The Panthers’ underwhelming start to the preseason has created some uneasiness within the Carolina faithful. But while the exhibition opener against the Cleveland Browns didn’t look pretty, the 30-10 loss doesn’t mean a whole lot for the team’s regular-season outlook.
Still, fans have questions and concerns about their favorite football squad. So, The Observer has brought back the Panthers mailbag to provide them some answers.
Temperature check on TMac
@SouthHarmon on “X” asks: How good does Tetairoa McMillan look? What is the chemistry with Bryce Young like?
McMillan got off to a slow start during the first week of camp. He had a few self-admitted (and Dave Canales-admitted) miscues with his routes that led to poor plays from the passing game, but since the calendar turned to August, he’s been steadily improving.
His first great practice was on July 30, as he made several highlight plays. Young and McMillan seemed to have found a groove since that workout.
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan following the team’s game against the Cleveland Browns on Friday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. The Browns defeated the Panthers 30-10. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
McMillan, despite catching two passes for 43 yards, had a couple of rough moments in the preseason opener against the Browns. He was a bit slow to react to an anticipation throw and dropped a perfectly launched target from Young in the end zone. He also dropped an Andy Dalton pass on a contested target over the middle later in the first half.
While Justin Jefferson and JaMarr Chase became instant success stories in recent years, wide receiver, especially at the “X” position, is historically one of the hardest transitional positions from college to the pros. McMillan’s lack of experience with NFL coverage has played into his inconsistency.
McMillan is used to bullying significantly less talented and shorter corners in the college sphere. In the NFL, press coverage can be daunting, especially when a defensive back is 6-foot-1 and weighs roughly 200 pounds. McMillan wasn’t seeing a whole lot of those corners at Arizona.
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, left, catches a deep pass from quarterback Bryce Young as Cleveland Browns cornerback Chigozie Anusiem, right, attempts to make the stop during action on Friday at Bank of America Stadium. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
For the most part, Young and McMillan are building a strong connection. Young has lofted up passes in practice and McMillan has shown off his uncanny ability to pluck the ball out of the air. The 30-yard strike from Young to McMillan against the Browns was a good peek at what they’ve been doing during practice. Young has put the ball on McMillan accurately throughout camp, and really their only major miscues have come on communication errors. Physically, Young and McMillan seem to have a timing and a rhythm.
The everlasting need for ILB help
Baloo on “X” asks: Mike, any thoughts on adding to the LB core with a vet like Eric Kendricks? We’re very thin up the middle after the improved line.
The Panthers’ linebacker group, particularly the depth defenders, didn’t have a great night against the Browns. While Trevin Wallace and Christian Rozeboom have put together a solid summer, the position is still probably one of the weaker units on the squad.
If this team was contending for a Super Bowl, someone like Kendricks, who turned 33 in February, would be a logical addition. But he’d be more of a pedigree play than a true upgrade in this beat writer’s opinion. He had a nice season for the Dallas Cowboys last year, but I’m not sure how that’d translate to Ejiro Evero’s system.
The Panthers have also shied away from signing older position players this offseason.
Carolina Panthers linebacker Trevin Wallace celebrates a stop of the Cleveland Browns during action on Friday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
The sense here is that the team wants to develop its younger linebackers with Rozeboom, who knows the defense quite well from his time with the Los Angeles Rams, leading the charge. Wallace has shown a terrific ability to blitz, and he’s looked better against the run in practice. Bam Martin-Scott is a guy to keep an eye on, despite his undrafted rookie status. If Martin-Scott wasn’t already 25, he probably would have been a Day 3 pick, and he’s performed relatively well throughout the summer.
The team signed journeyman Krys Barnes last week, and he has a quality resume for a third or fourth linebacker. The free-agent market at the position is pretty shallow, and shooting for upside over aging parts makes sense for the Panthers.
That said, the front office is likely to monitor the trade market as the preseason continues. There could be some options that pop up — in the Mike Jackson style from last year — during the remainder of the exhibition slate. It’s fair to say Carolina is probably not done at the position, but with the disclaimer that the potential new addition (or additions) would likely be added with creative maneuvering.
Again, aging this roster for a one-year patch doesn’t seem all that optimal. The Panthers have the highest offensive line payroll and the second-highest defensive line payroll in the NFL, so they are taking their lumps at non-premium positions like inside linebacker and safety.
Non-premium doesn’t mean unimportant, but it does mean the positions are lower in the pecking order when it comes to positional spending.
Preseason: Football or fodder?
Larry Lyon on BlueSky asks: Are preseason games the most worthless exercise in professional sports? Perhaps suggest leaving the scoreboard off.
Yes and no, Larry. From the perspective of evaluation, especially with starting talent, it’s kind of a “meh” moment. One could argue the limited reps build up muscle memory and chemistry, but I can’t recall the last time I saw a playoff team have an unreal performance in the preseason.
Where the preseason does matter is with the depth players and special teams units. A player getting two series to work isn’t particularly illuminating, but a deep depth player trying to make the roster could get two quarters of work and make an impression.
Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Nic Scourton secures a loose ball during the Panthers’ preseason game against the Cleveland Browns at Bank of America Stadium on Friday in Charlotte. Lila Turner lturner@charlotteobserver.com
Special teams is such a key factor in the depth of a roster. So, seeing how lower-level players produce on kickoff coverage and punt coverage is advantageous. The same could be said for the return units and the kicking competition.
In short, the preseason matters more to the players on the back end of the roster than anyone else, including the fans. The games aren’t pretty but getting inexperienced players reps to feel what it’s like on game day is a valuable exercise.
The debate over playing starters or letting them chill on the sideline, to me, isn’t really based in reality. The Panthers’ starters playing five or six series in the preseason last year doesn’t stop the New Orleans Saints from running them over in Week 1. That game was lopsided due to game-planning as much as it was talent.
Safety insurance on the way?
Adam Bouanaka asks: Likelihood Panthers bring in a safety to start before week 1? Obviously not many options but interested to see where they stand with that group.
I struggle to see a worthwhile upgrade that makes sense. Justin Simmons is the popular name, but there is a reason he’s still on the market after a mediocre campaign with Atlanta last season.
Does it make sense to stunt the growth of Demani Richardson and/or Lathan Ransom to make room for a one-year rental? With where the team is at, as with linebacker, probably not.
Carolina Panthers safety Demani Richardson, left and safety Lathan Ransom, right, celebrate a play against the Cleveland Browns on Friday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. The Browns defeated the Panthers 30-10. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Nick Scott is a guy who knows the system, and they keep trotting him out there, despite the results on defense. I’m not sure Simmons’ one year of history with Evero matters, and last year with Atlanta showed his pedigree might not be all it's cracked up to be either.
Marcus Williams, formerly of the Baltimore Ravens, has had a quiet market since he visited the Panthers in March. His play fell off dramatically last year, so it’s not particularly surprising that he’s lingering around. If the Panthers thought he’d be an upgrade, he’d be here.
Like with linebacker, safety feels like a waiver wire or trade upgrade opportunity if the front office can be creative. But I’ll believe it when I see it, especially as Richardson and Ransom have impressed in recent practices.
The team has stood firm with its current group all summer, and that tells me that they want the younger guys to earn important jobs outright.