also stand out.
Grade: C-
Overall
The Panthers may be tied for the NFC South lead with a 2-2 record, but this team has major issues moving forward that have to be corrected immediately.
Grade: C-minus