Carolina Panthers: NFL Preseason Week 1 Grades

The first week of the preseason is over and the Carolina Panthers finished in the win column. Not only did the Panthers defeat the New York Giants, but they had no injuries and they played well for only having two weeks in the new systems.

I fully understand that this is the preseason and nothing conclusive can be made until after Week 3, but this is a young team and it is always good to see how they progress whether it is the preseason or the regular season.

After one week, here is how the 2011 Carolina Panthers look thus far.

Special Teams

One aspect the Panthers will need to rely on this year is the special teams play. But between the new kicker and new kickoff rules, some may have doubts how beneficial this will be. Week 1 was a good start and should bring optimism.

In the return game, Mike Goodson and Armanti Edwards were great. These two could easily be the main returners this season and they are already performing at a high level.

Goodson seems to have taken the new kickoff rules as a challenge. Part skill and possibly part the feeling of being invincible, Goodson looked to take it out of the end zone every time. He averaged over 29 yards per return and looked as explosive as ever.

Edwards was the same in the return game and it looked like the Giants were already practicing how to avoid Armanti. He only averaged about 17 yards per return and twice looked like he was one defender away from breaking it.  

The returners were good, but the kickers were no slouches. Olindo Mare did well in his debut going 2-for-2 on field goals and did well on kickoffs. Punter Jason Baker looked like he was ready to get the season started as he averaged 47 yards per punt.

This unit is off to a great start and can hopefully keep it up throughout the preseason.

Grade: A

Defensive Line

The defensive line is crucial to the success of the Panthers this season. The Panthers were without Greg Hardy and Charles Johnson, both of whom will probably be the starters come the regular season, so it was good to see what the line could do without them.

Unfortunately, the end positions did not produce. Eric Norwood was absent and Everette Brown showed he could still get around tackles but never get to the quarterback. I understand these two are not every-down guys and this is the first week, but especially for Brown, it is time to prove something.

The tackle position showed much more optimism. They held the middle of the line and forced the Giants to run to the outside.

The guy who impressed early on was Sione Fua. He made his presence known and when he blew through the line on the screen pass, Eli Manning probably started to recount what he had done with his life as it could be ending soon. Fua is a guy to look at and track his progression in the following weeks.

Grade: C+

Linebacker

The unquestioned strength of the defense came to play against the Giants, and they were without Thomas Davis and Jon Beason.

Omar Gaither played like he was a starter. He was blasting into the backfield and showed good tackling technique. Dan Connor played like everyone knew he would and these two as the backups can only inspire confidence in how great this group can be this year.

The two guys that impressed were Jordan Senn and Thomas Williams. Senn is a well-known special teams guy, but when given the chance Senn showed he can step in, granted it was third string. Then there was Williams—eight tackles and a sack—and he put his name into the hat for the other backup linebacker position.

Grade: A

Secondary

The secondary is another place where eyes will be focusing this offseason. Chris Gamble looks to be the starter, but the loss of Richard Marshall has left a hole at the No. 2 spot. With Gamble out, the Panthers were able to take a good look at the other corners on the roster. Robert McClain, RJ Standford and Kendric Burney all showed they want the second spot.

McClain finished with five tackles and two passes defended, Stanford finished with four tackles and one pass defended, and Burney had three tackles and three passes defended. The undrafted Burney might be only 5’9” but he plays big and has great closing speed. I would not mind him seeing time with the starters against Miami.

The safeties also performed well as expected. Jordan Pugh had a good game with his safety blitz recording a sack. Ron Rivera’s new system had more eight in the box than I have ever seen in Carolina and this group could really excel in the more aggressive package.

There is a reason why Eli Manning went 4-for-9 with 36 yards passing. Even the backup Ryan Perrilloux only mustered 67 yards passing on the Panthers’ second string. These two weren’t under pressure the whole time the secondary was just blanketing the receivers and making sure tackles. Miami will be a good test for the secondary in coverage, but their hands will also be tested as Miami has a tendency for interceptions.

Grade: B

Offensive Line

The entire starting line played minus Geoff Schwartz, but they looked more like the backups. After a performance like their’s against New York, I am glad this is still the preseason.

Jeff Otah looked good in his first game in almost two years. He was good in run-blocking and was getting his hands on the defenders. He needs to work on his footwork a little more when it comes to pass-blocking, but he was not bad.

Ryan Kalil had little problem handling the interior. More importantly, he and Jimmy Clausen seemed to be on the same page as no snaps were fumbled, which is a feat in its own right.

The guy who stood out, and in a bad way, was Jordan Gross. Twice he was beat by Jason Pierre-Paul. Once he was burned on the outside and the other time Paul just threw Gross aside and flattened Clausen. I am hoping Gross got it out of his system because young quarterbacks must be able to rely on their Pro Bowl left tackle and not be looking that way before they pass.

The backups were not overly impressive, and there were a ton of penalties, but I expect them to get their act together and be ready for the Dolphins come Friday.

Grade: D+

Tight End

The tight end position was the highlight of the offseason, highlight of the offense and they were great against New York.

Greg Olsen immediately made an impact with his first-quarter touchdown. The pass was a little high but Olsen brought it in no problem and put up the first offensive points of the game. Then, with Cam Newton at quarterback, he made a nice adjustment and went low for a big 30-yard catch. Olsen finished with 58 yards and a touchdown.

Another tight end made his mark during the game, but it was not Jeremy Shockey. Gary Barnidge showed why Panther fans think so much of him. He has been a disappointment so far, but if he makes more like his 18-yard play where he fought out of the tackle, then he will have a good chance of sticking around.

The tight end position is the second-deepest position on the offense and many believe Greg Olsen could be a Pro Bowl candidate. In Coach Chudzinski’s system, I am hoping more than just Olsen will excel and that the position can become an asset instead of a liability.

Grade: A-

Wide Receiver

The new offense is built for downfield passing and the first game showed it. Carolina had four plays of 30 or more yards. The receivers were actually part of the offense and were given a lot of time to shine with the absence of Steve Smith.

Brandon LaFell was impressive off the bat as he hauled in the first completion of the game for 31 yards. LaFell is now the favorite for the No. 2 receiver spot with David Gettis out. LaFell almost had two explosive plays, but he stepped out of bounds before the catch. If LaFell can keep his mind in the game and shield defenders better in the end zone, he could do great things in the new offense.

Kealoha Pilares played with the third string, but his 35-yard touchdown showed exactly how explosive he can be. He has the build and the moves to be a thicker Steve Smith.

A very impressive receiver was Armanti Edwards. He put his added year of experience to good use. He had a 36-yard catch on a beautiful touch pass from Newton, and he also had a chance for a touchdown but was overthrown by mere inches. He is a dark horse for the second receiver but will likely begin the year as the third option.

It was a pretty good showing for the first game. If the receivers can work on getting a little bit more separation to decrease the number of batted balls, then this unit will be able to surprise the league and help Carolina get past last year’s 12 points per game.

Grade: B-

Running Back

No position is more important this season than the backfield, and judging from their game against the Giants it looks like the Panther running backs are about ready.

DeAngelo Williams did very well in limited action. He had a 16-yard screen and 23 yards rushing on four attempts. He looks ready to prove he was worth the new contract.

Mike Goodson had a good game as well, until he fumbled. He had 30 yards rushing and 20 yards receiving. He is looking at how Tiki Barber fixed his fumbling problem and he needs to get the fumblitis cured before the season begins.

The Panthers have a three-headed monster with a Tyrell Sutton chaser, and this group will be a huge factor in how this team does.

Grade: B-       

Quarterback

Despite how the other positions are faring, the quarterback position will be the main event of the preseason. This position will determine the progress made this season.

Jimmy Clausen had a pick-six, true, but did not have a bad overall performance. He made solid throws to LaFell, completed the pass to Olsen for a touchdown and did a good job hitting his check-downs. He showed a little more poise in the pocket, but he still looks panicked. His performance in the second string will help determine whether it was just the Giants defense or if he just is not ready.

When Cam Newton came onto the field, it was a completely different atmosphere. Adam Schefter and former coach Herm Edwards publicly stated how they liked Newton’s ability to take control of a huddle.

Newton brought enthusiasm and his first drive was almost a complete success. His first play was a beautifully executed play-action pass. He was able to complete a 30-yard pass to Olsen. Unfortunately, he tried getting the ball to LaFell but twice forced it in there instead of making the best decision.

Newton also did a good job staying in the pocket. He looked very poised and relaxed. He made a nice touch pass to Armanti but missed him in the end zone later on. Overall it was a good performance—8-for-19, 134 yards passing—and with a performance next week that includes touchdowns he could solidify himself as Carolina’s Week 1 starter. Who doesn’t want a quarterback that can go out and block as well as throw and run?

The surprise of the evening was Derek Anderson. He did play against the third string, but he went 3-for-4 with 71 yards and a touchdown. He is the veteran quarterback and it would not be a bad idea to play him with the second string next week.

It was an overall good performance and the play of Newton and even Anderson has increased the anticipation for the Miami game.

Grade: B+

Coach

The players did well, but Rivera was refreshing. He showed originality in his play-calling. He called a reverse that worked, with the help of Newton’s blocking. He actually allowed three- and four-wide-receiver sets, which almost gave me a heart attack.

On defense, he was putting eight in the box and dropping four. He mixed up coverage, blitzed a little and the Panthers defense completely controlled the Giants offense.

Rivera’s influence has already brought a new light to this team and I can only sit and watch in anticipation of what will happen Friday against Miami.

Grade: A